Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-12
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

Correspondence OF the Alexandria iAZETTEI
RICHMOND, Aug. 10, lSS4,-As your read
ers already know, the Boss had meeting
in the third story Of the Wig building last
Friday night. Long before eight o'clock,
the hour at which the proceedings were to
be opened, quite crowd of the small Try
had assembled in and around the Wig Of
fee, most of them though unlimited, imagin-
ing that their presence was indispensable in
the way of solving the many difficult pollti-
cal problems which now environ The late
Napoleon of Virginia.
In looking around the room just before
the talk commenced one was struck with
the absence of many of the shining lights
who few months ago would under no cir
cumstances miss such chance to hear the
Boss chat. There were only one or two men
of more than local prominence present, but
the "nubbius were as thick as mayllies in
May.
As soon as Boss Malone commenced to
talk, it was apparent that the meeting was
not called for business, but simply for a de-
s,Iltory chat about matters that had already
disposed Of themselves. In fact, every now
and then Gen. Malone hears mutterings
about his running the machine wholly for
aud by himself and to allay this feeling Of
discomfort, he hastily summons few of his
muions, for, as he tells them, an important
conference, which is really blind, for
whenever anything of Importance is to be
done in the way of issuing orders, he writes
his circular and tells Brady and Boiling to
sign 1t then appears as coming from the
proper representatives OF the brand new re-
publican party, though no one had anything
to do with it save himself. The executive
committee is composed Of Malone, Brady,
and Boiling, all government pap suckers,
and all residents of Petersburg.
Col. Berkeley, the new recruit, WIS in at
tendance, and as is the case with all new
additions, received good deal of attention.
How we'll does one remember when Sims
Topped over into the readjuster party. Sims
was a great man then, but alas, poor fellow,
he now reminds one of the epitaph on the
rag baby
If so soon l am to be done for
wonder what was begun for
He, the once candidate OF the party for Con-
gress in the First district, is now kicked out
of an insignificant twelve hundred dollar
position, and this, too, for simply following
his own convictions and voting in the ma
tional republican convention for the man
that Malone is now compelled to swallow,
though he hates him worse than Ben Butler
does.
The new republican party don't get
great deal in the acquisition of Col. Berke.
lev, and neither does the democracy lose
much. He is chiefly known for making
and as candidate for Secretary of the
Commonwealth before the last Legislature
"only this and nothing more"
General Malone consumed nearly the
whole six hours in talking about the coming
campaign. Nothing whatever was said
about the change in the electoral ticket
though there are two vacancies on it, one
caused by resignation and the other ineligi
blity on the part of FanAuken, federal
oflceholder. These vacancies will be filled
by some obscure strnightous after the
Legislature adiourns, the reason for the
post ponenent being that Wick hams friends
are putting him forward as an elector, and
Malone will not have him on the ticket IN
der any circumstances; but the Boss does
not wish to offend Wickh ham and Callahan
before the called session Is closed, as they
might, smarting under this new atfront, as
sist the democrats to the detrimeut Of the
brand new republican party.
There is more dissatisfaction among the
whites than was ever known before. Those
who were once his warmest friends now
speak out in open meeting against this one
man method of Mahone's, and this is not
confined to the privates, but some of his
leading men. 1t would not surprise any
one here, in view of this growing dissatis-
faction, if the little boss did not have to
step down and out before the fall campaign
closes and if he does, Attorney General
Blair will succeed him, having equally as
much intelligence, a better speaker, is popu'
lar with the party, and would not arrogate
to himself all the brains of the republican
party of Virginia. A great many members
of the Malone party say that the boss is
their Napoleon, and, like him, should have
retired after his Waterloo of last fall. Judg
ing from such expressions as these, it is only
matter of a very short time ere the boss
must 60.
The federal office holders in these parts
are experiencing pretty rough time, and
won't he able to bank much between now
and November. They have to subscribe to
stock in the Wing, pay political assessments
for State purposes, and then respond to
circular from the committee at Washington.
Verify, the lot of federal office holder
While the affairs in the postoilice in New
Orleans are being investigated, it would be
well for the committee to extend their i'll
quiries to the Office here. Though there
may not be any stealing going on at the
postoffice in this city, owing to the incom-
potency Of maor portion of the employees
about one.half Of whom are unlettered ne
groes, whose sole recommendation is that
they are supposed to have some following,
the mails get frightfully mixed. You get
other peoples mail and they get yours, and
thus important business communications
don't reach you for days after they arrive in
Richmond Go to the postoflice any night
about eight o'clock and it's more than prob
able you will find the entire Office in charge
Of negroes, none of whom are fit to make
tally clerk to watermelon sloop. Yet
they are handling the large and important
mail matter which daily arrives here. Is it
any wonder then that the people do not get
their letters, and that they want change
of administration Complaints are played
ont The nostmaster though an elegant