The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-16
CORRESPONDENCE.
(rrom our Regular corre,pondsnt9
WAsuISGroN. Dec. IL, lS

(rrOm our Regular corre,pOndsnt9
wAsnISGroS. Dec. IL, 1864.
Everything here seems TO have moved with
remarkable slowness during the past week.
The "masterly inactivity" which pervsdes
nearly all circles has created general dearth
of news both military and political. which
places the writer in the unenviable position
Of fulfilling promise made to the readers OF
the JOURNAL without the materials with
which to comply with therequirements OF that
obligation. But without adopting the rule
of the British Statesman, "Where you have
nothing to say, say nothing" | will accept
Ms nv guide the multitudinous precedents OF
larger lights in the literary armament. who
have filled the world with untold volumes OF
vapid no,hirgness without leaving it wiser
than they found it.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
The appointment ot Mr.. Chase Chief Jus
tee il The event of the week. az it Is also one
most important event Of this generation.
Theappaintment, though most felicitous, and
considered by many ~ the browning act oil
Mr.. Lincoln's administration. took many
persons by surprise. and none more 80 than
some whose acquaintance with the "ma'
chine" in the Executive Mansion which
grinds out appointments, FROM thatofshoui
der strap ,cRs hars 10 the flowing robes OF
the Chiei JnstIce,-had caused them to To-
cate the grave honors Of Judge Tanev's sue
cessor in another direction. From the bred
Scott Decision. which robbed the negro of
all rights which "whitc men were bound to
respect" 10 Salmon p. Chasson the Supreme
Bench: FROM the Superannuated supporter
of an antique and discarded harbarism'
which dnpmed four millions Of Americans to
perpetual bondage. tn him whose life ssy.
nonymous with Liberty,-whose career is
Identified with the freedom Of the Slave, and
whoss pen supplied ths browning. golden
sentence OF the Proclamation OF Emincipa-
ton il victory for humanity which can on
Nv bc measured By that stride from Harper
Ferry Of tivo years ago, with John Browns
iibbst against the Virginia sky to the Fir
rinia of to-day ,-one half free, the other do
vastntcd nv the march of hostile armies, and
pollutsl nv the tread OF Yankee ieet. In
1859 slavery, in order to protect i,s own life,
made martyr of Freedom in Virginia. In
1864 you can buy "a bakers dozen OF inil
grown Virginia negroes for the price OF an
infant five years ago.
Now AND TuES.
Midway between the Presidents House
and the Capitol. on the broad PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, which is now. and always has been
the principal thoroughfarc and promenade Of
the city.-stands what was nnce the old
Washington slave prison, in which. in day'
gone b., were confined men, women and chill
.dren waiting for the auction block, and II
any, impelled nv the desire to he free, in a
country the motto Of whose proud banner
floating from tho dome of her Capitol was
"Iibcrty", were 30 fortunate m to escape in
the hope Of finding Freedom under the guild.
ance OF tho North Star. men could he found
in washington.-not Southern gentlemen,
but Northern doughtdces. whom they have al.
way, employed To do their dirty work.-But
men could he found, who would chase them
through the free Northern State, at the bid.
ding Of their aristocra,ic southern brother.
and the slave was still n slave till he had
placed the st Lawrence between himself and
the "Land of the FREQ" and found refuge un.
der the cross of St George. To-day, thanks
to Abraham Lincoln. whose name shall q
down to the future by the side OF his who
gave England the glorious verdict OF her
highest Court Of law, that "Ths slave who
sets his loot ON British soil becomes that in
slant free, ITO day the negro Is as free in
Washington as IN any city in the world: they
walk the same streets and ride in the same
carriages with the same Independence tina,
white men do. And have noticed that the
cars marked "colored persons admitted
which run up and down our streets and ave-
nues aheays contain more white people than
colored. Nor have seen any lady object to
ride in the same car with well-dressed colored
persons. The only exception to this remark
Il to be found in women whose husbands have
suddenly been raised from mental capacity
through the acquisition Of sudden wealth,
doubtless by means OF a"shoddy" contract.
Such women on entering such car by mis.
take will generally elevate their probosis to
nm angle oil As degrees stop the car. and OF.
ten wade through the mud, ankle deep.
ocrosa the avenue and wait for another car.
The old slave prison Of former years. has,
I, the nrosress OF civilization, become pris.
on for deserters and rebels; and many a
nroud "F. +. "" while incarcerated within
\, wallis has had ample leisure to ponder ov.
.r,he strange mutation Of human affair.
"irom the sublime to the ridiculous, and
has doubtless concluded that from the throne
Of France TO Sc. Helena was nota longer step
than from the lord Of the lash 70 cell in tho
old Washington slave prison.
r.--r CONGRESS. ata 81.
IA usual at the commencemeut0f q session
nothing has been accomplished BY Congress
during the last week. Both Houscs have Ire.