, 1863-12-11
From our Regular Correspondent

From our Regular Correspondent
WAsn1Earos, Dec, s, 1863.
TEE COPrERHEAD sCHRME TO CONTROL CON-
GEEss.
AsI wrote you some days sincc they would,
the Copperheads in Congress last night per
fected their scheme for getting control Of the
House, so far as 1t could be, up to the pres
ent time, I1earn that the plan was organ
lied months since, and that Etheridge is in
the conspiracy. The, intention is to elect
Copperheads to all the offices from Speaker
down, control the committees, DC. With
this intention the leaders took care In the first
place to- gire notice to all the States in which
there were Democratic majorities to send on
certificates for members, based on an act of
the last session.. which provides that the
Clerk sha11 place the name Of no member Of
Congress upon the roll, unless he shall pro-
duee 2 certificate to the effect; that be was
elected according to the laws Of the State, or
ii pursuance of The laws Of the United States.
The States SO notified were: Ohio, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, Illinois md New York, and
these States have corrected the ceertif-
catcs of their members accordingly.
Mr.. Ethcridge now takes tho groand
that Vermont Missouri East and West
Virginia, Oregon, - = Kansas Maryland,
and Minnesota cannot be represented; as the
members have no certificates to the effect
that they are duly elected according to law.
This would throw out twenty-five Union
members, including F. P. Blair. and fire con-
perheads. Afr. Etheridge has also notified
the States Of New Hampshire, Vermont Com
necticut. West Virginia and Maryland to cor
rect their certificates, to make a show of
honesty, but knowing that the corrected Ger
4EaY YFf IN f11 Int ie
by the coppcrheads that even should this be
done In time, there is ret the case Of Mary-
land; and the Governor of that State win
refuse to give corrected certilcates, which.
with the twenty-five votes thrown out alto.
gether, would IN coppcrhead opinion leave
the Democrots arc to elect Fernando Wood
Speaker md Etheridge, Clerk. In case this
plan does not succeed, they will run Coz Of
Ohio for Speaker, merely out of compliment
to him. This is the plan BY which the Con-
peIheads hope to control Congress, ana
which is the last card in their game Of oppo-
sition to the War and the Administration.
The Union men can, however. Fchcclz- z-matc
them By falling back upon the plan of old
John @. Adams, who In the celebrated New
jersey case, when the Clerk refused to mt
the vote himself moved that member take
the chaif, which was carried and the House
There is great anxiety TO learn what to-
morrow may bring forth, and many antici-
pate yery stormy time In the Houge'
The existence Of this plan or scheme ut this
time shows not only the intentions Of the
Coppcrhead leaders are still traitorous. but
that they are determined, If posaib1e. tn car.
~ them ont, in face even of the late ennhat-
ie verdict of the people against their policy.
The Coxes, Aliens, Woods, Knapps, and 9th.
ers, are chnckling to-day over tie hope1 fnr
success OF their plans, and the aid they cy-
pect to derive from their execution.
GIGANTIC FRAUD on TIE oovERsAEsr.
a Captain Vim. stoddard, a quartermaster
stationed at Alexandria, was arrested ycster-
day and lodged In the Capitol Prison, CHARGED
with having defanded the Government tn
the amount Of over SG40, 600. Tie fraud It is
alleged was perpetrated in the purchase and
delivery Of grain for the army of the Poto-
mac. By collusion with the contractors. he
has been able to make fifteen cents on every
hushel, Of what Is called mixed grain. (cor1,
md oats, j delivered by him. He purchases
Sc pounds Of corn, for say 93 cents, and 50
pounds Of oats for 80 cents; but delivers 81
pounds Of mixed grain {20 pounds of oats and
IL pounds Of corn,) for 81 cents. The twelve
pounds Of corn cost 20 cents, and the twenty
pounds Of oats 81 cents, making n cents to
him, but for which he charged 81 cents to
the Government. 1t is also said to-day that
the Chief Quartermaster Of the post, Captain
Ferguson, has also been arrested for COM
pllcity In this matter. The arrest and fraud
arc the great excitement in the Quartermas-
terss Department here yesterday and to-day.
though the city papers have not yet got hold