Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-15
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March 6, 1861.

IuaIDlc VA LILO SSHANS't
closing hours of this eventful session u -
press. observed the rapid dispatch OF OuS'u
in the House, listened in the Senate " '
.-.,d fo-c;ble sneech of Hunter, the ar
rocant and ultra talk oil -'''s' ...l-ofooa
s;vs oloopepce of Crittenden' honestly aiafmea
G. -. Country, but forgetful OF the interests
liam in his endeavors to show the
Ga mower that it has nothing to lose by |
encb compromises as he has advocated;
watched the boorish manners and heard the
insolent bravado of of Wigfall, endured the
insuferable tediousness of "Joe Lane been
nerved by the strong argument and stern
adherence to principle OF Trumbull, aud
heard though not the more elaborate efforts,
the still characteristic remarks Of Seward,
and Douglas, and Sumner, and Chandler, ana
Doolittle. AMI Baker, and other noted men
Of the Senate,-one who has moved among
the interesting scenes attending the inaugu-
ration of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, as President OF
the United States, has but TOO much to tell
Of. The whirl Of excitement and inciden:
has left nee no tine for writing. and the
very excess OF matters of universal interest.
of which to write, would l suspect have kept
me silent, had | had time and opportunity
to attempt description Of it all.
OF course you have had much fuller and
better accounts of the inauguration than l
can give. was expecting to see in
the procession o fac display Of .. S.
troops; but it was not TO be seen.
The regulars in Washington nre here
not for show but for service. They were
posted in complete readiness for fighting, if
it should be necessary, in different parts of
the city and near theCapitol, and with the ex-
cephon Of single artillery company march
ing as infantry, the duty Of escort was left to
the volunteer militia Of Washington and
Georgetown, perhaps thousand strong. \
company OF cavalry encircled the carriage
containing the President and President elect,
so closely, that not a glimpse of them could
be gained from the sidewalks, and militia &C.
cupied the roofs oftho houses along the Az
enue To such precautions, and to the
ubiquitous crowd Of Republicans, most Of
them carrying about their persons a supply
of saltpetre ard blue pill IN connection with
Mr. Colts invention, under Providence, was
due the preservation of President Lincoln
from the assassination which was undOubt-
edly meditatel, if not definitely planned by
the desperate men who have Sd constantly
threatened that he should never live TO be
President When all was over, and the
White House had received its new tenant, q
multitude drew long breath and felt better.
From General Scott, who has made no
secret either Of hIs appTehensions before, or
bis rejoicing after, down to an old darkey.
who announced the event to his colored com
rade in the hearing Of friend of mine here,
all shared the feeling expressed By the latter
well. OH Man AbTaham's done said lis
speech and he ain't shot get"
To return - the procession, it was impos-
ing, though lss so than many similar dis
PLAYS which have seen IN New York. TIE
Nc-mon;ers G.,y u ~ il number, wearing
evergreen sTri-s, and nth goodly sprink-
ling in their raazs OF such six f0oters and up
ward as Gen. Baxter. Col Bowdish, MessTs.
l. B. Platt. Gleason, B.4inerd and others,
outnumbered all the res, OF New E7gland in
the procession, had an honorable pl4ce i'm
mediately following the Pf-sidents, and
attracted considerable attention. You don I
say those are the Vermo7ters," said q
Georgian, looking them over. "We!l l shall
have to tell our people when l 60 back, that
instead of the pinched and shriveied green
horns we suppose, they are the finest looking
men in this country"
OF course you have said your say about
the Inaugural (of which l was fortunate
enough to hear every word, Us deliyored,)
and about the com position Of the Cabinet. l
need only to add my testimony as to tie first,
that it was received with the utmost gratf-
cation by Republicans, and fvorAbly i'm
pressed all Of all parties who were not
predetermined to fnd fault, and to express ny
conviction, as to the latter, thst il will be q
harmonious, efficient, honest. and able cabinet
/ share none Of the apprehensions which
found frequent expression on the part Of
some, before the announcement Of the cabinet,
and have probably not subsided yet that Mr..
Chase and Mr.. Seward will represent dis
cordant policies and elements in the admin
bistration. Sincere patriots, true Republican
both, they will work in harmony with Mr..
Lincoln and with each other.
Yesterday the Vermonters here, thirty or
forty in number, paid their respects in body
to Mr.. LINCOLN, at the White House.
They found Mr.. Seward with Mr.. Lincoln,
and had kind and cordial reception from
both
Toby, about the same number of Us
headed BY our Congressman, Messrs Morrill,,
Royce, Walton, and Baxter, called upon
GENERAL ScoIT, at his house; on Mr.. SEW
ARD, at the Department of State; on SEcRE-
7ARY CHASE, who WIS not in, bat in whose !
stead we were reoei7ed by *. Secretary
Dix, a. the D partment Of the Treasury;
on Attorney Gen. BATES. in his rooms in the
Treasury Department; and on GENERAL
CnUncuILI, who Was unfortunately not C:
home. !
The interview with Gen. Scott was, with
out exception, tho most Interesting chs o.
Its Kind have ever witnessed. After Ter.
son2l introduction Ct each individual :, tic
General, VI II Frill addressed him. cxo-os,.
ing in .e.;c..a.:s phrase, the honor in which
he is he'd ~ a.i VermOnters, their high up
preciati IF lis noble services to the
country in rts past. and their confidence in
bis efici nj protection Of its honor in this
time OF trial General Sco.t replied Tcst
happily; speaking of his respect FOR tie !
character OF Vermont, gained from knowl-