Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-17
From Washington.
,pecisl Correspondence of the Aleza. GAZETTE.


and irrespective of persons and parties, its
sends the following: gallant
ex Confederate, a citizen of Virginia, upon
the recommendation of old and distinguished
republican officers of the .. S. army and
navy, was promised consulate by tue
President. So certain was the State Depart
ment that he would be appointed that Ms
commission was made out, and all that IL
required was the Presidents signature.
The gentleman himself was so sure OF nis
enpoiniment that he told his friends, Solo
his furniture. and made all necessary prep
sraticns for starting for his post. Just al
thai time. however, the fuss about the OF
der for the return of the Southern flags was
ores.ed the Presidents visit 10 st. Louis
nogtponed ia consequence, and Governor
Foraker's bloody shirt disturbance occurred
at Wheeling The signing OF the commits
sion being delayed, Senatorial friends OF the
ex-Confederate referred TO went to the
White House to inquire the cause OF it, ana
10 their great surprise were informed oy the
President that in view of the state OF public
feeling existing at that time he did net
I INK the gentlemau's Confederate record
would be agreeable to the North,
and that be would rather pay him the 5ala
re of the con-uate out OF his own pocket
than appoint him to the place. Tue reply
vas that heir friend did not want his mon
ey, but Was DESTROYS of earning the saiary
by worthily al efficiently discharglng the
duties Of the flee, and that to fail to 1ulnii
the promise that bad been made him for no
other reason than The fear that his appoint
mept might provoke the adverse criticism
of sectional and political organization
whose favor no democratic concessions could
possihlv win, would be injurious to the DEM
CORA tic party in the section which supplies
the votes that elect democratic Presidents.
The President then said there would be
trouble about having their friends dlsabil-
lies removed but was informed that that
had been done several years before. Whlie
considering what else could be done to i'm.
nress the President with the knowledge OF
the Injurious effect of subjecting his actions
| to the influence OF the sectional feelings re-
ferred to, the friends of the Virginian were
| informed that somebody else had been sp.
pointed to the place. And this was done By
q democratic President, what, as was said
at the State Department at the time, had
never been done by any of his republican
predecessors. The gentleman referred TO
made the above statement to the CAVITIES
correspondent to day. When asked why
he did not want his name mentioned in coz
nection with it, he replied, because people
would say he was crying because he. was
hurt, but that il its truth was deniedit could
! be substantiated by ex assistant Secretary
of State, Porter, of Tennessee, by his Sena-
torial friends alluded TO, and by officials at
the State Department. If any thing, this is
worse than the revocation OF Mr.. Black
burns commission as Internal revenue col
lec:or, because, when boy, during the war,
twenty years before, he had written boy
ish letter about swimming his horse in Yam
kee blood.
petition has been presented in the Sen
ale irom citizens Of he District OF Columbia
for an appropriation TO keep the channel of
the Potomac open during the winter season.
Ia the House Virginia members have intro
dnced the following papers: MIR. T. Ii. B.
lrowne, petition of ". Il. Holden for an
os9iIa pension, ard bill for the same;
also petition of j. r. Gatewood OF Spotsyl
van;a co., Va, for reference of his claim to
the Court OF Claims also petition of Hop.
kins Bros. 4 Co. and other citizens Of Acco-
| mack CO., Va for the Improvement OF
Ooaucock river; also petition of L. l. Not
tiugham and Others of Northampton CO.,
Va, for the creation of department of agr-
culture. Mr. Gaines, a petition Of J. l..
Cheltor. W. G. Spain, Robert Gaishum and
others OF DiDTiddie CO, Va, for change Of
tariff on 81 k. Mr. O'Ferrali, petition of
Basil Grigsby of Reppahannock CO., Va,
for reference Of his claim to thu Court oil
Claims. Mr.. Hopkins, petition Of VIM.
Schaus fer the removal Of the tariff ca all
imported paintings and sculptures. Mr..
Lee. the petition Of Elizabeth Pierce;
French Odd, son of Mathehem D0dd
Virginia A. Shumate Susan z. Samuel
Edward T. Preston Burr W. Garrett; ]. J.
Mosbv executor OF Adelaide Withers Geo.
w. Preston Carter B Crops and Ell.
ward G.. aud G. B. Walden, of Virginia, for
reference of their claims to the Court of
Claims. Mr.. Wise, petition for the crea.
ton OF department OF agriculture. Ia the
Senate Yesterday Mr.. Riddleberger present
ed petition for the relief of Hannah Hur-
de- widow of s. r. Hurdle. Mr.. Daniel in
troduced c bill for an increase OF pension to
Mary Minor Hoxie, and en- amendment to
the deficiency bill providing an appropria-
ton for the payment Of the demands Of the
Court OF Claims in French Spoliation and
other claims. MIR. Plumb introduced bill
for the relief of the AlbemaSle and Chesa-
peake Canal Company. MIR. Daniel pre-
sented The petition OF w. J. Candy and
twenty other citizens of the District of Co.
lOmOla Icr prODlDltlOn III tual UlStIlCt.
A subcommittee of the House Commerce
Committee will, in that committees room,
at II o'clock next Monday morning, hear all
that any body may have to say 10 reference
to the bill now before Congress for keeping
open the channel of the Potomac during tie
winter season. The Mayor of Alexandria
has been invited to be present and the CON-
mittee hopes will bring with him a delega-
ton familiar with the commerce of
his city to add to any thing he may have TO
say upon the subject. The managers of the
several steamboat and steamship lines are
also invited to be. present and express any
views they may have upon the matter. Mr..
Browne, of the Accomack, Virginia. district,
Is member of the cub. committee and is
using his utmost exertion to secure the pas
sage of the bill. Another member is known
to be fevorably disposed, and it ia supposed
that what may be said at the hearing on
Monday next will convince the remaining
ana IF no n oiool, ilitr Of the hill and Tins