The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

N-' ---4 a -4A@s
~, ~ = hhIroI; or rHs- .,Ew NoRrIrwEsr:
Inc morbid appetite Of the American
citizens' who delight in beboldino
thihss odIous, can be gratifed bv CON
templatlng a specimen Of the snacias
man down on the sacred soil Of Z-ir-
ginia. He is one Of those .-..,,,r....
whom it would be a pity TO kiln 81,
one ever discovered what use he Is 10
society, unless il may be as an examnle
of responsiveness. By some abnormal
freak Of nature, or more properly, per-
haps, by the successful operations of
the ilthiness Of politics. this fellow was
boosted into the clerkship of Fauquier
d Co., where it happened that the wills
Of G-nrsa aud Martha Washington,
contained in glass case, had been on
exhibition many years up to some
fifteen years ago, when this clerk came
into Office. Being poor, ambitious and
inscriptions, he conceived the idea of
copyrighting the treasure relics, and
/ thus aggraudize 10 himself their sole
benefits. He afterward published
trashy book of them, but avoided Civ
ing an exact copy. tt was failure.
In 1876 he applied to the benevolent
CoTeoran for loan of one thousand
dollars to aid him in printing a new
BOOK 10 be sold at the Centennial.
which was made with the view of secur-
Ing a general distribution Of COPIES of
the wills. This book again was a fall
ure' and served no purpose save to call
the attention of New York printing
company TO the relics, who offered him
twenty thousand dollars for the privi-
lege Of taking one Photographic copv OF
them, with view to producing exact
sImiles upon faded yellOw-tinted paper.
thus preserving the appearance of the
original for universal sale at a nominal
cost. II was refused An appeal was
made to the Librarian of Congress re-
Gently, who ruled that the clerks right
could not he disturbed under the COW
right law. And thus it occurs that, ere
long, unless something is done, there
viii not be copy extant, as the origi-
nails are fast crumbling to dust.
When public officers get envious, or
mified at each other, and, in conse-
quence, kick up rows aboutft. of course
the public are bound to be amused.
General Terry charges Indian Com
missioner Hoyt with having reflected
upon the morality of the soldiers sta
tioued at Standing Rock Agency, upop
which he Terry instituted an invasti-
cation, and claims TO have f,uti,s- t,,,-
charges unsubstautiated He there
upon, in official correspondence, de-
manded the proof The Commissioner
| ignored the whole matter, which riled
up the General, and he at once made
the matter public, submitting the dis
approving evidence endorsed by Geuer-
ais Sherman and Sheridan, the former
of whom uses caustie language, reflect
ing upon Mr. Indian Commissioner as
an oflicious boy "who never saw an In
dian" Mr. Hoyt replies, denying hav-
ing made any such charges, gives "a
trivial conversation rs the only possible
foundation Of any such a construction,
and adds that his bureau does not afford
that elegant leisure, at the command OF
army officers in time of peace, to mis-
construe harmless speeches made in
private, and incident converse ton,
upon which to trump up unnecessary
trouble, tending to disturb public har-
mony. There will no doubt be more
fusilade letters, after which all parties
concerned are to become heartily
ashamed Of themselves, and the matter
90 peacefully to sleep.
, The descendants of the i.lustrious
e Washington, when under public notice
are not always in the honor and glory
Of his great name. Thus does the great
d grand niece, Mrs. Fanny Washington
Y French, call for patriotic sympathy.
!. Born in Virginia, brought up and edu-
n Gated at the family mansion, she en-
e ioyed the honor aud benefits of heritage
b until her marriage in early womanhood
/, TO a Virginia divine, with whom sh e
n lived "a few happy years. After his
q death, gecuuiary circumstances COM
2 PEELED her to accept government clerk
|, ship, which she held until unjust
v charges of sympathy for the Southern
le COnfederacy caused her discharge by
10 Secretary Boutwell,. In 1870 she mar
ried Mr.. French, then and until recently
- holding a position in the naval branch
IS, of the New York Cdstom-hOuse. His
TO discharge was a great pecuniary en-
y barrassment, resulting in the wife open
IN ing boarding-house. In this, how
m ever, tickle fortune was against her, until
n. now we hear of her household goods un-
10 der attachment Tor rent arrearage. She
IN is a lady Of line personal appearance, re-
N markably we'll preserved, dark hair
IN deep, expressive eyes, and high eultur,
= and refinement. Her distressing situa
ton has been made known to the Pres
- ident, who it is thought, will have he
~ or her husband reinstated in some gov
M eminent position.
"a The yellow lever, whose fearful ravage
'c- in the South have become a nationa
.tI .eI calamity, daily sends its thrill Of terro
jx through this city The levity Of th
sensational editors, which at frs
styled the dread PLACE "Yellow Jack,
We "BrOnZe John" and "SafTron Monster,
IIv have all given way before the feariu
IA march of death and suffering to I'd
- Isa and nafnOs