The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-06
evening Stats gantnal
CAPITOL NOTES.

There was this forenoon perceptible
air of jollity and content IN and about thu
Capitol and its various ramifications
especially was this the case with those
basement officers who received last nigh,
the endorsement of the Conservative caucus
for denomination to their respective offices.
Their beaming and elastic countenances
were lit with an ethereal glow at the
prospect Of another two years wrestle
with the public exchequer, and they could
but i'll conceal the swelling joy which pal
pitated within their respective manly chests.
All of the old officers. slipped through
save one, Mr.. James M. Stephens, store
keeper of the penitentiary. It was found
necessary to sacrifice some one at the bid
ding of the boards of hungry ofiice-hunters.
seeking recognition of their "claims,p
and Stephens proved the easiest to grapple
with. He was cut down in the midst Of
his usefulness by W. H. Talaferro, Of
Lynchburg, who lost leg in the Con-
federate army. The onslaught made
on Stephens in behalf of Taliaferro
was equally as effective in producing his
utter official demolition as would have been
the case had the Otey battery let off all of
Its guns against him at short range. We
weep for the dead and rejoice with the liv-
ing. En- passant of that caucus, it is said
that the worthy Ruffner got through very
easily as superintendent Of public instruc-
ton by the finesse Of his friends. Oppo-
sition to him had dwindled down to a
minute point, when his friends executed a
coup de etat by nominating VIM. W. Walk
or, of Westmoreland, for the place, and
Immediately thereafter producing letter
from that parsonage, saying that under no
circumstances would he accept it. Iu great
apparent trepidation they asked for an inn
mediate vote, got it, and 10! it was found
that Rufner's name, like that of Ben Adj
hem, sled all the rest.' 1t was neatly
done.
There was no opposition, as there should
not have been, to French Strother as SUI
perintendent of the penitentiary. He has
done the best he could in an, at least,
thankless Office, and accomplished with
the means ct his command for the state
as much as anybody else could have done
more than some have done in the past.
The opponent of VIM. f. Taylor, esq.,,
for first auditor was Samuel II. Boykin,
House chairman of the committee on 'offi-
GERS and offices at the Capitol" His brigade,
led by the gallant and indomitable Connally,
of Richmond, charged furiously down the
heights. but the serried ranks of Tay-
lor's cohorts met them with a shout
of defiance. The battled joined. Gem
eral Connally discharged an hours
harangue and twelve sheets of legal cap at
his adversary. but panoplied I'm his inn
penetrable armor," "the boy stood on the
burning deck" as the harmless things rat
tied around him, and it was found on
count shortly thereafter made that there
was no one on deck but said boy, and that
his baggage bore on it the legend "First
Auditor Of Virginia. AS an enthusiastic
admirer of Taylor said, "Why, we could
elect the old man on his countenance, leav-
ing out his good deeds" and they did.
To-day the Legislature completed the work
of the caucus by electing all those nominal
ted by it.
Mr.. Ward, of Frederick county, has
evinced the first symptoms Of desire to
tinker at the present constitution, by offer
ing resolution looking to the call of
convention. Ward will get no reward for
this, we opine.
Among the appointments made by Gov
ernor Kemper to-day were the following:
John s. Taylor. second inspector Of flour
for the city of Alexandria George Bar
gamin, Samuel Maccubbin, w. Dallas
Chesterman, directors of the penitentiary;
Benjamin Fifer, inspector of -four for
Staunton; DR.. M. M. Walker, surgeon of
the penitentiary DR.. G. w. Harris vac.
cine agent for Richmond city.
Colonel A. D. Banks, ante-bellum editor
of The Southside Democrat, ex-Gov-'
ernor Smith and b. johnson Barbour
were on the floor of the House to-day.
Time has dealt gently with them.
Governor Kemper received" extern
sively to-day. Cords of persons called on
him. All were warmly welcomed.
Captain Edward s. Gay, late Of the
public guard, it is rumored, is to be made
assistant acknowledgement.
Revs. DR.. Reid. j. William Jones, and
Woodbridge accepted privileged places in
the Senate to-day.