The Portland daily press., 1862-12-30
COMMUNICATIONS.
Correspondence Of the Press
Letter from the Federal Capital.
WASHINGTON. DEC. %. 1856

The last week was one of great and con-
slant excitement at the Capital. First came
the roar and thunder of battle from Freder-
icksburg, followed by silence gloomy and
ominous; then the air became full of rumors,
vague and conflicting; and at last, when boat
loads OF wounded were brought to the
wharves, and their mangled and bleeding
forms in long and ghastly procession were
carried along our streets, on their way to the
various city hospitals, we knew in part how
great had been our disaster. OF the criticisms,
structures, and denunciations, which were so
rife, founded as they were on partial knowl-
edge of facts, and drawn out by the anguish
and anger of defeat, there is no need TO speak.
As If however convinced that the war must be
carried on upon some other plan than that
which has thus far divided and scattered, rath-
er than concentrated our forces, Congress
did little ordinary business, and the Republi-
can Senators held long secret caucuses. Then
it was announced that the Secretary Of STE
had resigned that Gen. Burnside had ask1 b
be relieved, that Secretary Stanton had re-
signed, or was about to do so, with l know
not what other exciting reports.
Before Saturday night there were reports
that every member Of the Cabinet had ten
dered his resignation, that there was to be q
complete and thorough reconstruction of it,
and such progress indeed had rumor made in
some quarters, that the new Secretaries were
already named. The week closed with more
excitement in political circles than have ev-
er before witnessed.
Monday morning brought us a large in
stallment of surmises and conjectures, but
veryfew certainties. The Premier has many
friends, yet his retirement from the Cabinet at
this time would hardly produce any very deep
or general regret, as far as can judge of pub
lie feeling. He has managed our foreign rela-
tions with dignity and ability; but SO far as he
has exerted an influence upon the conduct of
home affairs, and most believe that influence
TO have been great, he seems not to have been
in favor Of bold counsels, or decisive acts.
The late disaster on the Rappahnanock, the
depiorable mistake of sending large force in
to Southern waters at this conjuncture, the
mlsfortunes which seem to have attended at
least some portions of the Banks expedition,
will probably 60 far to make changes in the
War and Navy departments, acceptable to the
country, if such changes really occur. But,
amid ali the censures and criticisms which are
now flying here as thick as the grape and can
lister that lately swept the hills and slopes of
Fredericksburg, ] have heard of no censure
of the Secretary of the Treasury that did not
seem dictated by partizan animosity. Every
one, whom have heard discussing probable
cabinet changes, has spoken of Mr.. Chase as a
man who cannot be spared from his post with
out detriment to the public service.
On Friday, Mr.. Kelley made noble speech
In the House. in answer to certain Border
State men and their Northern allies. Yester-
day speech of similar scope and purport was
made, in the Senate, by Mr.. Lane of Indiana.
In the course Of it he gave the late Democrat
ic victories pretty thorough sitting, and
showed that, in his own State at least, the re-
suit was owing to the fact that all the towards
and traitors and sneaks had remained at home
to vote just such men as themselves into Of
fee, and, in addition to what they could do le-
gally, had cast heavy fraudulent vote, ap-
proximately estimated at seventeen thousand
In reply TO Mr.. Powelfs jubilations over the
results Of the elections, he declared that, for
himself, she could rejoice in no triumph, when
he must mingle his rejoicings with those Of the
enemies of his country" In allusion to Mr.
Davis brilliant and patriotic idea Of recon
structing the Union with New England lett
out, the western Senator paid the prescribed
section noble tribute, declaring that, if ever
that should be, he would go to New England,
where he could have at least stripe of the
old flag over him, and where he could die in
the assurance that no tyrant would ever tram
pie upon his grave. Once at least, stirred by
the fiery words of this old man eloquent. the
galleries forgot the stern and grave decorum
OF the Senate, and broke out into applause.
Senator Lane is fine sample of a western
man, tall and sinewy, rather careless in dress
and appearance, unstuded in manner, but
with stout true heart in him-a heart that
loves freedom and hates slavery with equal
fervor-a good intellect, sound Judgment,
and plain, strong sense. He is not graceful in
speaking, but often, as in the case just cited
and in the Bright expulsion case,he rises with
out any premeditated effort into bursts of the
most genuine eloquence.
Gen. Burnside's report, received since
writing the above, has produced great SEN
sation, exonerating, as it does, the President
and Secretary of War from all responsibility
for the attack at Fredericksburg. 1t is strong
ly In Gen. Burnside's favor, that he dares take
great responsibilities and frankly acknowledge
his own acts, even when they have resulted
most disastrously. This morning the excite
ment seems to be abating, and the probabili-
ties are strong, that there will be no change
In the cabinet. The House has voted to take
recess for the holiday and very unexpectedly
to omany the Senate has concurred. Fridays ses
sion will therefore be the last until the first
Monday of January. T.S.R.