The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-28
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
NATIONAL HorEL,


Washington, ID. C., Dec. 81, 1850
A journey to the national capitol, performed
at the rapid rates of railroad travelling, unless
a smash-up occurs, must necessarily be barren
ofineideuts. We arrived here this morning in
the q A. VI. train, making the Journey from
BiddefJrd in two days and one night, and stop
ping one day over in New.York. Vending our
way from the cars directly to the National, we
retired forthwith to our room, No. a, aud soon
forgo, in sleep the annoyances OF travel, the
impertinsnces Of haekmen, and their swindles
and dodges, the discomfOrts Of squalling chill
dren in the cars, AMI the loud and boisterous
talk Of fellow-passengers on the " critical con-
dition Of public affairs" We even forgot the
very respectable yet somewhat seedy-looking
gentleman who, in white neckcloth, with an
air Of severest puritanical piety desired to sell
us, in the Boston and Worcester Depot, book
of well-established piety which would be a
blessed help in family which had the fear of
God before it," and which we declined to
buy on the low terms offered, and forgetting
also the somewhat boisterous talking of the
Georgia. planter, who wore as he said the best
Of BOnheim's $40 boots, and who very grayely
told the Western IIoosier sitting by his side, in
tones which commanded the attention Of the
passengers, waking some Of them from their
vigorous attempts to sleep, that before spring,
Z" the cry Of bread or blood would be heard in
the cities of the free States. and in the manu-
featuring towns in New England" The nights
ride from New York had given us an appetite
for sleep, and blessing, as did Sancho, the man
who invented IL. because OF its coyering'one over
as with a cloak we revelled in its Injuries un-
iii high noon, and walked up at one p. VI. to
find that one star Of the glorious galaxy had
shot from the sphere, and that the sun was
really looking down in sunny smiles upon a
broken, discovered and dismembered con
federacy. South Carolina had seceded- the
deed had been consummated, the event, the
passage ofthe Secession Ordinance, had been
teleyraphed to Washington, announced to the
House by llr. Garnet of Virginia. and yet the
machine was running. The guests Of the Ma
tional were freely talking ofthe matter, but no.
body, as we observed. seemed particularly dis
turbed. whiskey flowed as freely as ever in
the saloon, the billiard players took their cues
with accustomed grace, and so far as the Wash
ingtou world appeared to be concerned, things
were as before. Well, South Carolina is out,
at least on paper. and what she may be left in
80 10 s.an nnlx ha
copjeotured by her past courses. We simply
mention the fact now, reserying all comment
for another occasion.
We have had no opportunity as yet to see
friends, or to get the hang OF matters here.
The appearance Of now and then hat decorat-
ed with a blue cockade, the disuniOn badge.
passing into the saloon where whiskey is dis
pensed gives US the impression that the chiyalry
are abroad, and that whiskey taken beneath
the blue rosettc is great incentive to the pat
riotism OF diSunion. AS we quietly make our
way among the guests, we find that the chief
topic ofeonversation is, of course, about these
secession matters. The Northern men are
cool and talk little, the sons OF the South rather
differently inclined. Tn the whole there Is,
however, as far as the surface appears to us,
less excitement than we supposed about the
matter.
Yesterday so we learn, Mr.. johnson, Andy,
ofTennessee, who has some of the iron of Jack
son in his composition, made an union speech
in the Senate, denouncing the secessionists in
strong terms, aud censuring the President for
his eowarlly neglect to prepare to meet
threatened vioaations. Coming as the speech
does from such source, though of course not
up to the Republican standard, il has given
strength to the idea that the difficulties may be
settled without the breaking up Of the Union.
The house is not sOwe learn,i session to day
The Senate is considering matters connected
) with the interests Of the District Of Columbia.
T.. %. q.