The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-14


The work upon which General Mar
Gus G. Wright Of the War Record Office
has been for some years engaged was
authorized by Congress in 1874. The
act was to enable the Secretary OF War
to begin the publication OF the official
records OF the War OF the Rebellion,
both OF the Union and of the Con-
federate armies. The collection was
not fairly commenced until it was put
under the control of Colonel X. N.
Scott OF the United States Army in
1877. General Wright is Colonel Scott's
agent, whose duty 1t Is to collect the
Confederat, records in the hands OF the
individual officers OF the Confederate
army. lie was selected for this duty,
writes the New Orleans States CORE
spondent, as sort Of reward for the
large private collection he donated to
tie Government, aud because of his ac
quaintance with the officers OF the
Southern army, he having himself
fought on that side during the entire
war, in command Of the 10Th Tennes-
see Infantry. Except the labor EN-.
ployed in compiling the matter, the
work il wholly gratuitous. Records
are received from OK Confederate of.
iicers from all parts of the world, from
England, Egypt, Mexico, the Argen-
tine Republic and in fact, from every
quarter o. the globe. And this is all
done by simply sending circular,
setting forth the object and
design Of the desired record. AT
first the Confederate officers were
10th to entrust their records to the Gov
eminent, fearing the Federal authorities
would use them In making history In
favor Of the Union side. But no sooner
had the first volume been given to the
public and 1t was seen that the reports
were being printed vel batim, than the
most valuable reports commenced to be
received. at is wonderful" says Gen.
Wright, Eat the promptness and lber-
atty Of spirit with which these reports
are sent in. Why, nearly every COnfed-
crate officer has contributed to the col
lection, aud they never ask any pay nor
suppress any of the matter. Many OF
them are very complete, exact in de-
sciiption and valuable. 1t IS good evi
dence of their kindly feeling toward the
Government. Jefferson Davis has con.
tributed very literally and in the kind
Hest spirit, always ready to assist in any
way he can personally and in giving
information leading to valuable docu
ments. But should mention also the
names OF other contributors, such as
Generals Beauregard, Eally, Gordon
d. Ii. Hill, b. j. Hill, Joseph E. John
ston, Bushrod II. johnson, Bradley Il
johnson and Fitzhhgh Lee, who alsC
have supplied lis with fund Of valuable
matter"
Il Nv
| Governor Swineford Of Alaska, who
left st. Paul last Sunday for the Paci fic
said to 4 newspaper reporter just be
fore starting: III have had no positive
instructions from the government al
Washington. A communication from
the President and Secretary Of thu
Interior which recently received
stated hat it would be necessary Il
wait until | had advised them If ia,
condition OF Alaska before issuing an.
Instructions. | know that it is q cOut.
try OF vast resources, prominent anon!
which are the fisheries and mimi!
lands, Us great us can b. found any
where. One thing to be accomplshe,
ia the extension OF The land laws owe
. the territory, so that a man can go out
select land for homestead and hold it
q which is thing that cannot be don
now" He is required to make his frs
official report by October ], but it vii
necessarily be hurried and inco npletc
As to when he will return 10 ciyili2a
ton, the Governor has no idea.
Nv
The trade in public plumber at Wash
ington, says Western correspondent
! is something astonishing. There ar
stores and stalls scattered all over tn
city filed with Government publca
lions Of all kinds and sizes and descrip
tons. Go to market any tim
when Congress Is in session or has bee
within brief time, and you will Sc
nearly every butter dealer with pile o
p public bills before him. They hav
been printed for the use Of Congress
but the less important ones are nj
elected and go to the butter dealers an
the grocer. They use them to wral
up their wares when sold. The sal
and barter Of stuff OF this sort does no
stop with the exchange between mem
bers of Congress. At the secondhand
book stores referred to above, the mem
. bers often make the sort OF trades re
ferred to as among themselves. The.
often exchange with book dealers, an
as often get bitten, too, for these fel
lows are sharp, and when they find
? Congressman or anybody else VIII
wants particular book or set OF books
they make him give a good price 70
Il them, and an eXorbitant one II lie pay
!; for them in other books. IL is whispered
v too, on the other hand, that some Con
gressmen who have no particular us
for their document, sell them outrigh
!, to these fellows for cash.
W.
"What has been the effect Of MI
Cleveland's election" was asked r
General Mcclellan at Kansas City tn
other day. THE principal one is tina
, he has demonstrated that change il
| administrations can be made withOu
weakening the government. This ha
J, been The most troublesome thing tn
Democrats have had to meet. Ii wa
not because the people were not rip
for change that they did not max
one sooner, but it was because thel
: were afraid to pint the Government int
new hands. There is no question tina
General Hancock would have BEEF
elected but for this fear. The bushes
men of New York, while desiring
change IL 1t could be made safely, fel