Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-11-05
.LONGSTREET IS APPOINTED
by THE PRESIDENT AS SUCCESSOR
TO GEN. WADE HAMPTON,
as COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS.
Old War Horse OF the Confederacy Was
strongly Endorsed For the Position
By His Republican Friends.

A Washington special says: Friday
General James Longstreet was APP
appointed commissioner of railroads to
succeed General Wade Hampton. This
change has long been anticipated,
hence it caused but little surprise.
General Hampton's resignation has
been in the hands Of President Nc
Kinley since the advent of the present
administration, and the change would
have occurred at an earlier period had
the opportunities of Gen. Longstreet
and his political friends prevailed.
President Mckinley had two objects
in delaying action in this now cele-
brated case. When General Long
street and his friends we're clamoring
loudest for General Hampton's official
scalp the "grand old man of the Pal
metto state" was dangerously i'll. The
president decided that he would not
accept General Haml toms resignation
until he was given ample time to re-
gain his health by an extended trip to
the Pacific coast. General Hampton
has recovered from lis late illness, and
declares that he 10 in robust health
and weighs over 900 pounds. The
president also desired General Hamp-
ton to have an opportunity to frame
and submit his annual report on the
business of the commissioners office.
That report has been completed and is
ready for the printer.
Although General Hampton feels that
he has been treated with admirable con-
sideration by the president, the latter
neglected TO notify the general that his
resignation had been accepted before
announcing the appointment Of his
successor.
The first intimation of General Long
streets appointment was conveyed to
General Hampton by press CORE.
spondeut. General Hampton was in
his office at the general pension build
ing performing his official duties, un.
conscious of his decapitation. When
appraised of the president 4 action Gen
eral Hampton remarked that it was not
unexpected in view of what has been
80 often stated in the newspapers on
the subject. He added that he rendered
his resignation as soon as President
Mckinley WAS inaugurated, and, there
FORE he was prepared to relinquish the
Office without delay. He said he APP
preciated the effort of 80 many of his
former associates in tho senate to have
him retained, and it is gratifying to
know that so many considerations
were shown him by the administra.
ton.
Even the democrats who desired to
see General Wade Hampton retained
have little to say against his successor.
They are strongly opposed to his pol
itics, but his magnificent record IA a
confederate leader has modified their
opposition TO him on account of his
party utilization.
The career Of General Longstreet
during the war is well known. His
political career could be summarized
in q short chapter.
After the war the general establish
ed his headquarters in New Orleans,
where he engaged in the mercantile
business. He was not successful, and
his friends urged him to apply to Pres
ident Grant for position.
Grant was delighted to aid Long
street, and made him surveyor of the
port of New Orleans.
Later. the general was supervisor of
internal revenue in Louisiana, post
master at New Orleans, Minister to
Turkey under President Hayes, and
United States marshall for Georgia
under President Garfield.
Recently he has been quite active
in party councils in Georgia, and in
last years campaign he was sturdy
supporter of Mr.. Mckinley from the
start.
General Longstreet's son says the
general will at once take a house in
Washington in the fashionable part of
the city. 1t is learned that the aged
general and his wife expect to do SO
ciety this winter, and to this end will
take a residence sufficiently large to
49,, In