Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-03-29
FROM WASHINGTON.

Especial Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette |
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 20, 1852
In consequence of adverse criticism and
censure OF the Presidents action in granting
certain pardons of late, it has been determ-
ined at the Department of Justice that
hereafter information about pardons shall
not be made public; that the pardons shall
be granted and the convcts be discharged
without anybody except the parties most
interested even knowing whether an APP
plication for pardon had been made, let
alone having been granted. This is an
unwarranted assumption of authority on the
Presidents part that is surprising even to
the advocates of centralism, and is so con-
trary to republican institutions that it will
probably be made a subject of Congressional
investigation.
In the star route trial to-day the exami-
nation of Dorsey was continued. AS on the
previous days during which he has been on
the witness stand, his testimony was in the
effect OF positive denial of all the evidence
that had been adduced against him. He,
however, did not deny that he was inter
ested in the mail routes, and had asked that
they be expedited, and said that he had
made such application because he was and
still is of the opinion that there should be
daily service on all star routes.
The civil service commission are already
bothered. They don't known whether the
law about the apportionment of office hold
ers according to the ratio of population ofthe
several States applies to those now in office
or TO those to be appointed hereafter, and if
the latter whether the applicant who has
passed the best examination and who shall
hail from State that has its quota shall be
compelled to wait while one who has not
equaled hirn but who halls from State that
has not its quota shall be appointed.
Secretary Folger was well enough to take
his breakfast in his breakfast room this
morning. He is still very poorly" howev.
er, and Will start on his proposed trip to the
Bermudas, via New York, as soon as he
shall be strong enough to travel.
The cruising limits of the South Atlantic
squadron have been extended, for the pur-
pose, it is thought, of allowing the z. S.
fleet to keep lookout upon the French de-
signs in Madagascar
Mr.. Taylor Suit has returned from New
York, whittier he went to negotiate for the
construction of his located railroad from
Washington to Chesapeake Beach, but the
contract has not yet been signed.
A delegation OF Ohioans who want to get
Governor Foster out Of their way at home
called upon the President this morning and
asked him TO make the Governor Postmas-
ter General. Mr.. kasson, of Iowa who is
the favorite of his State for Postmaster Gen
erai III preference to Assistant Postmaster
| General Hatton, Of the same State. is also
being pushed for the position.
| Water will be let on the Alexandria Canal
on Saturday, and the canal will be uaviga-
BILE by Monday afternoon. When boats will
come over it is unknown, as intelligence
from Cumberland is that the American
Company has not yet commenced loading
boats.
The Mexican visitors went down to Mt.
Vernon, in the L. S. ship Dispatch, this
morning. They will leave for New York
tomorrow. AT the reception at Minister
Fosters, yesterday evening, nearly every
body IN the city, except the President and
his Cabinet. who are in mourning, was
present. As it was impossible for the party
to procure tickets for the Nilsson concert
tonight because they had all been disposed
of more than week ago, the Diva was in
vIted to the Foster reception, where she
and General Daz had long conversation,
Gentlemen from Philadelphia here to-
day say that tho soap stone from the
qnarries near Otter Station on the Virginia
Midland Railroad, which belong to an Alex
andria company, is the best that comes to
market and that there are parties in their
city who are anxious to contract for all of it
that can be quarried.
The death of Mr.. Herndon, member of the
House from the Mobile, Ala. district, will
not reduce the democratic majority in the
next House, as though there is a negro ma.
jority in the district, there is also a demo.
cratic majority. Contrary to the prevalent
impression in the North, the safest demo-
cratic districts in the Gulf States are those
IN which there are negroes majorities.
Since General Malone has left the city there is
noticeable falling off in the number of office
seekers, and, so far as Virginians are concerned,
there is not one here
A. W. Hawkins Cuckoo, Louisa Co., Va, and S.
Thomas, Franklin Patrick Co.. Va were commits
| stoned postmasters to-day
| No Use TRYISC rn P1r,cr E..-n.n.n.. &c