Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-08
Correspondence of the Worcester Daily Spy.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D, c., Dec. 5, Is

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 5, 1860,
Dear Spy:-Congress, from which so much
was feared, and so little hoped, is again fairly
in session, and from the dignifed manner in
which the first two days have been passed,
we have reason to suppose that we have net
given our congressman credit for all the pru-
dence they have shown.
The opening day could not have been more
suspicious. The weather, before iEclemenl
then became fair and pleasant. The members
of the house met and greeted each other with
warmth but with quiet dignity that showed
they felt the responsibility of their position,
and that they had met for work rather than
play. The opening prayer of the chaplain
was, in an extraordinary degree, tervent and
impressive. He prayed for the preservation
of the Union, and in his prayer called things
by their right names, and adveired to the dan.
gers of the hour, in way that in any other
than DR.. Styckton would have called for re-
buke. But he possesses the confidence of all
in such degree that they followed, and ap
peared from their reverential attitude to join
in the applications. Even the spectators in
the galleries and the repol tiers felt the soem'
nifty of the occasion. The prayer was four
times the usual length, but none felt it to be
too long. This opening was universally re-
garded as very promising,
The day was spent in the usual routine bus
mess, no extraordinary proceeding taking
place, except the motion of Mr.. Grow of
Pennsylvania, for reconsiderng the motion
made last session, which tabled the homestead
bill He did not persist in this motion, but
gave the house to understand that he should
call it up on the first occasion.
To-day the presidents message was receiv-
ed and read. Contrary to the usual custom,
no copies of it were laid on the desks of the
members. Hence they were forced to give
the reading close attention Never did the
house present more dignfied appearance
than during this reading. No members were
reading papers or writing, but all appeared
sober, serious, and collected
When the reading was finished, it was sup
posed that the usual hubbub would follow in a
contest for the floor. But instead, there was
for a moment pause, when Mr.. Sherman,
| whose place it was so TO do lis leader of the
! house, made the customary motion to refer the
message to the committee Of the whole. MIR.
John Cochrane of New York low rose to offer
an amendment, but gave way to Mr.. Boteler,
i who represents the Harper's Ferry district in
Virginia, who made the motion for the special
committee to take into consideration the part
of the message relating to the secession move.
ment, which, as you already know, prevailed.
In carrying out this plan, lie was assisted OIL
the republican side OF the house, but much i'm
peded on his own side. 1t was generally sup
| posed that the republicans would vote against
| this reference, but when the first name was
called, and Hon. Charles Francis Adams, the
son OF one president and grandson of another,
answered age" all remembered that us he
voted go voted the republican party, and then
| the spectators felt that the amendment was
| passed. They were right; the republicans
voted for the motion as body, but many per-
sons felt that to vote Tor il was an unnecessary
conciliatory step, and 50 they voted against it,
and among them were Messrs. Bullingame
and Butfinton. 1t was well perhaps for it to
be seen i'll the outset, that while as party we
were ready to do all we could TO crafty the
south, that there were those who would do
nothing that gave color to the idea that we
|
the house adjourned. Tomorrow the work
will begin. And that there will be hot work
room, was evident from the few words drop.
ped, i'll defiance OF order by some OF the fire.
eaters For instance, Mr. Miles gave as the
reason why the South Carolina delegation did
not vote on this proposition, that their state
was already, saving a few forms, out of the
Union, and hence that the raising OF tine pro.
posed committee could make no difference to
them. Members from Florida, Mississippi,
and Alabama, made similar remarks
The U S. government has III fact, stopped
payment Legal drafts upon the treasury are
daily protested for want Of specie Even the
members OF congress, while they get their
back pay, will not at present be able to touch
their mileage. There will be for short time
some trouble among the employees of the gov
ernment sailors and soldiers will be without
pay Tor while, and those employed in the
custom houses will have TO wait for their mon
ey.
There is no longer any eff" used here in
speaking of the Palmetto State. 1t is taken
for granted that she will be as good as her
word, and do her best to 90 out OF the Union.
And it is conceded that Alabama, Georgia
and Mississippi, will follow her lead. The
other cotton states are expected to be greatly
influenced by the action of the first mention
ed and it is said that the border slave states
will demand some great concessions as the
price OF their adhesion to the contederacy.
The republican party in congress seem de
termined to stand firmly on the platform o
Chicago. They are inexorably opposed Il
any of the plans OF Cancellation now mooted
Tie articles in the Albany Evening Journa
and the New York Courier and Inquirer OF
the subject, which by many were supposed Il
be Of a semi.ofcial nature, are spoken Of by
our leading men with Indignation, as having
had the effect of lowering our standard, anc
giving the enemy to understand that their me
naces were efiectual.
The appointment Of a committee of one
member from each state to consider and report
upon that part OF the presidents message re-
ating to the secession movement, is looked
upon by our friends us only calculated tc
weaken our position and bring us into dis
grace Long headed John Sherman resisted
this manner of selecting the committee, as un
necessary, until oyer-ruled by murmurs on hi,
own side of the house. Had the matter beer
referred to a special committee Of thirty three
the speaker could have so constituted i
as to have given our friends the control o
the report AS il is, as he will doubtless Sc
lect conservatives, the committee while appa
r0nty possessing the confidence of the party
will no doubt betray us by reporting somt
scheme that our friends cannot support and