The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-06
A Writ Of Supereedas Granted in the Under
wOOd-Mcveigh Suit.
TIE CARPET-BAGGER "sTIcKs."
Attempt by Mr.. McVeigh to Obtain Pos
session Of His House.
Description Of the ''Conflscated'' Property
and the Story of the Robbery and q
Sketch Of Judge Underwood.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. MAY 4. 1873.


ALEXANDRIA, Va, May 4, 1878.
1t is impossible to over estimate the interest eX-
pressed In Alexandria in the result OF the SUIT
decided in Richmond last week in favor OF Mr..
Mcveigh, late OF that city, against Judge Under
wood for the recovery OF the possession OF the
handsome residence Of Mr., Mcveigh on st. Asaph
street, which was, as the popular phrase goes,
"condscated" by Judge Underwood some ten
years ago, and has becp occupied by him in no
little style SINCE In Alexandria, ITO confscate, Is
acoloqual equivalent for ITO steal,n and it is
believed by the mass OF the community there that
the effect OF the Richmond Judgment will
be the restoration of Mcveigh's home
stead to its lawful owner; but the confidence
OF the people in the uprightness of federal
courts has been much shaken, and there Is In pop
ular talk an undercurrent OF belief that Judge IN
derwood some of his friends Will put an injunc-
ton on II and stop the whole matter" Confidence
is at low ebb in the power OF the State Courts to
enforce their decision, however righteous, against
o powerful politician allied with the party In
power
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESIDENCE.
The residence Immediately affected by the result
of the suit is one Of the handsomest private dwell
ings in the town and occupies commanding site
Immediately adjoining the United States Court
House, and therefore convenient for its Judge. 1t
is built upon o wide, well paved street, and,
with its contiguous grounds, occupies nearly
half an acre of land In the heart
OF the city. The building Is very
commodious three story pressed-brick house, built
in the modern style few years before the late
war. Its grounds are highly ornamented and
beauti1ed with flowers and adorned with fountains
and statuary. 1t was purchased by Mr.. Under
SANTA = .vn . nln thn
ing out OF the war Mr.. McVeiglh upon carrying his
family out OF the reach OF what IL then thought
Would be the scene Of hOstties, left ms Alexandria
interests In charge of Mr.. Robert Crupper long his
confidential clerk, man OF great sagacity, the
most unblemished integrity and determination, and
withal
A MOST INFLUENCING UNION MAN
and enemy OF secession, 50 well known in loyalty
presiding Justice Of the Alexandra County
Court when reorganlzeds under the loyal
Wheeling STATE goyernment And it was for for;
such an agent behind him, for there followed the
Union army to Alexandra, ana remained in its
rear during the whole OF the war, horde OF adj
yentirors whose original migration was under
taken for the purpose of making money out OF the
soldiers by pedllng. but who, q course seized
doned Property acts offered to prey upon the
homes OF the rebels There had grown up out OF
the utteranccs OF New York paper at the time
CoNFIscATED BY THE ACT OF WAR.
and that it's occupies held merely by sufferance OF
the federal authorities, sunerance which II was
every day promised would soon terminate. Jest
as de rebil people OF dis town have forft all dat
was dairs and am now lying IN the mercy of the
President of the United states, jes 80 does the
whole human family lordt It's all in de sin Of Adam
c0lored preacher whom your correspondent heard
preach. At the newly organized County Court
cooYAA man was indicted for stealing some iron
property OF gentleman who had gone South.
THE ATTORNEY APPOINTED BY THE COURT
to defend the criminal (who Is now leading jurist
N
Client on the ground that by the absence Of the
owner the goods were fps0 Jdcto forfeited TO the
United states, and hence verdict could be given
under an Indictment which laid the property In
the absentee. 1t was during the iuli prevalence Of
United States Judge Tor the Eastern district OF Vr
ginia, and took up his headquarters III Alexandria.
UNDERwoODS ANTECEDESTs.
He had been at one time admitted TO the prac-
tise OF law, but had come to Virginia as school
teacher, and marrying there settled upon his
wfe's farm. He had always been thoroughly anti
slavery and was fearless in the expression OF his
opinions and acting up to them, an exercise OF
freedom which required both physical and moral
courage TO high degree Prominent as an anti.
slavery man. he represented Virginia both in her
national republican convention which nominated
Fremont ann in that which nominated Lincoln,
and was one OF the electors In each campaign. He
won the admiration OF many OF his opponents
for the dauntless courage with which he main
tanned, for himself and all others, the right Of
FREE SPEECH IN VIRGINIA,
but was hated by the vast majority OF the people in
whose midst he dwelt and who viewed him as an
alien stirring up seditlon. With the success OF the
republican party came the personal triumph OF Mr..
Underwood he was master OF tine situation and
for several years he was the master spirit In the
civil government OF Virginia. II must be said TO
his credit that he has never sought TO avenge the
personal indignities oil which lie was the victim
wnen slavery was secure OF its dominion in Vir-
ginia. He was elected Senator (but was not adj
mitted), and was chairman OF the convention
which framed the present constitution OF the State.
At the time he was appointed District Judge he
found the sentiment that
GALL REBEL PROPERTY WAS FORFEIT,
and needed only tnat some method should be de-
vsed to enforce the fOrfeiture,n the current Idea
In Alexandria. The Commissioners to collect taxes
in insurrectionary states had declined TO allow
the taxes TO be paid by any but the person owning
the estate some interest therein, and had
advertised for sale half the counties round about
not because the tax could not be collected, but
because the owner was absent The abandoned
property agentsn were claiming as abandoned
property tables on which people were eating and
Judge Underwood became easily
CONVERT TO THE DOCTRINE.
Conflscatlon, in his view, was not the exercise OF
a constitutional prerogative "for the lie OF the
person attalnted," but revolutionary method OF
ssThe earth Is the Lords and lie has given it to
His saints. and we are his saints" HE hath
given US the Alexandrian for spoil and
THE ETHIOPIAN FOR AN INHERITANCE.u
In this spirit OF fanaticism and greed he decreed
in all the coniscation cases which came before him
succeeded In preserving McVeigh's estate from all
the adventurers who had sought II, put before
THE COMBINATION OF CAKES AMEs,
Alley and Underwood he was poweress, and I'm
derwood took possession OF Mcveigh's property.
More IMAM one leduinS repuDllcan mas denounced
his course He has lost caste with prominent men
in his party but he Keeps Mcyeighs house and
dwes amid the blossoms which Spring-tnat
comes alike to the just and unjust-cas out on
Mcvegh's fruit trees. Win he eat the fruit ?
MIR. McVefgh Taking Possession OF His
Property-A Scene mt the Door OF tho
House-Un derwOod's Pious Prayer for
Mcyeigh-A Writ OF superccdas Granted
by Judge Bradley, OF the Supreme
Court.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, May s, 1873
In accordance with the writ ejectng Judge Tn
derwood, Of the United States District Court from
the possession OF valuable residence in Alexan-
dria owned by Mr.. Mcveigh and purchased by the
Judge at o c0n6scation sale ordered by himself in
1864 City Sergeant Stuart, the executive officer OF
the ancient city OF Alexandra, accompanied by