, 1861-12-11
Especial Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribune. j
Utc Tar e

Especial Correspondence OF lle CnlcaGo Ir1phne.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 1861.
1t is q pleasure to know that the puri6ca-
ton Of the District Of Columbia is determined
upon. The work has begun and it will go Oh.
Let nc give you little bit Of history. A gen
t1eman in this city having heard that there
were several Virginia contrabands in the Jail
Of the District, obtained permission to visit
it. He usually carries q note book in his
pocket, and soon found that there was tale
for the public.
The gentleman above mentioned, having ta-
ken full notes Of the iniquity, called upon
Senator, and the next day Was field day in the
upper branch Of Congress. You have already
had the proceedings how Wilson, Hale, Sum-
ner, Trumbull, Fessendcn and Clark expressed
thcmselvcs-what they did in the way Of Civ
ing notice Of bills which will make general
ripping up Of things here. It was great
days worh-p1eparatoryt to the thorough over
hauling. Everybody was astounded at the
iniquity, scarcely surpassed By that OF the
French Bastilc. It has created a great scnsa-
ton here. Yesterday the Star came out with
with old usagcs. The officials, from the most
scrYilc policemen, cup or down, just IS you
choose to have it, to quote Senator Hale, to
the judiciary, arc in trepidation. Let them
tremblc. They have troddcn Gods poor to
the earth, and now they have got to march
from their places. By and by nc hope thnt we
shall have laws here worthy Of d civilized
age.
The emancipation question is shaping itself
The negroes who may escape to our lines will
be considered as freemen, to go and come as
they please throughout the world. They will be
recognized as men. do not think, from pre-
sent indications, that an emancipation act will
be passed. 1t is not needed just now; what
may be called for, can wisely be left to the fu-
ture. An emancipation act would not, at this
time, benefit negro at Richmond, or Nash
vile, or New Orleans. 1t would not reach
them; but if it would, Of what avail would it
be? None is needed at Fortress Monroe OF
ono will ever Own them again. By walking
into Fortress Monroe, they wnlked into their
natural, normal condition Of existence. When
anybody tries to make them wn1k out Of 1t
again-to 60 back into bondagge-tle Govern,
ment, treating them us citizens, can easily put
4 stag law on such proceedings, and any one
attempting it can properly hayea term at the
| institution where they give intructions In
hammering stone In due time the
| slaves throughout the South will come
to understand that the tlag of the Union
is the dag Of freedom, and they will
AlaA4loI u 0|rAE ~ 6t21N DtuEAku 1tS 1uluS,
! which will culminate in a general stampede.
| Such seems to be the shaping Of public opin'
| ion here at the present. Events may give q
different phase. Thoughtful men are looking
with soicitude towards the future They see
| that there is to be revolution oftenib1e mag
nftude
Tic question Of finance will present 1t.
self for consideration before Congress-
and will awaken much discussion. There
are many members Of Congress who will
resist further loans till the army has
done something. No one knows when Nc
Clellan intends to move, OF where. There an
spcculations, Of course Some say that tic
great contest is to be at Centcryille, where the
/ enemy has ta1en up a strong position, which
is being made more formidable every day.
Othcrs are sure That the mighty conflict is tc
be Oh the Occoquan, while there are those wac
say that no battle is to be fought on the Po
tomac, but that expeditions arc Il
be- sent South to Seize all the forts
Where there is 50 great diversity Of opinion
! and where everything is uncertain, an indi
yidual opinion is Of but little value, but having
watched the signs Of the times for severa
months, I may venture to 6ay that there ar.
indications Of activity before long; but how
| soon, 1t would be prcposterous to attemp
to fix date. If, however, you of th'
| West can give us of Washington "an opinion
as is an opinion concerning the ColambuJ
expedition, we will recfprocatc By fixing tn
same day for the moyeMent Of the army Of tn
Potomac, It is the opinion Of one gentlemal
| in this city that the army Of the Potomac AMI
| the army Of the Mississippi will move simul
| taneously. Whether it Is Of any weight or no
| remains to be seen. CALEB.