Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-17
Letters from Richmond.


Tuteresttng CHopter in the Early History of
Morn,ouisn,- VIII the Legislature be Present
| at the Inauguration ?-L an Oyster q Fish
President Hayes should be Plucked from His
H;qh Seat-Rctorm-1he Talk about Lati.
tude in the Party. de-, dc.
Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette. !
RICHMOND. Dec 15-The ooly discussion ID
the HOUSE to day was upon the fol!o|lng reso
luton, offered by Delegate Alex. Hunter, Of
Alexandra =
Resozvel That the rules of ,he House be so
amended as to provide for special committee
on game. of not less than nine members, nor
more than thirteen.
Gen. Taliferro, of Gloucester. opposed the
resolution. DR.. Mofett opposed the resolution
10 that form. lie wanted it fish and game"
He proposed an amendment to this effect.
which was adopted. MIR. Robinson, of Norfolk,
moved to amend the resolution by inserting oys.
tiers. This was lost. The resolution Was, f.
nally, laid on the table, but it is evident that
this win not be The last of it. LIS advocates
will take it up after the Christmas recess and
push it through.
Ia the conference 10 The ball Of the House Of
Delegates, Friday night, Maj. John w. Daniel
of Lynohburg, showed very conclusively that he
could make good extempore speech. The
speech he made on that OCCASION WAS one OF the
best he ever made in his life. 1t could not pos
sibly have been prepared, as it was called forth
by what was said AID done 10 that meeting, and
it was made in reply to the speeches Of other
gentlemen on the floor.
The conservatives, or those who are opposed
to the Barbour wing Of the conservative party
claim that they have gotten the majority. The
other side dispute it. MIR. Barbour was not 10
the city on the occasion OF the conference. and
his followers did not work together as solid as
they would have done had they been inspired
by his presence. Indeed one gentleman, Mr..
McCaulI, of Pulaski asked the conference to
adjourn until Tuesday 10 order to give his side
time to get its friends together. 1t was very
we'll understood that be meant by "our side"
Mr.. Barbour, of Culpeper, who was out Of The
citv, ard this was an acknowlcdg ement that he
was their leader. MIR. Barbour will reach the
city Tu eslay, at which time, DO doubt, tho re
adjustment forces will change their tactics ADD
make bold movement. If, as the gentlemen
who took part 10 the Friday night conference
claim, they have the majority, then this will
prevent the simon pure read ju5ters from
dominating the Sta officers, thing which
they are very anXicus to DO.
Senator Lee presided over the mectiog Fri.
day night, very gracefully and impartay all
must admit.
The mania for the reduction of salaries seems
to be on the increase. In tho House, TO day,
MIR. Walker, of Chesterfield, offered rcsolu.
ton, sweeping in its character, for the commit
tee on retrenchment to inquire into the expe
di5ucy Of reducing the compensation, fees and
salaries Of chancery city court clerks, commission
ers of the revenue, treasurers, city sergeant and
hustiDgs court clerks.
The city of Manchester Friday night reduced
the salaries of its officers to pitiabe degree of
smallDess. For instance, the Office of CITY en-.
gineer was abolished and the duties devolved
upon the chief of police. The entire police
foroo was reduced to two men, who are to got
$50 per month. The mayors salary was re
duced to $500 per annum, 40 amount thet most
Office boys make. The auditor, who is also sec
rotary to the city couucil was reduced to $7lO.
The commissioner Of the revenue Was reduced
ed The COMMONWEALTH ssta.fEF oesy was Abolish.
ed $500 to perform his duties and those of the
city attorney.
These ADD similar reductions will have the
effect Of decreasing the rush Tor ottlcc.
1t is, however, mistake to believe that be.
cause man is an officer, his duties are light
and can be performed by anybody. Let the
average Virginian be thankful that be is not an
officer. Let him amble gracefully around and
lock at the suspended axe undismayed. Let
him give moro attention to grape culture and
GOLD mining, and hog raising. and onion pro-
duoing, and the peanut culture he will be
happier man, anu will be able to mark the events
of each day with a white mark 10 the diary of
his life, and lock with sublime Indifference upon
the Robespierre Of the day aud the trembling
Office holders.
Senator Sinclair reached the city to day and
will enter upon the discharge of his duties The
Senator can boast of one Of the greatest minds
n the Legislature, and be is certainly one Of
the most brilliant takers 1t is worth a treat
10 hear him tell Of the days when be was judge
Of the United States Court Of Utah Territory,
10 the early days of Brigham young. The Judge
has had many asquabble with The late prophet,
and the first case ever tried. 'the United States
VS.. Brigham Young" was in the u. S. Court,
with Judge Sinclair as judge, and Maj or Charles
Morris Smith now associate editor of the
Whie) as prosecuting attorney on the part OF
the United States Government. The Judge
gives really vivid description of the occasion.
How all the United States officers SUNK away
in terror; how the Court room was crowded
With Infatuated, armed MormoDs how oue of
the lawyers came to him and said, with face as
white as sheet, Judge, if this trial goes on
VIC will be dead men" anc how he told the
lawyer that he intended ITO try the case if hell
freezes over and have to fight it out on the
ice." Brigham Young, the prophet, never went
into any building with bis head uncovered, but
always wore his hat The Judge sent him
word as be entered his Court room that he "had
to take that bat off 10 the Court room if he |
did ut be would have it DONE The prophet
then took the hat off and came in with his head |
tied I'M in n bapdappa handkerchief. The Judpe |
aud bis attorney, Mr.. Smith, did not fiuch |
through the trial, Notwithstanding the threats
of the Mormons, but went through the case.
If Judge Sinclair would write out this episode
as he tells it, he would give graphic and in.
teresting chapter of the early history of the
days of the Mormons
If the Legislature adjourns to meet on the
first of January it is more than probable that
many of the members will be absent from the
city on the occasion Of the Inauguration of Gov.
Holiday.
During the debate on Mr.. Hunters game
the question was raised whether an
- ~ Al