Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-18
PEACE AT ANY PRICE
THIS APPARENTLY THE PRESENT
ADMINISTRATION PURPOSE.
A VOLUNTEER FROM VIRGINIA.
Colonel Witcher, of PittsyIyania
County, Tenders His Services TO
secretary AIger-NOrth Carolina
Items-PersonaI and Postal Notes

crsohHI ana Postal Notes.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March T7.-(Spe-
cial)-A small mantle Of peace has fallen
on the national capital within the past
day or two. Early in the week the out
look was decidedly warlike, but now
peace at any price, appears to be the
order of the day. The withdrawal Of the
Montgomery from the harbor of Habana.
1t is understood, was done at the instance
Of the new Spanish Minister, Senior Polo.
and is regarded as a sort of backdown on
the part Of the administration. There
was a good deal of excitement and much
surprise among naval officials when the
order was promulgated. 1t is understood
that it emanated from the White House,
| and not from the Navy Department. This
would indicate that the &O,OOO,OOO appro-
priation for the national defence will be
spent purely in a defensive, and not in an
offensive, way. This big amount of
money, given so freely and promptly by
the Congress of the country, has not stiff
ened the Presidents backbone to the war
| point.
Besides the withdrawal of the Mont
gomery, it is now reported that all ef-
forts to secure more warships will cease,
| and altogether, it looks as if this govern
ment will acCede to any demand made by
Spain.
WAR PREPARATIONS CONTINUE.
Notwithstanding this, there is unusual
activity in the navy-ydrds of the coun-
try, and 1t looks as if the preparations
for wal will be continued until the coun-
try is in a thoroughly well defended con-
dition. The g%un-shop here is working day
and night. TO provide guns and naval
equipments as fast as the ordnance de-
partment requires them. The work on the
large 5-inch and 6-inch breech-loading
guns for the auxiliary cruisers is being
| given particular attention, and no time
will be lost in getting them ready at the
earliest possible date. Heavy forgings
are daily arriving from the steel manu-
factories Of Pennsylvania.
The Secretary of War has received the
| following, which shows that patriotism is
strong in the hearts of those who wore
the gray during the late war:
General Alger: Dear S~ir,-Realizing the
TACT that Nlltl Jul SONNA AAAAifAlA ID me-
naced. it is the duty of every citizen to go
to its rescue, l hereby tender you my SER
vices as a soldier in the event Of war with
Spain. Respectfully,
VINCENT a. WITCHER,
Late Colonel 34th Virginia Cavalry,
Confederate States of America"
/ Colonel Witcher, when quite a youth, at
the outbreak of the civil war, rendered
- A.. ,ar,a. vrhfgh noe I4gs.
10 him. made a gallant and efficient Off
Ger. and soon acquired much reputation
as q fighter in Western Virginia. He is a
native of Pittsylvania county, Va, and
belongs TO a distinguished family.
NORTH CAROLINA NOTES.
Senator P%ritchard, of North Carolina,
Is making a great effort to induce the
President TO be present at the celebration
OF the Mecklenburg Declaration OF -nde-
incidence at Charlotte, n. c., on the 2oth
of May next. owing TO the foreign com
pucations, Mr.. Mckinley has not been
able TO inform the Senator Whether ne
can attend or not.
An enthusiastic meeting OF the North
Carolina Society was held at Confedc-
rate Veterans Hall, Eleventh ana r
streets. northwest, last evening, DIT.
walter G. Murphy is president, and under
his leadership nearly all the States rep
rosontatives in official, professional, and
bnsinees circles have united in the sup
mort of the North Carolina Society.
At the meeting last night an interest
,pg programme was rendered. Those
taking part were Miss Anderson. Mr.. w.
w Hunt. Miss Annie Hester. Mrs.
R~aumpardner, Miss Margaret Haywood,
Mo- Worthington. Miss Johanna Ander-
con Miss Jennie Haywood, Mr.. 5. u.
sheet Miss Edna Bishop, and Miss
Alma Ebert. Among those present we're
Mrs Butler. mother of Senator Marion
Eutler. The meeting closed with dancing
the Virginia reel.
PERSONAL.
state-senator II. ID. Flood, of Apo
uattox. and William L. Barksdale' OF
Halifax county, Va, were at the CapltoI
,o~day and called on Senator Martin
and Venresentative Hay. who escorted
tbem through the building ~ the new
library. IT,
Mir. William r. Trigg, president OF the
Richmond Locomotive ana Nlachlne-
Works was at the Capitol to-day. To-
morrow is priyate-bill day, ana MI Irlss
Is favorably impressed win the prosPeGt
- 49, claim of $4,000 being passed. If
Representative Lamb succeeds III set'lhs
r~ecoQnition from the Speaker
g. w. Saunders, Richmond; j. II. Smith
Salem-Metropoltan.
Mrs. ]. Gage. MISUNDERSTANDING
r. M. Duke, Jr. Charlottesville; j. w.
unnLjns Richmond: X. G. Bickford, New
nort News; c. f.. f. Burnley, Roanoke
Va.-The Raleigh. - rrros,
II. Alexander, Virginia; C.; II. Forrest
and wife. North Carolina; H. H. smith,
petersburg-St Jzsges.
~ ~ baldwin. Roanoke-Emrich.
q y watson, Jr, Richmond; III. H.
,v,niam ms IJrbana; r. II. Harvey, New
mort News; Mrs. G. Powers, Richmond
National.
POSTAL
Among the fourth-class postmasteis
commissioned March 18th. we're Sheddy