The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-09
Il SOUTHERN SENATOR.
THE cuIvALRr IN CONGRESS.

the following from a recent letter in the
st. Louis Times, from its Washington cor
respondent:
The country is already quite pleasantly
familiar with the name of John b. Gordon,
NJ Georgia, erstwhile fighting Lieutenant
General of the Confederacy, and now q
thoroughly reconstructed Sehator of the
United States. Perhaps il is too much TO
say that in the character of John b. Cor
don is embraced more true manhood and
genuine honor than can be found in any
other man holding important position in
theI government but il is not too much to
say that in these particulars he 10 not ex-
celled by any citizen "f the United States
either in public or private life.
Gen. Gordon ia not rich. On the other
hand, his circumstances are SO moderate
that he finds it necessary TO cut his corners
pretty closely to avoid a deficit in his do
mestlc accounts at the end Of each year.
Large-hearted and hospitabIe enough to
spend the income of d duke if he enioyed
it, this gallant gentleman is compelled to
restrict his impulses of generosity to the
limits of very lutte, If anything, beyond
his Senatorial eaiary. He has n LARGE fam
lily, the eldest of whom, Hugh Gordon,
is young man of much promise and
great ambition, now engaged in the
study of the law here in Washing
ton. The necessity of strict economy
under which his father la5ors is a
serious embarrassment TO the young man,
and compels him to torego many of the
commonest pleasures of life. Last year
the sergeant at arms. Mr.. French, gen
tleman whose excellent mpulses have
frequently suggested to men that he was IN
the wrong pew politically, aud ought to
join the Balance of good fellows who make
up the bulk of the Democracy, learned Of
the EN- barrassments under which yOnng
Gordon labored. Approaching the ster-
ling qualities of the young man, and full
of praisworthy desire to assist him, no
less for bis own than for his fathers sake,
Mr.. French went outside the regulations of
his party caucus and rendered to Hugh "A
position in the Senate chamber, which
would pay about 81 500 year, and the
duties of which could be discharged with
out seriously curtaiiing his opportunities
for prosecuting his legal studies. The
young man was about to accept of
the position, when Senator Gordon learned
of it.
The Senator Immediately sought Mr..
French and told him he could not consent
to the arrangement.
" God bless you, Mr.. French, for your
kind intentIona," said the Senator" but
cannot consent to have my son pensioned
on the government. Do not imagine that
object to the arrangement you have been
SO kind az to offer upon merely partisan
grounds. 1t is not because this position is
offered to my son by Republican officer
that l object to his acceptance of it. l
object because / am opposed utterly to the
doctrine that a Senator's son should be
entitled to any consideration, and because
cannot sanction any approach, however
indirect or remote. to nepotism. My own
resources, though limited, are sufficient to
enable my son to complete his studies, and
if by reason of my comparative lack of
resources he should be compelled to ob
serve economy and frugality, it will ne no
disadvantage to him in the long run"
So the appointment was withdrawn.
When Mr.. FItzhugh was chosen door
keeper OF the House, 1t occurred to him
that lie would now have an opportunity to
recIprocate, in part at least, the many kind
nrsses of which he had been the recipient
at the hands of his old Confederate COM
mander, General Gordon, in times past
and gone. He knew of the situation of
young Hugh Gordon, and also of the
fact that the Senator had objected TO his
acceptance of the appointment from Mr.
French. But lao Thought the same obiec-
tion would not prevail as to positions with
in the gift of the Democratic party, cape
c1aily since IN this case the place is not in
the branch Of the Government with which
the Senator is connected. so FitZhugh
rendered Hugh Gordon one Of the hest
places III hls gift, and the young man asked
his fathers consent to accept 1t
"Wrte Immediately to Col. Fitzhugh,
my son, replied Senator Gordon, - and
thank HIM for hls consideration. And say,
10 addition. that by reason of circnm-
stances over which you have 40 cnutrol it
would he improper for you to accept any
appolntive utfcc under the auspices of
any political party. And to settle this
matter, once for all, let it be understood
that 80 long as hold position of trust
and intluence, by virtue OF the sufrages of
the Legislative representatives of the people
OF Georgia, you cannot accept any APP
pointmcnt whatever. If the people of
Georgia should ever require your services,
they Will signify the fact by electing You
to the position they may desire you. to fill.
But the fact that they have chosen me to
represent them in the Senate does not sig
Nifty that they require your services in any
capacity"
SO this appointment was declined. ]
repeat that in this era of scramble for office
and of shameless nepotism in all branches
o! the Government, this little episode in
the career of the Georgia Senator stands
out in bold and striking relief, aud should
be set nn as an eXamnla for all. our nnhlic