Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-25
Letter from Richmond.

Letter from Richmond.
| Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.]
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. "a. lS71TI.-lt is prob
able that there will be an active fight over the
proposed new railroad from this city to Wash.
ngton. Ii this comes up it will occupy much
Of the time Of The General Assembly. Every
thing else must give way for railroads. This
is as true when the bill is before the Legisla'
turc rs when the engine is on the track. re-
grct 10 see 4 railroad bill. EE.Gov. Smith and
Honest John will not even be able to prevent
its consuming too much Of the tine Of the Leg
slature. rs usual the session will come to
close, and half of the work will not be done.
At any rate il there is to be railroad fight, it
ii TO be hoped that it wilI beg;u at once.
The Governor has appointed Messrs. John
Z. Cary, Charles Campbell, and DR.. Charles
II. Smith directors Of the Penitentiary. Dr..
Smith is the only new appoiutec. The Gov
crnor evidently believes in rotation in Office.
The resignation Of Col. French Strother, as
Superintendent Of the Penteutiary, was sent
10 the General Assembly to-day. a caucus
vii! he held next Wednesday to nominate his
successor. Gen. r. Lindsey Walker, Colonel
Samuel A. SWAP, and Mr.. STROLLER, jr., are
the prucip pal candidates mentioned
Senator Johnson has introduced bill in the
Senate providing for u ncT system Of ballots
The bill provides that the envelopes and tickets
shall be of the same size aud uniform in color,
and that they shall be furnished by the State
The Judges shall be two OF one party and three
| ofthe other instead OF as now. Mr. johnson
urged the passage Of his bill al some !eagth,
and Alr. llinOa opposed it.
| The Senate, to day, passed bills inuorporat
ing the town Of Mckenzie, in Fairfax county,
and to Incorporate the Fort Monroe aud lamp.
ton Railroad Company; and also passed the bill
| to sell the States interest in the Thornton Cap
Turnpike Company.
| Co.. French Stroher say, 10 the c>mmuni
cation Transmitting his resignation as Supcrlu-
| tcudcnt OF the PcnitentiaTy, that he has the
assurance OF his medical attendants that his
restoration to health is absolutely certain, but
| as the General Assembly has thought that the
public service was suffering by his absence from
| his post, he has deemed 1t best to resign.
| Beecher drew a crowd OF about six hundred
people last night, end yet have been out in
the street and have not found man who was
there. One minister was present, and he sat
| in an out oil the way place The indignation
of the ladies particularly is immense Tho
idea OF gentlemen of Richmond going 10 hear
that creature, they say, aud fouucc at a tel
low, aud look dsggers at him. But they al
| ways strike the wrong man. "Oh, no. woulln'
give cent 10 hear hun; heard too much of
him already says the man as lie moves away.
| understand that, when Beecher was told that
the people here were down 90 him, and nc
would speak to an empty house, he said, "Ah,
we'll II win them over and he certainly
made his cold and unsympathetic audience
grow enthusiastic.
Col. Geo.go Wytho Munfori will be Prcsi-
dent Of Richmond Blues Association the
bill incorporating which has passed both
Houses.
TIE JUDGES WHO ARE TO Count THE
VoTE.-Mr. George Alfred Townsend briefly
sketches four Of the members Of the Supreme
Court who are to assist in counting the electo-
raj vote, should the plan recommended by the
Joint Congressional committee be adopted:
Clifford is man stepped 10 reverence for
the tribunal where he has passed SO many
years This old man, colossal in size, weigh
ing about or above 800 pounds, made the treaty
with Mexico 10 1871. lie was appointed by
democratic administration, aud is hardly ever
heard to refer to political questions.
Judge Miller speaks pleasantly about the |
new duty devolviDg upon him. lie is univer |
sally regarded in Missouri by the cx.rebels as
we'll as by the republicans OF Iowa as the ablest |
jurist west OF the river Mississippi. By birth
he is kcntucGian, and was once doctor.
Judge Field is man Of stupendous read
ing and information, the ablcst lawyers 90 the
Pacific side, and the peer Of anybody 10 the
court. lie is man Of ready opinions, but as
Judge his impartiaity is uDquestioued.
Judge Strong is tue most judicial looking
man on the bench-oi noble head, with grey
locks from his CROWD. His position in Penn.
sylvania was of the highest; he is seldom heard
Of here except 10 the legal social circle
"While many look upon Davis as the fifth
Judge, some say that Conklngs appolotee-
Ward Huut-would be apt to initiate Conk-
lings enuo5lcd motives and forget the partisan
in the public officer, and that be may be the
choice. Others think that the judges will Sc
lect the easy and agreeable Bradley, who was
appointed republican, bat whose State weot
for Tildeu by so great majority that he will
be evenly balanced in the influences which CO.
viron him. y
The Washington correspondent Of the New
York Tribune says:
1.-THE compromise scheme goes through there
will be serious objection urged to the selection
Of Judge Davis as the fifth member from the
Supreme bench. His name is constantly men.