Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-07-26
Our Washington Letter.

Il
War Department, is the last
victim of circumstances beyond
his control. tie went West TO
bring Iowa Republicans into
line; he found as general and
profound dissatisfaction as ev-
rJohnson's administration pro-
duced. He docs not deny it.
But on the morning after his
return the National Republican
published a pretended inter-
view Of its reporter with the
Secretary, in which the latter
was represented as saying that
Iowa Republicans and other Re-
publicans generally in the
West were enthusiastic in sup
port of the Administration.
The trouble of the Secretary
now is that he dare not put him
self on paper, yet dare not re-
main silent. AS it is, he is on
record as stating what is mani
testify untrue, and if he says
anything he can hardly avoid
cOniessing as much. Probably
he will deny that he was ever
interviewed by anybody.
The strike of railroad en-
ployees on the Baltimore and
Ohio road has led to the en-
plOyment Of u. S. troops in
West Virginia, on a call from
the Governor Of that State. 1t
is likely that to-day will see the
cessation of violence around
Martinsburg, and that the use
of u. S. troops will be Of as
short duration as possible. The
times are evil which seem to
afford justification of a Cover
nor in calling fer outside as
sistance in such a case, thereby
impeaching the character of his
own people; they are evil, GER
tainly, when the National Adj
ministration feels called upon
to lend its aid to the extent of
interfering in any State. Let
us hope that no other such mob,
or Governor, or necessity will
be found anywhere else at any,
time.
Visitors to Washington will
probably soon be able to take
the ears here and reach Mt.
Vernon in less than an hour.
Their travel there for a few
years past has been enormous,
and capitalists are aroused TO
the necessity and profit of more
convenient communication be-
tween the two points. The old
times are passing away, in
which Washington might have
laid in stores at Mt. Vernon for
a schooner trip to the point, af-
forwards to lie the Capital of the
country. Next year the occu-
pants of Mt. Vernon will step
on the cars near the mansion
and reach this city i'll thirty
minutes.
One of the Judges of our
Supreme Court has just deci-
died. that under the laws of this
District, a physician who has
not received a license from the
Medical Society of the District
has no legal rights to compen-
sation for his medical services.
The case will be contested.
These things arc probably bet
ter regulated Gin the States, 1"
but we in the District live in a
perpetual doubt as to what law
governs us. 1t may be the Ma
ryland law, in force when the
District was coded to the Uni
ted States, or an Act of Con-
gress, OF a municipal ordinance.
One of the first things Con-
gress does OH Tcassembling
should be the authorization of
a competent commission for the
purpose of codifying the laws
relating to the Capital. The
people who make their homes
here are entitled to that much
consideration.
A couple who married here
in 1875, under fictitious names,
have Just had the matter ar
ranged by filing their own state
ments, under their proper names,
with that of the Minister who
performed the marriage ceremo-
nv in the archives of the Court
with the original license. The
case was a new one to the
Court and probably few like it
have occurred anywhere.
One recent decision of the
War Department, in relation to
service Of volunteers in the late
war, seems to be open to criti-
CHM. 1t is, in substance, that
no change will be made in the
record of a soldier, however or
roneous such record may be
TT H. rooar1