Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-09
Letters from Richmond.
| Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. ]
RICHMOND, February 7, 1878.


RICHMOND, February 7, 1878.
The tax bill is still the subject Of discussion,
and very dry discussion too. Both sides have
nearly exhausted themselves. so far as any |
thing new advanced is concerned, and it takes |
a telescope to 6ad it.
Great excitement has been created in Man
chester by case Of body snatching. Aunt
Polly Stewart, one of the most highly respected
old colored women 10 Manchester, died Sun.
day last, and was buried with great ceremony.
A large concourse of colored people gathered
around her grave, and after singing that beau
tiful Ethiopian melody, Lord rock 'er my
soul 10 the bosum of Abraham" the remains
of the good old colored woman, who had been
the nurse of Judge Clopton. Mr.. Socrates
Brooks and Mr.. David L. Pulliam, were com
mitted TO their last resting place in the coored
cemetery, in Manchester. The old woman was
very popular and had seen and oonversed with
Geseral Washington and General Lafayette.
She was looked upon as kind OF Meg Merrl.
lies by the colored population. Indeed she had
wonderful! power over the oolored people, and
her words 10 matters of law and physlo were
looked upon with awe and fear by them: She
possessed that mysterious power OF "trlcklng'
her enemies aud those who offended her.
Many colored family had been followed by
this indiscribsble and Dameless curse, the trick,
aud more than one had been laid on sick bed
by the power Of her uttered words, and no
physician had been able to raise them up. The
old woman was indeed power among her race.
She was buried with great pomp and cere.
mony. Yesterday morning, when some OF
nb lad hoop 1o1 ho
went to the cemetery, they were indignant and
broken coffin upon the red clay. The resur'
rectiouists had been at work. The indignation
among the colored population is intense.
Senator Brookes' four per cent. bill will
scarcely pass the House. IF it does it will be
late 10 the session, and will be selected as COM
promise measure.
It is hard to say what the attraction was to
day, but three of our leading Baptist ministers
we're present during the debate 10 the House
on the Barbour tax bill, Rev. Drs. Jeter,
Hatcher and Dickinson. When old Mr.Lswis
| Z, HarVie, one of the bravest and most un.
| hinchiog readjusters 10 the Legislature, got up
and spoke briefly 10 favor Of tho bill, he took
occasion to say, here, 10 the presence of some
| of them," that tie intermeddling by preachers
with politics was very unbeooming. He further
said that if some Of the ministers would bestow
that same zeal 10 the interest aud welfare OF
souls, that they had manifested 10 the public
debt, it would be more becoming. Mr.. Harvie
| is one of the old time Virginia gentlemen, and
| his remarks are listened to with tho greatest
interest aud attention.
Mr.. P. N. Grant. young gentleman. very
handsome and agreeable, was appointed by
Gov. Holiday, yesterday, on the capitol police
force. He came with the very highest recon.
mendation to the Governor. To day. ere he had
been at bis post four hours, he was arrested on
the charge of forgery in Rockbridge county, and
was to- night committed to Jail.
Mr.. Rainsford, the great English evangelist,
who is drawing such large crowds here, is o
graduate of Cambridge. He has, 10 bis time,
pulled m oar in the famous Oxford and Cam
bridge boat races.
| Sothern will be at the theatre next week, land
Brignoli's Italian Opera Company will have
Mozart Hall.
| Mr.. John Esten Cooke, the novelist, is 10
this city, on a visit to his relatives. 1t is his
frat visit to Richmond for many years.
! RICHMOND. February 8, 1873
| At length the long discussion on the tax bill
has drawn to close. Tomorrow the day fixed
for the voting upon the bill, will be hailed with
| delight by newspaper reporters and officers OF
the House. All have been completely mistifed
and confused by the speeches, SO that no man
knows anything about the debt now. As rule
the speeches have disappointed many. Mr..
q enry made reputation by his speech, and 80
did Mr. Allen, the Speaker. Mr.. Mush bach, OF
! Alexandria, also is highly spoken of. He is
| certainly one of the clearest speakers in the
House Mr.. Musb bach favored the four per ct.
proposition.
Mr.. Hunter took the opposite side and favor
ed the Barbour tax bill.
It is said that the body of the old colored
woman, aunt Polly Stewart, which was ruth
lessly disinterred few nights ago, was taken to
the University of Virginia.
Another elopement in high life occurred here
last night. One of Richmond's bellies and very
popular young gentleman left last night for
North Carolina
| Mr.. Mushbach's bill, allowing the city Of
Alexandra to compromise her debt, was to-day
passed by the Senate. The coupon feature in
it was opposed by Messrs. Fuikerson, Massie
and Paul. The bill now goes to the Governor
Mr. Barbour closes the debate on the bill to-
| morrow. He will have unlimited time 10 reply
| to the arguments of his opponents.
The Governor has gone through the alphabet
| of the members of the Legislature For them
| no more free dinners.
Legislative.
Inthn Senate uesferdau carIain amnndments