The National tribune., 1885-06-25
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks Beings at the Ma
tional Capital
MARRIAGE OF GEN. g. b. BUCKNER.

The prominent men i'm the Union army are
mainly in their graves or rapidly travelling
there, while those who were prominent on the
Southern side of the struggle seem TO never
mott feather with the passing OF the years
Now, there is Gen. :. b. Buckner, who % years
ago handed over Fort Donelson and Is, 600 pris-
oners to Gen. Grant, after three days sharp
fighting, which Grant intimatcd that he pro-
posed to continue asd make still sharper. The
captor. much the junior of his captive, IS now
sinking into the grave under the steady march
of the deadly cancer, while the captive was
last week married To blooming belle in Rich
mond, with all the gorgeous accompaniment OF
q fashionable wedding. Ii has been Al years
since BuckBer, an airy young kentuckian,
graduated from West Point and entered the
Regular Army as Breret Second Lieutenant
in the I'd Inf. He bore himself gallanuy in
the war with Mexico and was breyeted First
Lieutenant and Captain. At the outbreak of
the rebellion he was MalorGeueral, command
ing the Kentucky militia, and for some
time halted between the two sides so persist
emily that President Lincoln offered him a
commission in the Union army, if he would
cast his fortunes with US. He, however, chose
to go South, aud this action brought much more
aid TO the rebel cause than his abilities gave,
for he was the Idol of the young keDtuck kianS,
and his influence decided many sons of Union
fathers TO enlist under the Stars and Bars. In
spite of the reverse at Fort Doaelsou his repu-
of the commanders there that acted in a SOL
dieriy manner Floyd and Pillow were brave
enough when there was chance for success,
but the moment that the current of events
turned against them they thought mainly OF
saving their o1n precious carcasses, and
abandoning their troops sought safety in
hight. Buckner demonstrated with them
and pointed out how soldierly honor required
the commander to share the fate of his troops.
This had no effect with his superior officers,
who hastily turned the command over to him
and left hlHf TO surrender II while they made
their way across the river and down the Union
hpes. Gen. Buckners Career III the rebel army
was fair, bat net brilliant. He has been more
prominently before the pubic in connection
with suit 20 recover possession OF has wlie's
property i'll Chicago. Before the war he mar
ried a Miss Kingsbury, who was heiress to a large
snfount of property, much OF which was i'll
Chicago. When he decided to cast his fortunes
with the South he transferred all his wiie's
property to brether-in-law, Lieut.. Kings
bury, of the UHion army, to avoid con6scsltioa;
the verbal understanding being that the prop
erty was to be held in trust merely for the
benefit OF Gen. Bnekners daughter. Lieut..
kingsbury was killed in one OF the early bat-
ties ia Virginia, and left record of the agree
ment between him and Buckner. HIS widow
refused to recognize this agreement and held
the property TO be her own in fee simple. After
the war Gen. BaekBer began a suit for its re-
coyery, and after years OF litigation, III which
the ablest counsel in the Nation were arrayed
on both sides. succeeded in getting possession
of it, though the great fire of Chicago had re-
duced its value immensely.
The lady whom Gen. Buckner married the
other day was Miss Della Claiborne daughter
of Maj. John ii. Claiborne, prominent bust
ness man of Richmond. She is young lady
of about "a years. and has long been a reiguing
belle in Richmond. Gen. BuckDer has fresh,
ruddy complexion, thick white hair and beard,
and retains many suggestions OF that manly
beauty for which he was SO famous in his youth.
KELLEY AGAIN.
For time the country heard a good deal
about Mr.. Kelley, of Richmond, Va. 1t was
with q sense of relief that the people read that
he had finally sailed as Minister to Austria.
The need of rest on this eminent citizen was
sorely fel'. Now be comes to the surface again.
The Austrian Government doesn't want him.
and will. IL is said, decline to receive him in his
official capacity. lt cannot be denied that
President Cleveland seized the hot end of tue
poker when be took hold of Kelley. 1t will be
remembered that he was first appointed Minis
ter 10 Italy, but his record was such that the
italian Government promptly repudiated him.
The Impression seemed to prevail at the White
Hoase that the safety of the country could only
be assured by sending Kelley as Minister soihe-
where, and so they tried to saddle him on
Austria.
has declined to receive him at that court does
not surprise any one in diplomatic circles here
any one familiar with diplomatic usages.
1t could scarcely be considered complimentary
to Austria 70 send her a Minister who had been
first nominated for Italy and Withdrawn be-
cause be was certain not to be well received by
the Italian Government. That Mr.. Keiley's
presence as Minister at Vienna would be un-
pleasant to the Italian Government with which
Austria has relations which she does not proba-
bly, desire TO embarrsss, is fair excuse for the
refusal 10 receive him.
But, III fact, no Government is bound to give
any reason whatever to another for declining
so receive person as that Governments Min
ister. The United States Government has On
several occasions asked the recall of Minister
who had become unpleasant to it, and its re-
quest has been at once, and as a matter of
course, complied with without in the least dis
sarhing the friendly relations of the two coun-
tries II, therefore, the Austrian Government
notifies Secretary Bayard that it would prefer
not 20 receive Mr.. Kelley as Minister, Mr.. Bay
ard will undoubtedly feel bound to recall him
Immediately. Not to do SO would place Mr..
Keiley in an unpleasant position. To attempt
to make fuss about such request would
make the Secretary and the country ridiculous.
If recalled from Austria it is not likely that
any further experiments will be made with Mr.
Kelley. Indeed, after his notorious speech at
Richmond recently, in which he gave utterance
to sentiments OF dlsoyalty TO his own Govern
ment the people Of this country will feel that
his appropriate sphere is in the quiet walks Of
private life.
MISS cIEvELAND's BOOK.
The book soon to be Published written by
Miss Cleveland, the Presidents sister is attract
ing considerable attention in literary circles
This is no doubt largely owing to the high So
cial position of its author. 1t will consist of
series of essays on topics Of social character
and appertaining TO the condition of women in
this and other countries
The publishers have ordered several copies
to be bound expressly for presentation to the
surviving ladies Of the White Honse who pre-
ceded Miss. Cleveland, aud also to Queen Vic
toria. These copies are to be exact counterparts
of those intended for Miss Cleveland The floral
design of the cover, which represents spray
of the primrose, is, in the case Of these presen-
tation copies, to be hand-painted. The ladies
who will receive a copy are Mrs. Jas X. Polk,
of Nashville; Mrs. Phillips, formerly Mrs.
Betty Taylor Bliss. of Dandridge, Va: Mrs John
Tyler Of Virginia. Mrs. Harriet Lane johnson,
OF Baltimore: Mrs. Martha Johnson Patterson
Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Garfield and Mrs
McElroy. Mrs. Phillips, though the daughter
of Wing, President Taylor is herself Demo-
crat. and, therefore, the majority of the former
ladies of the White House are of the same
political mind as the present hostess.
Since the first announcement of Miss Ceve-
lands book there has been an unexpected de-
mand from the women OF the country. and the
advance orders represent large number of
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