The National tribune., 1884-10-02
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
ahe Weekly Collection About the Ma
tiOnal Capital
TEE cnroNr or LrRERrA.

THE COLONY OF LIBERIA.
Previous to the war we heard great deal
about the colonization of negroes IN Liberia
1t seemed to be accepted by every person that
there was no room OH this continent for Tree
negroes Everybody except ultra -abolitionists
seemed toregard the presence here of negroes
not in slavery as something extremely danger
Gus 10 the institution of slavery, which ma
.iorty of the people Of the United States united
in protecting and upholding Consequently
the colonization movement had great deal of
strength. and under its patronage free colony
was established in Liberia under the protee-
fion of England and the United States, and
funds were provided by charitable individuals
for the transportation and setting up in life Of
such free negroes as desired TO return TO Africa.
SO distinguished a lnan as Henry Clay was an
ardent patron of the colonization scheme, and
was one of the founders of the society.
As late even as Is66 a distinguished General
J. D. Cox. an original aboliiionist-was firm in
the belief that il WAS mpolitic if not impossible
for free negroes 20 live among the whites;
and in his letter accepting the Republican can
didacy for Governor OF Ohio, he urged that a
portion OF our Western Territory be set apart
for occupancy by the negroes, and that they be
sent there. But with the close of the war and
the enfranchisemcnt Of negroes all interest IN
colonization seemed 10 have ceased, and 1t viii
DE a surprise TO many to learn that the Coloni-
cation Society still exists and quite sactively
at work as it was in the days before the war,
when it enjoyed so much attention.
The Liberian Consul-General and Secretary
of the Colonization Society, who IS located
here left for New York this week, where
he win superintend the work of send
ing to Liberia the usual semi-annual batch
Of c0lOred people. For go years back this
organization has been sending out every Spring
and Fall number of men and women of the
African race TO the Republic of Liberia, and
almost without exception the immigrants have
taken kindly to the land of their fathers.
The President of the Colony is native Of
Liberia, born Of parents who were slaves in
this country, and has displayed a great deal of
ability IN his administration Of affairs. Public
schools are now in existence there and educa-
fion is made compulsory. The college, which
was recently built at a cost OF $4,000, Is wei
patronzed the colonists fully approaching the
value of education.
Since the formation Of the Society about
10000 colOred people have been shipped from
This country while in the neighborhood of
5000 more native Africans, who were released
from slave ships. have found home there. The
organization gives them passage TO Liberia
from the port of New York. On their arrival
at Liberia 10 acres Of land are donated to them,
or If the family is very large 25acres are allowed,
and each family Is provided with $50 for food
and shelter while the crops are growing. The
soil is fertile, and the crops raised-arrowroot
pepper lemons, oranges. etc.-yield grand
profit 10 the husbandman.
A WHOLESALE RESURRECTION.
One Of the Oldest burial grounds in Wash
ingtOn is that known as HOimead Cemetery.
Ibetract, which embraces about three acres, was
Set aside for burial purposes nearly 100 years
ago. and for some time thereafter it was the
principal cemetery for Washington. OF late
yeafs il has fallen into disuse There have
been few iuterments ia it since 1850, and none
during the last Is years. Some time ago il was
determined 10 HOt only discontinue its further
use as a cemetery. but 70 disinter all the re-
mains. deposit them elsewhere, divide the tract
into lots and put them upon the market Dur
ing the past two OF three years a large number
OF the bodies have been taken up by friends Of
the dead and reinteTred IN other cemeteries.
A week ago. under the direction Of the District
Commissioners, d force of 80 men began the
work OF e1huming all that remained The
number j. estimated at about 2,JJa, and they
are scattered over the entire ground. Most OF
the mounds have long since disappeared, and
there is no way to find the graves but by Dig
ging over the whole tract 10 a depth Of seven
feet Some Of the collins that have been in
the ground for half OF three-quarters Of cen
furv are found SO well preserved that they can
BE removed bodily, although they soon fall TO
pieces after beiEg exposed 10 the air. Most OF
them. however, are much decayed, only frag-
meats being found. which crRmble al the touch.
In one spot * was known that there were
burieG number Of soldiers who died during
the war OF 1872 Here, although very little
remained Of the bodies. were found a number
OF oiG military buttons and several pennies
bearing dates Of previous years. In some
graves were found articles Of jewelry Of vari-
Gus kinds that were buried with the dead. Al
the remains, to the smallest restige are care
fully gathered up, deposited in boxes, and re-
inferred IA Rock Creek Cemetery. One box
little larger than All ordinary coffin contained
TIE remains Of 40 persons, each, IN some
eases, but mere handful. It is expected that
the work win not be completed for six or eight
weeks.
TwIGGss SWORDS.
An object Of interest at the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing is a wooden case contain
ing three elegant swords in scabbards of solid
gold, elaborately engraved and decorated witt
diamonds and other precious stones. They ar,
said 10 have cost 5000. They were pre-
scented 10 Gen. TWiggs,-One voted by Congress
FOR which $4,000 was appropriated; one from
the State Of Georgia, and the other by tn,
citizens Of Augusta where he lived,-as trib
ltes 70 his bravery and gallant services in th
Mexican war. Gen. Twiggs spoiled his goot
Record ~ the outbreak OF the rebellion. II
was N command Of the Department Of Texas
and several weeks before Fort Sumter was fire.
upon he surrendered TO the Confederate au
sh0rities al the soldiers and Government store
undcr his control. Some time later he depOsite
these swords for safel1ecping ii the vault Of
bank in New Orleans. They fell into the hand
OF Gen. Butler at New Orleans. He @confs
Gated them and sent them TO President Lin
coin. They were placed in the custody Of th
Treasury Department, where they have re
manned 70 this day. Twiggs died at August
IN 1862. His heirs have been trying for seI
eral years to recover possession Of the sword
or their value, and have a claim against Ia
United States now pending. By a strang
coincidence, their attorney for the prosecutio
OF tho claim is Gen. Butler, who capture
them.
THE GREAT oBELIsE
After q stoppage Of q month. to make III
preparations necessary for building the pyr1
midai apex. the work oflayingthe marble blocl
has been recommended. Ii Is expected thi
this great work viii be finished in about thrt
weeks. The eap-stOne that is to crown Il
summit is nearly completed Chips" fro
this arc greatly prized by the relic-hnnter
and during the dressing Of the block hundred
o. tho fragments have been carried away
souvenirs. The cap-stOne viii rest al an elev
lion Of $50 feet FROM the base Of the shaft--tl
bighest artificial point in the world-high,
than the great pyramid Of Egypt. the pinnac
Of ~. Peters a. Rome, or that Of the famOl
cathedral AZ Cologne. The Washington Mon
mcat VIII be dedicated with great eclaf on II
2>d OF February next. Singularly enoup'