Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-11-05
.L0NGSTREET IS APPOINTED
BY THE PRESIDENT AS SUCCESSOR
TO GEN. WADE HAMPTON,
AS COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS.
Old War Horse OF tho 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 were 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 Hampton's 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 his late illness, and
declares that he is in robust health
and weighs over 200 pounds. The
president also desired General Hamp-
ton to have an opportunity to frame
and submit his annual report on the
business of the commissioner 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 a press corre-
spondent. 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 presidents action Gen
eral Hampton remarked that it was not
unexpected in view Of what has been
so often stated in the newspapers on
the subjec. 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 so many of his
former associates in the 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 rs a
confederate leader has modified their
opposition to him on account of his
party utilization.
The career of General Longstreet
during the war is we'll known. His
political career could be summarized
in a 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 friendsnrged him to apply to Pres
ident Grant for a 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 . house in
Washington in the fashionable part of
the city. II is learned that the aged
general and his wife expect 10 do so
oiety this winter, and to this end will
take residence sufficiently large to
entertain in.