The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-17
s,rse ru,,s,, About rrea, Douglass.

WAshtNarosa Mnrch rs. The nomination
Is notspopusar one with any class. The
coIorsH people do mot apnrcye OF 1t, Tor
they say that, Ehile Douglass assumes to be
u Representatives Of their raceS he Is "too
ffigh-toned, nard prefers asseeiattng with
white people, where he can do II, to those
OF bis own color. The citizens generaliy OF
the District do mot approve Of It, as they
say that so Important an office should moi
be given to him. The lawyers are very
much disguised over it, and one o, the Dis
.trict judges said that Douglass was entirely
unit for such a position; TINT 10 required
very fine business capacities. In which ne
was entirely deficient, rs shown by ms
miserable management of the affairs OF the
Freednien's Bank. -
II 1t Is stated very positively that although
President Hayes expressed his purpose TO
do something very handsome for Mr.. Doug
lass, he never would have nominated him
as marshalif that officer was expected to act
as master Of ceremonies at the White House,
as was always the case until the latter part
Of General Grants administration. When
the name Of Mr.. Douglass was first suggest
ed for the marshalship it was thought that
one Of his duties would be o.attend ut the
presidential levees and receptions, and in
troduce the guests. A confidential friend q
President Hayes remarked, ado you think
the President Will haresa Niger to intro
duce people to his WHEY" Afterwards it
was found that this was not necessarily a
part OF the official duties of the marshal, as
it was mentioned that for several years
General Babcock and others OF the immedi-
ate household of the President had acted as
grand high chamberlain. 1t was therefore
understood that Mr.. Douglass is to have no
connection with the White House.
The members Of the bar make no secret
Of the fact that they are opposed to the
nomination, and that they intend to use
every means in their power to defeat his
confirmation. When the news OF the nomi-
nation reached the City Hall to-day there
were number OF lawyers in the clerks
Office, and they began Immediately to enter
their protests. One Of them remarked that
he had been confidentially informed by q
friend OF the Administration that "DouS-
lass had been selected to give color to the
courts.'' ono" said another, she was
chosen to give unabrage to the courts" Just
at this moment one OF the judges entered,
and, overhearing the remarks, suggested that
the lawyers "should not make light OF It," A
committee representing the Bar Assocla-
ton will tomorrow ask the Committee on
the District OF Columbia to give them an
opportunity to express their objections to
the confirmation. It is understood that Mr..
George W. Phillips, who has been the
deputy marshal for the last quarter OF q
century, will not serve under Dir. Douglass
under any consideration. .-r
When the Senate went into executive SEES
sion to-day the nomination OF Mr.. Douglass
was referred to the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia. An effort was made to
report It back favorably for Immediate ac-
ton, but this was objected to by Judge
Merrimon. who was the only Democratic
member OF the committee present. Most
Of the Democratic senators have expressed
themselves very decidedly on, the; subject,
and they are outspoken in condemnation OF
the appointment, which they declare is an
insult to the white people OF the District.
They intend to call the yeas and nays on the
question of his confirmation, and it is be-
lieved that very nearly II not all OF them
will vote against him. In consequence OF
the strong opposition against him his con-
6rmation is not certain, but he believes that
he will pull through. -,
Tonight a number OF members OF the
bar called on Senator Dorsey, chairman OF
the Committee on the District OF Columbia,
and protested against favorable report on
the nomination. Two senators also went
to the White House and requested Presi-
dent Hayes to withdraw the nomination,
which he declined to do unless at the mo-
ton OF Douglass himself. Bruce, the
colored senator from Mississippi, who rer
sides with Douglass, urges him to stick.
The marshalship is said to be worth about
ten thousand dollars. u FIR