Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-02
LETTERS FROM

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gszette.1
RICHMOND, Jan. 81. lS76.-The Senate
Committee to-day decided the kuight-John
SOD contest, so far as they are concerned, and,
as [ predicted IN my letter q week ago. MAJ.
John NJ. Daniel, the chairman of the Commit
tee, submitted the majority report OF the Com
mittee in favor Of seating Johnson. AS also
predicted, Senator Claughton, of Alexandria,
was one of the members who agreed 10 this
report. Messrs. Daniel, Finney and Marshall
also signed the report, or rather agreed to 1t.
Senator Claughton submitted a long report 10
defence of his idea that a voter cannot disclose
how he voted. The report of the majority
committee is a very lengthy document, and it
is evident, from the care displayed in its make
up, that the writer's expect attacks from all
quarters, aud they will be forced to stand
them. I must confess that [ am disappointed
10 the report-it is not the document that L
expected it would be, and there is much use
less verbiage 10 it, haviog no connection what
ever with the Knight-Jo Johnson contest. The
minority report will be submitted to-day, and
will be signed by Messrs. Bland, Splitter and
Ward. Now the fight is really only beginning.
1t is evident that the seating of Gen. johnson
will be bitterly opposed in the Senate. l un-
derstaDd that Senators Cochran, Crltcher and
other gentlemen, Of like stamp and ability, will
insist on the election being sent back to the
people. Judge Cochran has great Influence
with the Senate, aud his eloquenoe is as a
whirlwind il power and impetuosity. And
then Critcber's ability is only seconded by his
bull dog %tenacity, and [ know of no more pow
ertul team than the two. Now, look out for
some speaking, and perhaps some revelations
that will slightly %astonish.
The University bill is set for Thursday. 1t
has some strong friends among the leading
members of the House.
The James River and KanaWha Canal bill
will be up Wednesday.
To-day the House had only reached House
bill No. "a. when Mr.. Gilman moved to sus-
pend the rules, and bills we're eugrossed and
ordered to a third reading, up to sixty. All
the House need now do is to suspend the rules
and pass them, and the Senate will then have
plenty OF work.
It will be a matter of great interest to the
keepers of ordinaries 10 Alexandria to know
hat the Finance Committee will probably re-
commend the abolition of the two aDd-a-balt
cents on sales, because it has proved 40 utter
failure as a source of revenue, and only an an
noyance to tax payers and gatherers.
A fellow cannot go anywhere now without
seeing the genial face of Honest John Letcher
chalked up on the walls by some genius OF
the quill.
The committee charged with the investiga-
ton of the charges against Judge Stevens, met
to. night in the House of Delegates. They
fixed upon next Tuesday, at 10 o'clock, as
the time for the investigation into the charges
against Judge Stevens, and have summoned
| the following witnesses: w.. H.. Fowle, Alex
apder Hunter, Thos. Beckham and Geo. Hill.
The meeting of the committee will be strictly
private, none but the parties, their counsel and
representatives of the press being allowed to
be present. SToNGBoW.
RICHMOND, February /, lS76.-Mr. Bland,
to-day, submitted e minority report 10 the Sen
ate contested election case Of Knight vs.. john
SOD, which recommends that the election be
sent back to the people. This report will prob"
ably be sustained by the Senate as it is what
the people of Richmond mos desire. The re-
port was signed by Messrs. Bland, Ward and
Splitter, and it is said that Mr.. Maddox will a.
so sign it, which will make the matter stand 4
for seating johnson and 4 for sending the cleo
ton back to the people. The Senators are
now, of course, rather reticent on the subject,
but maryland | may say the majority-ot the
members of the House do not hesitate to de-
clare that the election should be sent back to
the people. The truth is mighty and must
prevail. 1t is probable that the Senate will
take up the matter Thursday.
The Enquirer this morning has a long edl-
torial, in which it pitches into the gambling
fraternity, and this evening George Wilde has
a long leader in the Guide and News, in de-
fence of them. He says:
"But there are gamblers and gamblers. as
there are merchants and merchants. brokers
and brokers-some good and some bad. You
can pick and choose"
George says he has heard from a PresbVte-
rian pulpit an apology for Judas ~Iscariot, but
never from pulpit or press an apology for gam.
blers. The reason is, be says, because people
are afraid. He argues that, if there we're no
people who loved gambling there would be DO
gambling, and says. the love of gambling is i'm
planted in the human breast, and must 6od vent
one way or the other. George fights the devil
around the stump In this article-he does not
say it is right. but he iugeuiously compares it
with the liquor business, stock speculatlons, and
paper shaving, and thinks it as good as they
are, although one is called "a hell and the
other legitimate business" He thinks the
profession of gambling is in itself punishment
enough, and concludes 10 the following Ian.
guage
'One thing may be said of the gambler that
cannot be said of most men in any other bust
ness, viz: What be owes be pays, 10 full aud
without abatement. He would blush to offer
to compromise on 10, 20, 80 or 40 cents in the
dollar. He will let you compromise with him,