The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-11
FRoM WASHINGTON.
Washington, January 4.

letter from the Federal Capital, in case
should visit it, and now sit down to re
deem the pledge First and foremost
am not very favorably impressed with the
headquarters of the circomlocution office
/ How not to do it, is the rule here-de-
cisive action the exception. Our Grand
Army of e5o, eco men are enjoying them
selves hugely with sham battles, which
have succeeded the HOLIDAY festivities Of
the camp. Yesterday there was a sham
fight at the Cross Roads, in which Gen.
Nc Dowell's. Benker's, and other d.
visions to the lumber Of tift regiments,
participated, and il IS SAID by 0ol Dewey
and b. w. Davis who were present4 that
it was magnificent affair. Perhaps the
men needed the practice to make them
efficient, but everything here is of the
sham kind, and no real progress appears
to be making in crushing out this rebel.
lion. Sometime since We had the promise
Of great results from the expedition to
Port Royal, but thus far we have seen no
fruits commensurate with the cost Of that
movement. from the fact that our COM
manders will not touch the "nigger' for
fear that they might spring mine that
would hurt the feelings Of their Southern
brethren. 1t was said that "our army
swore terribly in Flanders but here the
case is rcversed-the people are swearing
terribly. and could you but hear the almost
universal imprecations that find utterance
daily in the streets of this city in refer
ence to the want Of policy and the peace
principles upon which this war has been
conducted, you would come to the con-
elusion that, by some freak Of nature, the
geographical position of Washington had
been changed, and that now its location
must lie somew here in the State of Mas
sachusetts. What change! The anti
slavery sentiment is now the dominant
one. In Illustration of this, witness what
took place at the Smithsonian Institute
last evening. Horace Greedy lectured
there, his subject being The Nation
He was greeted with an overlooking house.
Upon the platform were the President
for the first time), Sec'y Chase, Senators
Wilson, Preston, King. and some twenty
other members of Congress, including
Thadeus Stevens and Owen Lovejoy.-
Mr.. Greeley lecture was one of the finest
things have listened to for some time
During his argumen, he made this point:
that the failure Of the Government thus
far in crushing out the rebellion had been
5scouse ithad tdifed 10 took .Stdrery "a The
face, upon the utlerance of which senti-
ment the ''house came down" with deaf
ming and long continued applause. He
asserted that the time was coming, if this
! rebellion is to lie crushed, when the idea
embraced in Gen, Fremont's proclamation
would be far behind the senhmets Of the
people. Again did the house come down
with louder and still more prolonged APP
plause, and it was some time before the
speaker could go on The President and
Secretary looked grave. but Horace looked
and felt triumphant, as did the audience
and the members on the platform. The
audience gave the President clear indi-
cation Of their views in reference to the
manner in which they would have this
war conducted by their loud applause Of
Mr. Greeleys well made points. As ! sui
in that splendid hall and listened to tina,
admirable lecture. asked myself, how
!. would the speaker have been received ii
: that hall one year ago by the audience
that then frequen,ed it, had he uttered tn.
same sentiments he was then uttering
"Tar and feathers" was the response
Truly free speech is triumphant here
at last.
Gen. Fremont has been summoned be
, fore sthe committee" Gen. Mcclellan
| would not order him here, and will b
here on Monday. learn from one ofth
!, I congressman who says that he speak
adsisedlsl that Fremont has documentar,
} evidence in his possession that will fairl
+. crush out some Of those who were instru
mental in having him recalled. Hi
proclamation stimulated their exertions
S.
FROM BENTON BARRACKS.