Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-05-12
An Epistolary Curiosity.

| AL 1pAstOAbTy OuEAoSlty.
Political circles in Washington
were on broad grin last week over
the following specimen Of Confeder-
ate letter writing, from the pen of L.
Ii. Fitzhugh, the Doorkecper of the
House, addressed to n friend of the
writer in Texas, to whom Fitzhugh
had promised a renumerativc situa-
ton under him. The friend came on
to Washington only to find that the
Confederate Doorkeeper had played
him false, and, partly for revenge and
partly to get funds to return to Texas,
he sold to Il correspondent the epis-
tolatory masterpiece given below
The "Fay" alluded to in the letter is
son of Fitzhugh, Is years old, who
draws 4 salary of 2,loo as Assistant
Doorkeeper. AS an indication of the
calibre and character of the employees
deliberately chosen by the Democratic
House, the letter is significant. 1t is
addressed on the envelope 81. w.
Maddox, Esqr, Sherman, Grayson
county, Texas" and reads as follows,
ct Hterutina
Washington, d. c., Deer. Is, 1875.
Dear J w
Maddox
| have been trying ever sense my
election to write to you but have been
beseiged from eli ght in the morning
until one or two at Night. | had
about one hundred and thirty APP
pointments to make and have had |
swear without exageration three
thousand applications besides men,
women and children pulling and jerk
ing Me every time l would put my
head out of the Dore of My Office |
have had to keep two Ushers 81 two
to three clerks ever since the hour of
my election IN my office, and it is
now five o'clock in the morning that
| have got up to write to you. In
regard to Chancey | tried to save
place for him But the members were
so clamerous for their constituents
that so far it has been impossible to
do so my force after Christmas will
be in cresed, and then I will be able
to do something for him & I will
stick him in Fay arrived on Saturday
morning and safe | set him to work
on Monday at $4,000 place and he
is the most delighted fellow you ever
saw, 1 wish you could be here with
me do try and come on, the govt
furnishes me with a fine turn out and
spanking Pair Of Horses and before
and after the house sessions and re-
cess l have exclusive use of them, my
Coachman comes down every morn
ing for us, that is Fay and myself,
and after driving around to my
Breakfast takes me up to my Office.
Come on and l will give You and
Ward good time. Congress is in
vitcd over to the Centennial on Fri
day we will have a big time come
back on Sunday I may draw on you
for one hundred and twenty-five dol
lars tomorrow which you can draw
back on me for on the 1st of Jan l
got your telegram telling me to draw
for two hundred if needed but tried
to do without any and may not have
to draw tomorrow but all of our
members are like myself tight up
and / hate to ask them come on
christmas for few days and we will
have a glorious time / have more in
vitations to frolick with the members
and Senators than any man in Wash
ington, | am a bigger man now with
the members than old Grant | can't
put my Foot on the tloore of the
Hall but what they make a breake
for me and sometimes dozen flying
at me at once for place for some
friend scarcely ever get out of the
Office to go on the tloore of the House
I have under me the Folding rooms
Document Rooms File Rooms all
Committee Rooms all employees in
south wing Of building and all south
ern wing of capital, have Supt
and Assistant in each department
and about dozen book keepers be-
cides my Office clerks and we do
things up in stile | have boy to take
my Hat an coat or cant turn around
without some one at my beck and
call, and when | get all of my new
attendants broken in l shall have
nice time Give a great deal of love to
Sister Savage and the Young Ladies,
now do try and come on Christmas !
am making up party already to
come on to Texas on the adjournment.
S. S. Cox is to head 1t he is the warm
est friend of Mine you ever saw, also
the new Speaker Mr.. Kerr Fay and
Myself spent the evening with Mr..
and Miss Kerr last evening | am
great favoritc of hers and Mistress
Cox and Mistress Senator Gordon
quite contrast here and Austin. l
cant turn for friends here l have
now fifty letters frorn my Southern
friends all parts of South congratula-
ting me thus wags the world let a
man be prosperous and every Man is
his friend must close tell Clancy l
will look out for him and if can not
make for him myself | can get HIM
IN some of the Departments after
christmas write soon to
your Devoted friend
J.. II. FITzHUGH.