Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-03-24

CURIOUS DEMANDS UpoNTHE TREASURY
Mr.. Wallace p. Groom president Of the New
York Mercantile journal on Saturday, present
ed to Cen f. Il. Spinner, Treasurer of the U.
| S. IA legal tender note for 500 which he had
| previously presented to the Assistant Treasurer
at New York. and demanded its payment in
specie. Cen S. replied that he had no authority
to comply with this demand. Mr.. Groom pre-
sentcd the note to the Secretary Of the Treasu-
~ and repeated his demand. Judge Richard
son replied that he would be happy to pay
specie for it if he had on hand enough to liqui-
date every like claim that might be presented.
Mr.. Groom said he did mot claim any better
treatment than other holders OF the govern.
ment's notes received He would accept in
place of specie anything that the collector Of
customs at New York would receive in payment
of duties, or an Understanding bond, as speci.
fed on the back of the note; and he would not
Insist on receiving one bearing six per cent in
terest, but would be satisfied with as low a rate
as 800. Secretary Richardson stated that he
was not prepared to accept the proposition: On
Saturday Mr. Groom instructed Mr.. Nicholas
Callan, notary to present the note again to
Treasurer Spinner and Secretary Richardson.
Mr. Callan did so, and specie payment being
again refused, he (by Mr.. Groom's direction. J
protested the note in due form.
The note presented is one Of the first legal
tenders issued by the government and bears the
legend on the back, "Reccivabie Tor all dues OF
the United States, and arc convertible into the
6 per cent stock Of the u. S. !" Some eight or
nine years ago Congress repealed the law on
which this legend was based aud it has recent
ly been he desire Of the government to recall
them On lst July last there were Slo3, OOO,-
900 of these notes in circulation, and but few
have been received since. Gen. Spinner says
that had it been legal demand note Of 1862 oil
which there were In July last only SSS.O0O IN
circulation, he would have redeemed 1t 10 gold
since these notes are receivable the same as
gold in payment Of customs. baltimore SIN.
MANASSAS ITEMS. = From the Manassas
Gazette. Mr.. Thomas Ellicott, an old and
highly respected citizen of this p ace died at ~
clock on Thursday morning last, of coDgestlve
chills He attended the Presbyterian Church,
of which he was member, on Sunday morn
ing and par,ook of the Lords Supper, and
while at Church he was taken III, and after IN
tense suffering died, as above stated, in the
74th year of his age.
DR.. G. ". Bagby of Richmond, has signi-
fed his willingness, if a suitable audience room
can be obtained, to deliver one of his humorous
lectures 10 this place during this Spring. His
subject will be the Disease called Love. .
A horse driven into the village by Mr.. f. W.
EIutcheus on Thursday morning last became
frightened at a train of cars and rearing up,
fell backwards and broke one Of his hiud legs
above the knee joint.
Mr.. H. B. Yarns, proprietor of the Manassas
Hotel, is engaged in making such changes in
his house as will enable him to open an eating
bar or lunch room, for the accommodation OF
travellers and others.
There will be land agency opened in this
place in few days.
TIE RATE OF ITEREST The Committee of
Conference of the Legislature on the bill in re-
lation to interest have been unable to agree SO
far, the Senate committee being two for and
two against the proposition that the rate be
six per cent except in cases by contract 10 writ
ing where the parties may agree upon rate
not to exceed eight per cent. per annun; the
penalty for rate exceeding eight per cent. to
be forfeiture of all interest. Another mem
Der has been added to the Senate committee