The National tribune., 1886-05-27
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
GEN. sIcKLEs MEETS OLD COMRADES.

GEN. sIcKLEs MEETS OLD COMRADES.
On Wednesday evening, 10Th inst, the dis
tinguished veteran soldier, Maj Gen. Daniel +.
Sickles, met informally in the Parlors' OF the
Riggs House about 20 members Of his old corps
who served under him. The meeting between
these veterans and their loved commander will
not soon be forgotten by those who were fortu-
nate enough to be present. Had il been gener-
ally known no doubt every surviving member
in the city of that invincble corps, led by
Heintzelman and fighting Joe Hooker in the
early part OF the war, would have been present
to pay their respects to the men who led them
from Fredericksburg to Gettysburg.
That the General was pleased to see and talk
with the brave men who, like himself, bear
evidence of their devotion to the flag, was very
evident. His dauntless eye kindled with
brilliant light while relating some exciting
incident connected with his military life, and
created the impression on his hearers that time
had dealt leniently with him. All who were
present had seen this man under FIRE, had wit
messed his unfiinching bravery and presence of
mind under trying circumstances. They knew
his corps flag was never found in the rear and
had been riddled by the enemy's bullets. Is il
strange they love him?
While the General was quietly relating the
plans of the coming Reunion of the Third Corps,
the writer contrasted the present with the ter
rible conflict which took place at Gettysburg
on July 2, 1863 when the General fell. Gen.
Sickles had been attentiyely watching the bat
tie from position just in rear Of the historic
Peach Orchard. Seeing his lines wavering be-
fore the fierce onslaught of Barksdale's fresh
and impetuous troops, who up to this time had
taken no active part in the fight, Sickles put
spurs to his horse and rode rapidly forward to
check by his presence, IL possible, the retreat
OF his weary men. Before he reached the lines,
the enemy, who had brought up his artillery
and planted the guns on the ridge just vacated
by the Federals, had opened with canister at
short range. Crash after crash followed in
rapid succession. At the first discharge SickIes,
feeling singing sensation In the right leg,
cast his eyes in that direction, and discovered
1t dangling. He clutched and lifted il over
the pommel Of the saddle and dropped to the
ground, calling for a strap to bind up the shat
tered limb in order to check the flow Of blood.
He sent at once for Gen. Birney, and after ex-
planning to that officer his plans, turned over
the command of the Corps and awaited pa
tienily the Surgeons knife
From that terrible hour, July 2, 1868, to the
present time the name Of Sickles has been IN
separably linked with the Third Corps. To-day
he stands before the world as the champion of
| its rights and defender Of its fair reputation.
How he will acquit himself of the duty i'm
posed upon him by a combination of circum-
called the soldiers friend, for he has their in
terest at heart. He loves the organization Of
the GAR, and wishes 1t governed by the prin-
ciples Of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.
AGAINST PoLYGAMY.
For some time past the House judiciary
Committee has been considering the subject Of
| polygamy, with view of recommending q
measure that will strike at the root of the evil
The chairman, Hon. ]. z. Tucker, has been in
structed TO report fayorably an amendment to
the Constitution declaring polygany unlawful.
Mr. Tucker says the Edmunds Utah bill will be
greatly modified, but not in way to change
| the policy Of the Government in reference to
/ polygamy. The amendment to the Constitu-
| tion proposed by the committee is intended to
define the crime of polygamy, and lest it should
continue or be revived in new State. when it
ceased to be Territory, the amendment gives
| Congress the power 70 punish the crime created
| by this article; and to the courts Of the United
States the power to try it, without interfering
| with State laws as to marriage and divorce.
The amendment, therefore, while serving as a
remedy for the crime even in the States them
selves, is entirely conservative Of the power Of
the State over the IMPORTANT domestic relations
| Of the family. The amendment was framed for
the purpose Of throwing the weight Of the Con-
stitution itself against polygamy. As the pres-
eut Constitution makes il essential that every
| State that comes into the Union, as well as
| those already in il, shall be republican in its
form Of government, so this amendment pro-
vides that every State in the Union shall be
| American in its type Of society and not
Asiatic-that Is, the States shall be republican
as to their form of government and monoga-
mic as to their social life.
A JOKE ON SENATOR DAWES.
The Secretary Of the Senate, Gen. Anson q.
| McCook, who is very popular with all classes,
| is soon to be married. The other day Senator
Chace, of Rhode Island, went around and sug-
! gested to the Senators that IL would be q grace
ful and appropriate thing for them to chip in
| and get q suitable testimonial for the groom
whose hearing apparatus is much out Of repair,
| he said:
MeCook is going to be married, and we
thought we would throw in s. apiece around to
\ get him a nice little present"
Then Mr. Chaee waited for the returns to
come in. Mr.. Dawes apparently understood
what had been said to him, but he made no re-
| take out his pOcketbook. Mr.. Chace waited q
moment and then turned away in disgust. Di-
reetly Dir. Dawes went over to Senator Aldrich,
Mr.. Chace's colleague, and said to him:
What's the matter with Chaee; is he get
ting silly2 He came to me few minutes age
and says to me Ny coax is going to be mar
ried,' and wanted me to contribute s. toward
|
dickens do / care about Chace's cook get
ting marr;ed?"
Dir. Aldrieh explained the matter to Mr.
Dawes. and the latter Immediately "camI
down." but the joke was too good to be kept
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
It will be readily understood that Repuhli
cans who are holding on to their official posi-
tions in the Departments do not rend the al
any more with shouts for the "grand oil,
party" They are not slow to appreciate tn
fact that their bread is buttered on the othe
side now, and they gage their political yea
accordingly. Some of them are veritable imi
tators of Judas Iscariot, and declare tha
they have been Democrats in disguise all thes
years while they were serving under Belial
There is Deputy Auditor in the Treasury wh
was appointed clerk years ago by Senate
Logan, and by whose influence he has bee
! promoted to his present position. Naturall
he was a stauch friend of Gen. Logan, but h
, began to cool off when Mr.. Cleveland was in
augurated. He rarely visits Logan now, an
|: when he does he manages to call in the even
:: ing. He would not dare to be seen talxin
, with him in the daytime. OF course Ger
, Logan penetrates the thin guise of friendliness
and when, after call few evenings ago, tn
Deputy Auditor expressed an intention Of call
ing again soon, Gen. Logan replied: Certainly