Newbern weekly progress., 1860-01-17
Our Washington City Correspondence.


Editor Progress We'll, Christmas fun and
froc has had its brief run, and we are now fairly
sped upon new year. Egg-nog bowls have
vanished to be seen more until the birth of
another " merry Christmas - nervous old gen.
tlemen and tlmld ladies venture into the
streets without fear of being the unwilling re-
cepients of shower of torpedoes or of being
regarded by the sport-loving urchins as make
belive" enemies to he blown up by explosive
fre-crackers The genial self-satisied smile of
the politician has gradually changed to a de-
cidedly sour pucker, and the merchants pleasant
faces have wofully elongated as day by day pass
away and no response is made to the little New
Year billets kindly bestowed upon their custo-
mers. Yes, the genial, smiling features of old
Christmas have faded away, and we are brought
square up to look serious, earnest New Year in
the face. In this city the lst of January was
observed with unusual zest and spirit. The day
was bitterly cold and the icy air swept its sting
led as though pricked by thousand needles
yet it did not check the ardor of the determined
New Year callers who, on foot and carriages pro-
ceeded from house to- house until their prepared
lists were gone through with, W hen they suecumb-
ed to the extraordinary fatigue endured. It is
question, whether or not the moon ever shone
upon more thoroughly fatigaed city than Wash
ington, ON the night of January lst, 1860.
The reception at the Presidents was not so rlu.
merously attended on former occasions and
was consequently better enjoyed by those who
were present. did not visit the White House
this occasion a recollection of sufferings en-
dured at of the levees Of the President deter
red me from going. shall never forget that le-
wee, when in thee rushing mass of wedged human
flesh l found myself undergoing maceration be-
tween two mammoth-sized men, who, apparently
unconscious of my situation proximity contin-
ned to pant and blow and talk about pre- empted
lands " while was nearly suffocating between
them. and heartily wishing l was part and par
eel of the lands they had mentioned.
There is little to communicate in the way of
Congressional news. The House is still Speaker
less and the promises for an organization less en-
couraglng than ever. 1t was thought few DAYS
since that MIR. Hamilton of Texas. (dem.) could
secure sufficient votes to elect him and he was
accordingly put in nomination. The democrats
were sangulne of success, but like all other at
tempts it proved failure. was satisfied of this,
and am still of the opinion that Hamilton can
never command sufficient votes to elect. This
opinion is based upon conversations with Soath
American members; some of whom think will
refuse under any circumstances to vote for him,
while there are others outside this party who OBJ
being made to reconcile differences so to unite
and elect some conservative man. But how har-
monious action is to be secured with such g. ele-
ments OF dlscord Is beyond my comprehension.
lhe three organizations opposed to Republican
ism seem to be waiting for something ''to turn
up" hoping that something" will disclose an
end to this tangled threadi
Hamilton's nomination, his large vote, and the
aVowal OF SONS OF the weak brothers ,; that they
never will vote for Sherman, has caused shak-