Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-18


WASHINGTON March 16-The petitions, which
since the hard sentence visited upon Sergeant
Mason for shooting at Guiteau. have been get.
ting up all over the country, have commenced
to arrive at the White House. The President
has already received eight such papers with
yards of signatures, asking the pardon of Ma
son. This is only the C -mmencement of the
petition business in Mason's behalf In addi-
ton, the President is receiving large number
of individual letters from all pats of the coun-
try many of them from prominent people
asking mercy for Mason. OF course the Presi
dent has not yet acted upon or even considered
the plea for mercy. There is no doubt but that
they will be considered by him before long
Among officers OF the War Department it is
not thought that Mason will be meted out the
full measure of his sentence The President
may not pardon him fully. but it is certain that
if he does not do that he will mitigate the SEN
teDce so that it will be a comparatively mild
one There would be no opposition on the part
of the army officials to lenieucy being shown
the convicted soldier. In sentencing the man
the court martial only looked at the breach OF
discipline in all its enormity. There are never
considerations of humanity in courts martial.
WHO WILL WARWICK NAME?
There is a good deal of small talk among
will make his successor. 1t is not thought 9TH
erwise than that Mr.. Stephens will name the
next Representative to Congress from his dis
trict, although he will retire from politics at
the close Of his present term in the House.
Mr. Stephens is the Warwick of his district
and. although he will lay down the robes of
ofdcs, he will undoubtedly say who IS to be the
next wearer Of them Several names are men
toned "a Mr.. Stephens choice of a successor,
but as far as can be learned, that gentleman
has not yet designated the man.
THE COLUMBUS POST OFFICE.
Undoubtedly Collector Johnson, at Atlanta,
will have good deal to say as to who shall be
his successor in the Columbus post Office Mr..
johnson left to-day for Columbus The Post
mastership will not settled for some time at
least. The three leading candidates are Carey
J. Thornton, OF Columbus, r. d Locke and &.
W. Arnold. Locke is said to have Johnson's
good wishes, though that may not be true, as
Locke when he spoke for Clarke and Bryant
before Secretary Folger at the same time op
posed Johnson's appointment at Atlanta. It
is said, though. that whatever differences may
have been caused by that interview have been
wiped out. While Johnson may not be able to
name the new Postmaster at Columbus. it
would be a good thing for any candidate to
have him on his side in the scramble.
THE PROPOSED CONGRESS OF NATIONS
There has been, and are yet.- good many
jibes and much criticism of ex-Secret ary
Biz ines proposed conference of the govern
mentS on this continent to meet in Washington
for the settlement of difficulties and especially
with reference to the countries of Chilli and
Peru But at the same time there is a good
deal of strength in that proposition. Many
more members of Congress are in favor of it
than Mr.. Blaine's critics have thought. In fact.
Mr. Blaine's proposed policy is very strong
infant. 1t may grow to be man, though that
is hardly possible 1t is not all Blaine diplo-
matte fireworks" There are many mem
bers of both houses who. if they do
not wholly indorse Blaine'S policy while at the
head of the State Department at least hold
views in the main similar to those announced
by Mr.. Blaine. ANY one who will take the
trouble to inquire will find that Blaine's fire
works. are admired by many mora people
than the press and the critics have limited at.
There is good deal of the American eagle in
this Congress. At the same time there is relief
to large number OF public men that The State
Department has gone back to where she was
before Blaine took hold of her. She has re.
sumed the business Of doing nothing at all, and
is carrying on that business at the same old
stand.
The Republican members of Congress from
Chicago are doing some kicking against Sena-
tor Logan the sworn foe of Lindley Murray.
The pension agency, at Chicago, place worth
about Sc 900 year, is about to become vac ant
by the expiration of the commission of the
present incumbent. Logan wants one person
appointed and the Chicago Representatives
want another. Logan has been boss under Ar
thur in regard to Federal appointments in
Illinois, and the chances gre that he will re-
main boss in filling the pension agency. The
Chicago Representatives have, however. or
ganiZed kick. They strenuously urge that
their candidate be given the place President
Arthur told them to day when they called En-
him in body to meet Senator Logan and come
to some agreement with him. but that Is
impossible they said. Logan wants one
person appointed and we want another An
agret ment is therefore impossible J." The Presi-
dent repeated his injunction that they go to
see Senator Logan about it, and the Chicago
members withdrew. What want 10 know !;
said one of them aftDr the interview ''js whv
the President could not have said that Logan
was the Illinois boss, and would contjnue in
that capacity. 1t would have been a much
more satisfactory way OF telling us that as
against Logan We had no chance whatever"
MR. ATKINS.
Mr.. James Atkins. formerly Collector at
Savannah, has heretofore, both under Garfield
and under Arthur been a champion of others
rather than appearing in the role of looking
out for himself 1t is understood that in a |
short time Mr.. Atkins will appear II himself |
His ambition Is to be made the successor OF |
Judge Erskine when the latter shall retire from |
the bench. He is the first candidate in the |
field, and from all that now points to copolu- |
sions it would seem that he will be the winning |
man. In little over year Judge Erskine will |
be entitled to retirement.
THE SAVANNAH ooLLEcroRsHIP.
1t has been pretty conclusively settled that
there will be no change in the Collectorship of |
Customs at Savannah, now held by Mr. John
son. In fact it might without any reservation |
be stated that there will be no such change. |
Mr.. A Wilson, who was after the office. has
concluded to withdraw in his contest Or the |
place. He withdraws because there is no pros
pect of change. Collector johnson at Slvan- !
nah has pretty solid official shoes on his feet
THE GEORGIA JUDICIARY.
Senator Garland. from the Senate Judiciary
Committee, has reported favorablv to that
body a substitute for the bill of Representa-.
tive Hammond to establish distinct United
State Courts with distinct officers in the North
ern and Southern districts of the State of
Georgia" The substitute reported by the /
Senator embraces some of the wording OF the |
bill Of Mr.. Hammond which passed the House
The substitute which is now on the Senate
calendar is as follows:
THAT hereafter there shall be for each OF the
two judicial districts in the State of Georgia
Judge. District Attorney. Marshal, and Clerk,
to be appointed, commissioned, and removed |
as provided by law for other such officers; but
the officers now acting In said places in both
said districts shall continue to act until their
places shall be filed according to law
"eec 2 Thst the District Judge now holding
office for both said districts shall be ASSIGNED
to and hereafter be the District Judge for tba |