Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-20
Correspondence Of the Daily Journal.
FROM WASHINGTON

Correspondence OF tne Oeliy J0uIual.
FROM WASHINGTON.
A Word as to the Lete Session The 1ow
for tho Enrolment Of the Ailitia- Gossip
about our Foreign Relations-etc, etc.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1868.
In my last letter, written just as the Thirty
seventh Congress had ceased to be, spoke
of several of its important measures, but in
general terms, and, if remember correctly,
did not refer specifically to any of the acts of
the last session. There are several of them
which may well enough be referred to.
The various acts of financial nature have |
been spoken of from time to time in this cor
respondence. They form system, by means
of which the Secretary of the Treasury will
be enabled to meet the extraordinary de-
mands against the public funds caused by the
unholy rebellion of the Shareholders Con-
gress had but barely adjourned when the
good effects of the legislation of the last ses-
sion, touching matters of finance, began to
be felt. The seats of the Representatives
had scarcely got cold before Wall street took
to trembling, and the price of gold to coming
down like a thousand of brick. There never
has been known such panic as the panic
among the gold gamblers last week. There
never was financial panic before which so
universally ruined Shylocks, and so universal
ly benefited the public. No rich Jew ever
tainted, and keeled over bodily on Change
before, at the horrid contemplation of his
sudden losses Wall street never before was
crowded like menagerie with such thou
sands, looking upon the tricks of the bulls
and the bears. The fall in gold may be ar
rested for a time, but one days good news
from Hooker, or Rosecrans, or Grant, or
Banks, or Hunter, will send it down again,
in spite of all the gamblers. And that for
the reason that the system of finance enact
ed by Congress is essentially correct and
wise.
The act for the enrolment of the militia,
often called the Transcription Act" though
there is very little probability of its being
any such thing as matter of fact, except
in the contingency of a foreign war, will
eventually be looked upon with well nigh
universal favor. 1t has been generally con-
coded that republican governments could not
long exist, because of want of power to re-
pei the aggressions of stronger, but less free
governments. And it would certainly seem
to be altogether natural that a government
swayed by the will of single despot would
be stronger than one wherein the sovereign
ty lies with the whole people. But suppose
great people. determined to conquer their
enemies, assert from lands end to lands
end that their nationality shall be respected,
shall be acknowledged by all its foes. domes-
tic and foreign; suppose they propose to
themselves to so assert, not only with speech,
but to back their words with powder
and ball, and all the palpabie arguments of
war. Who shall say men would not be more
unconquerable as warriors for freedom and
American nationality, than would be the
trained armies Of the Gar of all the Russias
doing the bidding Of their master by crush
ing out theJ Poels? The enrolment law is
simply an exhibition of the fact that free
Government may be also strong. Dcspots
who have heretofore insisted that Republic
must necessarily be without arms to strike
its foes will see that in emergencies free
Government may stand forth an armed Briar-
Gus, to deal the giant blows of an indignant
people.
The amiable gentlemen of the peace per-
suasion who have gone off into such bugaboo
alarm about the measure will be happy to
learn they are putting their feet in it about as
usual. The law is immensely popular with
the troops in the field, and the troops in the
field are entitled to considerable respect, in
war matters at least, in my humble opinion.
The revision of the laws for the Post Office
Department, containing at first, as reported
by Senator Colamer, many provisions which
were deemed Objectionable and stricken out,
make that Department self-supporting in
stitution, it is believed, and at the same time
render it of more service to the people, espe-
cially the people of the more densely popula-
ted portions of the country,
The bill to aid Missouri in the emancipa-
ton of slaves failed-a fact which is due to
the poor parliamentary strategy of Senator
Henderson. That gentleman insisted upon
the appropriation of $2O,OOO0OO for the OBJ
ject of the bill, and would be content with no
less. He got it in the Senate, and along with
it the opposition of some of the ablest mem
bers Of that body, and of the House, who
were able to give the bill severe letting
alone, when it came to the latter body. If
Mr.. Henderson complains, he can complain of
no body but himself think, too, the treat
ment his friends in Missouri gave to B. Gratz
Brown had not little to Go with the loss Of
the measure, the passage of which was not
doubted until the failure of a Senatorial election
at Jefferson City. Mr.. Henderson's especial
friends here were vociferous in their denun-
Citations of the best friends of Mr.. Brown,
who is justly looked upon, outside of Mis-
souri,, as the ablest champion of freedom in
that State. But the House bill, which might
now be law, was not enough for Henderson,
and he lost ALL Reason enough, without 60
ing to Missouri
| The proclamation Of emancipation is having
its legitimate effect abroad. The popular
enthusiasm in England especially, in favor of
the Union is unprecedented-so great indeed,
that it is freely asserted in diplomatic circles
here that interference in favor of the rebels
by the British government would result in the
immediate downfall of the ministry which
should sanction it, and endanger the very ex-
istance of the British monarchy. The friends
of free government in France, in Germany,
and in Italy, have been encouraged beyond
measure since the first Of January, since which
important epoch the cause of the Union has
been steadily gaining ground among the peo
pie abroad The Polish instruction, and the
consequences likely to result from it, the sim
gular position of Austria toward that popular
outbreak, the evident return of France and
England to their hereditary jelousies, Carl
baldi recovering and Italy scowling upon the
French bayonets at Rome. Kossuth watching
for Hungary's opportunity, the people of
Prussia ready to take up arms against the
encroachments of King and nobility-take it
all in ALL in short, and it seems altogether
likely that European statesmen will have
enough to do with their own affairs without
interference with mighty people, now prepar-
ed to rush to arms at the first threatening
menace from abroad. suspect foreign des-
pots will hate our enrolment law very nearly |
as heartily as the boohooers for peace in the
North.
The Hon. John A. Kasson, M. G. elect from
the 9Th District of Iowa, will go to Connect |
cut in few days to take part in the political
canvass there Afterwards, he will sail for |