Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-29
Republican CalumnieS-The House
Postmaster

From the Rochester, N. u, Union and Ad-
Vertlser.
If calumpy can avail a. Il weapon Of "argu'
ment' with the American people, then are
the spokesman and organs OF RepubilcaDlsm
doubly armed aud likely to succeed in The field
Of thought and action where political questions
are decided in this country. Since the opening
Of Congress especially since the holidays, the
leading men Of the Republican party 10 the
House, seconded and supported BY the leading
organs Of the Republican press, have pursued
an organized course OF artful Misrepresentation
aud downright lying to rekindle the flames of
sectional hate and egg on to sectional Watare.
4 fair specimen OF the newspaper part OF this
n"tarlOus work was the coinage and circulation
OF the ~falsehoud, with rXcndci and heated
commeut thereon, that DR.. j.. i. Hamb'eton,
Of Georgia, the gentleman appointed 10 the
Cierkship OF the ComDittec Of Ways and
Meaus, had ctristeaed his child Jchn Wilkes
Booth in token of his approval Of tho assassl-
uatigu OF President Liucolu by the person OF
that uaule. After the changes had beer rung
upon his story, the fact was demonstrated that
the gentleman had simply called lis child after
an uncle named John Wilkes, without any
Booth ia it, an without any thought whatever
al L:ncoln's assassin. Yet not one iu ten of the
Republican papers that have circulated the
caiumny give place TO It's rciutation.
Another illustration OF this species OF Repub-
lican tactics has just been brought 10 our no,
tice. In accordance with the plan Of one Re
publican organ telling a lie and another swear
ing that i. is q truth, The Rochester D1n,ocrat
last week Reproduced III lis columns Washing
tou letter to the Syracuse Standard, 10 which
tn above mentioned caiumny was presented
and enlarged upon, and tie Postmaster OF the
HOUSE OF Rcprcs. natives. Hon. j. VI. Steuart,
was charged 10 Ouiy with sweeping hostility
to loyal men,' but downright abuse OF them.
Thu:
When the one armed soldier told him thai
be nai lot his arm in protecting the UHio1.
ali the hshting qualities of the rebel officer
rose 10 Steualt's tongue, and he replied with
do well to hacd:
Lost your arm, sir-it is a ID pity it was
DOT !our head
Tnv Union soldier gave his arm to his coun
try, aud the rcbsI House ? s'master Topped IF
the Union soldier head officially 10 behalf OF
a rcte. friend. This is q mad world, NY mas
trrS." III. times must b. out OF joint when
such AZ incident as this eau take place 10 the
capt. Il OF thi, great republic.
\. well knows e.tiztn aud prominent business
man OF Roch .Ster, who kn-w Mr.. Stcuart 10
be Incapable Of what is ab,vc reported, en-
q! sd the published correspondence TO hlu
ard has Just received a note IN reply from
which W quote:
WAsHISGToy, D. c., Jan. %, 1870.
My Dear >ir: i am obliged to you for your
kind and coEsiderate note enclosing sllp) Of the
49,. instant The correspondence is 3 wholesale
tabricstion, with u. II shallow Of truth III 1t.
The writer wac could pen such an article de-
serves the commiSserstion of al homes. men,
even though he thus scri5bles for pay.
1t is true | was M off :er in the Confederate
army. In Common with most of the people of
my section, | took up arms, believing honestly
that l was right. 1t WAS An honorable contest
on my part. | fought as 8 soldier. no man in
the Union army was ever treated by me, WIN
captured, but as a prisoner OF war-hotn with
kininess and courtesy-and it Is q well known
t.ct. knowa to hundreds, though l mention it, !
hope, with jue modesty, tina. often have l, gu:
Of y Scanty stock, shared my rstioGs with
Union prisoners. And have time and tina again
bourd W Their wounds and ministered to their
necessities wncn sick. repeat. that these FACTS
are go we'll known to my pc ,ple, and even IT,
those opposed to uS. that my kindness entered
into u prnverb.
As 10 Casting insults to Union soldiers,' l
will only sly, let Major Sherwood, my prede-
cessor in thi otfic", !: gallant Union soldier, who
lost y leg in the service, testify in the natter,
whicn l have no doubt he would cheerfully do ;
Al let every gentleman whom l found in this
office b. interviewed, and | do no; f alter myse!t
when l say that ali will add their testimony to
that OF Major Sherwood The whole article is
SO preposterous and so ribsld and false, that l
would treat it with the 81 cnt contempt it 50
richly merits, but for the fact that you have
done me the Kindness to inform me of the pub.
~iicstion of this false ind scurrllous writer.
Why, sir, l have appoint. ID Union soldiers
ard h vaI men in this oth .e. One of nv SD
~pointees WAS d major in the Union army. and
eight (S) OF them out of sixteen (l6) were loyal
r1en, and three 81 who took no part in the con.