Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-14
FROM WASHINGTON.
Ispecial CORRESPONDENTS Of the Alexandra Gazette

inr IN the room of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections of the Senate, be-
fore the subcommittee of that committee,
TO whom the investigation Of that riot was
referred. OF the sub committee but two
members were present, Messrs. Sherman
and Vance. Among the witnesses present
were Messrs Blunt, Reagan, Hatcher, NorW-
ell. TAYLOR, Lee, Reed, DR.. Lee and others
from Danville. Three negroes, Walter Wat
tiers, Jack Red and l.. J.. Ivy, were the only
witnesses examined before the committee
took recess until two o'clock. Mr. John
Wise sat at Senator Sherman's right hand,
suppIied him with documents aud with
prepared series of questions, and suggested
other questions as opportunity arose. Messrs.
Cabell and Geo. D. Wise were present to con-
fer with Mr.. Vance. The negroes had evil
IDENTIFY been coached for the testimony they
were To give, and when cross examined,
particularly in the case of Red, contradict
ed themselves and attempted to recover
themselves on the plea of fatuous ignorance,
Red swearing that he did not know how
far it was from his home to Danville, though
be acknowledged the mile post stood i'll
front of his door, and that he walked to the
town nearly every day of his life. But biased
as they were, their own testimony was
to the effect that they were advised by the
white people to keep away from the scene
Of the riot while it was 10 progress, were
told by them afterwards that they should
be protected, aud that on election day were
asked by them to 20 to the polls and vote
their sentiments and guaranteed security
while doing so, and that as many cnlored
as white people in that county were pos.
sessed of guns. One negro witness testified
that he was not afraid to vote, but did not
because of an understanding the color
ed people had entered into not to cast
their votes. Quite crowd was present
during the examination of the witnesses
but nothing was developed of the bloody
shirt character that had been discounted by
Mahone's speech.
Enquiries at the Postofice Department
result in the discovery Of the fact that r. G.
Griffin, negro member OF the Virginia
Legislature, did tender his resignation as
postmaster at Yorktown on the 18th of No
vember, but that bis resignation was not
accepted, and that he is still considered by
the department as the Yorktown postmas.
ter. The failure to accept his resignation
and to appoint his successor is most unu-
sual. and is only attributable to the peculiar
relations existing between General Malone
and Assistant Postmaster General Frank
ing organ in this city.
Major Lydecker, one Of the District Com
missoners, was before the House District
Committee this morning with reference to
the proposed free bridge across the Potomac
at Georgetown, and further action on that
bill was postponed until the commissioners
can make further suggestions and give their
views upon it. 1t may be that after all the
piers of the Alexandria canal aqueduct will
be used for the bridge, but if so the Canal
Company and the Alexandrians should do
all they can 10 have the perpetuity Of the
aqueduct secured.
Some of the colored people Of this city are
indignant at the failure of the Harvard alum
nj association to invite Professor Greaner,
co,orrd, II fellow alumnus, to attend their
banquet last night. Harvard only wants
race distinctions abolished at the South
DR.. Hamilton, the head of the Marine
| Hospital, and DR.. Cabell, President of the
National Board of Health, We're before the
House Committee on Public Health this
morning, each wanting the disposal Of the
money TO he appropriated by Congress to
! the preservation of the health Of the coum-
try this year. DR.. Hamilton said the COM
mit,ee had been packed in the interests of
the National Board of Health. DR.. Cabel
said he had thought it better that the COM
mittee should he composed Of gentlemen
who know something about the matters
they would have TO consider and that for
that purpose he hal written IL letter to the
Speaker mentioning about twenty of such
gentlemen. some Of whom had been APP
pointed. From the proceedings this NOR
ming it could not be determined which ser
vice will get the money.
The resumption of the discussion Of the
Riddleberger resolution in the Senate is
hindered aud retarded by the older and
wiser republicans Of that body, the chief OBJ
jectors being Messrs. Ingalls, aud E1munds.
This is provoking to Conger, Henderson
and the younger members, who are anxious
10 bring on heated political discussion. To
Mr.. RiddIeberger it is slight, and he looks
upon it in that light. IL is said that he
hoped by the discussion to demonstrate his
claim opolitcal independence. This tallies
with The rumor the other day that he
wanted to show that Malone had the sole
disposal of Virginias share of the federal
patronage.
Senator Malone will go to Richmond to-
morrow where his most trusted followers to
the number Of about fifteen or twenty have
been summoned to meet him. He will give
them instructions as to what the State re-
publican central committee shall do at it's
meeting on the 10th inst.
When the naval appropriation bill shall
come up, Mr.. Mayo will offer an amend
ment appropriating 100000 for the pur-
chase of an ice boat with which to keep the
channel Of the Potomac open during cold
weather.
The OFerrall-Paul contested election case came
up before the House Elections Committee to. day.
Mr.. Edgar Allen appeared as counsel for Paul,
and Judge Harris and Major John Daniel for
O'Ferral. Preliminary proceedings only were
commenced, the arguments being postponed until
next week
The House to-day at an early hour resumed the
consideration of the Chalmers Manning contested
election case, the debate on which was in progress
ut o'clock
The House Committee on Public Lands had the
land grants Of the Northern Pacific Railroad I'M
der consideration to-day. The impression is that
the committee will declare the grants forfeited.
THE AUTHOR Of "The Bread Winners" has writ.
ten q letter which will annaar in the March (,on