The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-07-02
Washington Notes.

Washington Notes.
Washington city would be, as is usual At
this season of the year, exceedingly dun
but for the office. seekers. These are not
as numerous as they were, nor are they SO
boisterous and miscellaneous as they were
wont to be i; month OF two ago. They
have. as a general rule, vacated their
comfortable quarters at the hotels and
hied themselves to moderate and obscure
boarding houses, and only saunter out in
the evening to learn the news, as it may
be detailed in the Star and Critic. or by the
industrious quid names, who have a way
of worming things out of the Depart
nents The anxious, inquiring look de-
notes the patient office seeker, who has
tarried at the capitol week after week,
hoping and waiting and praying and
swearing, for the 'srascals to go,'' until
his purse has collapsed, the demands upon
friends protested and nothing but the
fimsiest hope tomake life tolerable. These
suffering patriots gather i'll groups and
recount their difficulties and calculate
their chances in the patriotic occupation
of trying to get their work in for their
country. They cannot understand why
they are kept i'll suspense, OF why it is that
the President has not promptly recognized
their claims. Their member of Congress
is beset at all points, and the poor fellow
is made to earn his salary day in and day
out, in Intellectual efforts to impress upon
the Cabinet officer or the President the ex-
allied merit of his constituent, who Eaoacs
if his case were properly presented, his
commission would follow as matter Of
course. The test is honesty, eficienoyan
fidelity, and who is the applicant that does
not gill this bill toa T, at least in his own
estimation ? 1t is a pitiable sight to wit
ness strong, able bodied men, hanging
around the departments and besieging the
homes of Congressman and the White
House day after day, to get some CLEAN
of recognition-to catch some ray of hope,
when they could be making much better
and more independent living by an honest
effort in the line of manual labor. Of all
things in the world, official position is the.
most unsatisfactory and delnsiye, but
there is something about it that has a
charm for the majority of men, and they
strive and work and worry for it, until
life itself almost becomes a burden to
them.
The post Office department is the point
where the greatest rush IS made. Senators
and members are driven to it by their hun
CRY aud thirsty constituents, in the hope
of oustlng some offensive partizanl' that
one of the patriots may be favored. But
there are difficulties in the way. Iteis not
all as clear as it was for Col. O'EerralI.
whose sharp knife flew swift and fatal.
decapitating every Republican in his dis
trict, under the pretext of offensive par
tizanism, = or Mahoneisnl. A. halt seems
to have been called to the inconsiderate
slaughter, and now it is given out that po-
litical differences will not in all cases con-
stitute cause for removal. In illustration
Senator Beck wanted the postmaster at
Grayson, KY, removed because he was a
Repub lican. 1t is stated that the First
Assistant replied that that was not sufff-
cient cause, intimating, or probably stat
ing that charges would have to be-, lodged
against the incumbent before a change
could be effected. The Senator, in Ken
lucky vernacular, spoke out that he had.no
charges to present, and that if there were
any made it would have to be the work of
some one else. With this he took up his
hat and walked ont, in no very pleasant
humor
The mention Of the Kentucky Senator's
name reminds us of a dramatic and plctu-
rescue incident. which is chuekled over
in certain circles, and youched for as q
yeritable event. 1t runs, that some time
ago young man of good connections was
convicted Of some offehse in Ohio against
the United States laws. He was sentenced
to confinement in the government penl-
Tertiary. His beautiful and accomplished
sister, who had only passed her twentieth
summer, came on to plead for her unfortu-
nate brother, and to ask the interposition
Of executive mercy. 1t lay with Attorney
General Garland to recommend pardon |
and it became the mission of Senator Beck |
to present the case to him. Aleck. Bote-
Ter was in counsel with Beck, and he
holds subordinate position in the Law
Beck was dispatched with /
the papers, and in the meantime the young |
lady remained in Boteler s office, trembling |
with anxiety, over-eXcited under the sus-
pense and threatened with collapse of the |
nervous tension. whether the Attorney S |
action should be one way or the other
After awhile Beck returned, holding up
,he paper, as he approached. The young /
ady stood like statue in the centre of the
'oom, while Beck was at one end and |
Boteler at the other. The latter slowly
opened the document and as deliberately
'ead that the Attorney General had re-
commended Executive clemency. + No
sooner was the import of the paper read,
han the sister sWoOned and dropped into
he chair in which she had been sitting.
She remained in that position for some
before. consciousness returned
When herself once more, she raised from
Ter seat and glancing at Col. Boteler, with
'utstretched arms she impulsively moved
owards him. He threw up his hands and,
notioning towards Beck, said, mot me,
tut him. She turned to Beck in the
ame dramatic attitude, and he met the
'dvance-"not me, but'him, = pointing to
}oteler. That is the story which the two
distinguished personages tell, but there
re SO many grains of improbability in nit
hat the incredulous will take it for what
t is worth. tits more than probable that
n the gush of gratitude, the over-joyed]
lister manifested her feelings in the man.
Ter peculiar to warm-hearted women land
eft lasting impression with the grave
senator and the discriminating lawyer,
yhich will not soon be forgotten. f.m
I'd
Theimportant New Y ork Appointments
which were announced on Saturday, Gre