Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-24
FROM WASHINGTON.

Rd1tdGit-GOg. D0ty-DiSdSte7' az Ft0fSdG-
ReckIeSsReSs of Gen. tSey7ao'u'-Cong reSsaon-
al matters Wisconsin Hen at the Capitol.
Correspondence of the State Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 1o,slS64
The arrival of Gen. Grant is Just now the
great sensation in the city, and whether he
VIII remain here, or continue in the field is
question on every tongue. He was hardly
known to be in the city when he appeared at
the Presidents levee last night. His en-
trance, as soon as it became known, caused a
tremendous excitement in the crowded rooms
of the White House, and such was the rush
TO him that a modest man could not get with
in forty feet of him, while the occupants of
crinoline, who happened to be IN the crowd,
were squeezed quite to their hearts content
and to the ruin Of their gay habiliments.
The General came in about 10 o'clock IN
herald /, and soon the Secretaries not pres
ent were sent for, and came to welcome the
distinguished hero of thirty-seven battles,
He bears his honors we'll and looks hale and
hearty, as though he could shoulder his new
responsibilities without damage and meet the
requirements of his place where so many have
failed. What will be done with Halleck, or
what his position is to be is matter of earnest
speculation. 1t is confidently hoped that
many evils arising from his personal hostility
to certain earnest men and strong measures
will be cured by the appointment of General
Grant to the first position under the Com
mander-in-Chief.
The controversy which is now kept UP be-
tween the rival factions in Missouri, has en-
tered upon the floor of Congress and provok-
ed some feeling. So far as it partakes of
personalities between the members it had
better been excluded. But | confess, radical
as [ am and with all my sympathies with the
opposition to Schofeld & Co., the more l see
of the case the stronger the conviction that
rivalry and personal, rather than public con-
sderations are the melting causes. | cannot
forget that the now so-called conservative
champion, General Blair, was the first to raise
the banner of Emancipation in Missouri, and to
stem manfully and boldly the pre-slavery tor
rent, while many of these now radical aboli-
tionists were arrayed under the black flag of
slavery, and doing their worst to destroy the
germ which the former so successfully plant
ed. [ cannot sympathize with those who are
seeking to embitter this controversy and ex-
tend it abroad for the purpose of using it
against Mr.. Lincoln, and in favor OF some of
his rival aspirants Better far TO conciliate
and harmonic these local and personal con-
flicts between parties in the same great COM
mon cause of freedom.
The glorious result in New Hampshire was
not expected here, and demonstrates how
much can be done by proper effort. The
representatives from there spoke discOurag-
ingly, but called for aid, and the response
has been effective and satisfactory. Gov.
Randall, who attained such distinction as an
effective labOrer and speaker in the New
| York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut canvas
| ses, was pressed into the service in New
| Hampshire, and all who have heard him on
the stump cen fully credit the report that he
was among the most powerful of the speakers
| in that canvass.
| By the way, at the time of leaving the city
| on his way north, the Governor was the sub
| ieet of pretty severe practical joke. While
procuring his ticket at the railroad depot he
was very quietly relieved of all his loose
money to the amount of $40! He undoubt-
| edly neglected to read the notice so promi-
nentIy posted there: beware of pick pock-
ets; so I suppose he alone is responsible for
the loss. He nevertheless went On his mis-
sion, though robbed and moneyless.
| Gov. Doty, now of Utah, has been here for
| some weeks, leaving the administration of
affairs of his office in the hands of Amos
Reed, Secretary of the Territory. He went
out as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for
| Utah, in which capacity he rendered most
important service in reconciling the Indians
| and securing their loyalty. Several valuable
| and important treaties negotiated by him
with different tribes in Utah have been rati-
| fed by the Senate. No man is better fitted
| for his present position, and he will acquit
himself creditably and to the honor Of the
nation. He looks ten years younger than
when he went out-the influence of the eli
mate, &C., having removed all his old rheu-
matism and renewed his age.
The disaster in Florida is a serious and IN
expected one, and wholly unnecessary, and
apparently attributable to rashness and over
anxiety on the part of the West Point Gen
eral commanding to achieve name as
fighter He was most reckless, and the les
son he has learned has cost the nation heavi
w. The loss in killed, wounded and prison
ers will be near $500 from all private &C
counts 1t seems to have been so unneces
sary that one gets exasperated at thought o
it. The force suddenly thrust down there
from Charleston and Savannah could not Ions
have been spared to remain there, and if Sey
mour had invited an attack at his station a
Barber, he could have successfully repealed
it against heavy odds. Had the enemy re
fused to advance upon him, he could have re
manned until the rebel force was defeated BY
|
a successful advance. There appears also t.
have been great want of skill in the man
agement of his forces, tt ough in persona
| courage he is not wanting.
A strange fatality seems to attend all the
| operations on the Atlantic coast. The com
manders of the army and navy in the South
ern department have seemed to be generally
unequal to their responsibility, and an in.
scrutable providence has struck down the on
| ly two men sent there, who were able tc
cope with the many difficulties to be encoun
tered-viz: Gen. Mitchell and Admiral Foote
Thus far it has been the most expensive ant
the least effective department of the service
The blockade, however, is now rendered per
| feet at Charleston and along the entire coast
| save at Wilmington, North Carolina.
! Ii a respectable force is kept at Jackson
| vile it will open the st. Johns River country
and secure supplies of lumber and turpentine
&C., and will divide the forces and attention
of the enemy and be OF great ultimate advan
| tage. But there is no use of talking of OF
| relying upon the &c Union element of the
South" save among the negroes, it is no
| there. Slavery has tainted the moral and po
litical atmosphere to such degree that the
| whiskey drinking "cracler" and the swag
| gering Shareholder are alike embittereC
against the yankees" and will fight unit
exhausted. Every tallow faced female through
out the South is preacher of vengeance and
thoroughly possessed by the demon of slavery
Even while living upon the iberality of the
| government and protected from the suffering
! resulting from rebellion, they breathe Out
| curses upon the heads that feed them, anC
foam in vindictive rage at the flag which
| shields them. While there is yestige Of
hope, they will fight and will only yield to ad