Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-21
Correspondence OF she state journal.

it as Lpapeded-Chan Of Sentiment Respect
ing Secretary Ssacard-A,rest of II. K. Lac
relo-dc.
Correspondents OF she State journal.
WASHINGTON, April s.
The glorious results of the elections in Con-
nectcut and Maryland are the occasion of
much rejoicing, and an emphatic rebuke to
all cayilers at the policy ofthe administration
and the dominant party in Congress. 1t is
astonishing what rapid strides the country is
making toward a higher civilization and a
more enlightened humanity. Slavery is doom
ed, and the people everywhere say"Amen ~
Baltimore, at the outbreak of the rebellion,
was the house of treason, and where the first
northern blood was split, is now a free city,
and by majority of good votes for emanci-
patton, immediate and unconditional Reverdy
johnson, one of the oldest and ablest among
the Conservatives of the ancient regime, now
rises in the Senate and says we can have no
lasting and permanent peace until slavery is
entirely done away. A lifelong resident of
a slave-State, ne now utterS his candid con-
viction and calm Judgment in a clear, cogent
and logical speech in behalf of amending the
Constitution so as to prohibit slavery through
out the land
Less than three years ago we thought it a
glorious contamination, and so it was, to secure
the emancipation of slavery in the District
of Columbia. Now grave Senator's and con-
sentative Representatives calmly contemplate
the speedy adoption of a Constitutional pro-
hibition, which can only be secured by two
thirds vote of both houses of Congress and
three-fourths of the States of the Union
The bringing in of new States is fast filling
up the seats vacated by the seceders, and
the early return of several of the slave. states,
regenerated and disenthralled, is expected to
give US 90 certain for freedom.
Truly every patIiot and friend of liberty
will respond to the sentiments of Senator
Howe as expressed in an able and searching
speech in the Senate few days since. He
thanked God that he had lived to this day
had waited long, but it hal come at last, and
welcomed it as second only to the advent of
the Saviour and the Gospel dispensation. 1t
would have been glorious to have participant
ed in the revolution of our forefathers when
three millions wrested their freedom from
despotic power; but it was still more so 20
be one of a nation granting freedom TO four
million bondmen.
| have listened with great interest to the
powerful arguments of the advocates of this
measure in the Senate for the past week. In
addition to those of Johnson and Howe, those
of Harlan, of Iowa, and Van Wrinkle, of West
Virginia, were of marked ability, and will be
contemplated with interest when those who
uttered them shall have passed away.
George Thompson, the great EngIls. aho-
Htionist, delivered a lecture in the Hall of
Representatives on Wednesday evening. l
heard him thirty years ago, deliver the first
abolition lecture to which l ever listened,
and on this occasion l was glad, under more
suspicious circumstances, to hear him again.
Thirty Years have reduced his full, we'll
rounded, English appearance, to more thin,
scholastic, Wendell Phillips-like form and
manner. But, as then, he still commands his
audience, and far different from then, he
finds a cordial, hearty, enthusiastic welcome
everywhere in the land. At the commence
ment of his address he was quite overcome
with the circumstances and surroundings of
his position and it was with difficulty that he
could find uttcrance.
President Lincoln, Secretaries Chase and
Usher, Reverdy johnson and many Of the
most distinguished Senators and members
were present The quotations from the ad-
dresses of the people of Liverpool and Man
chester, made to the distinguished speaker on
the occasion of his leaving for this country,
were received with great applause. They
were full of cordial sympathy and friendly re-
gard for President Lincoln and the country
in the new cause of freedom. The reference
IN the latter address to "the martyr, John
Brown" and to Phillips and Garrison, was
received with enthusiastic applause. One
could hardly realize that he was in the
Capitol where so recently it was treason to
utter word in behalf of abolition. He
coupled Lincoln with Washington-the latter
the father, the former the deliuerer Of his coun-
try. He quoted from the speeches of Mr..
Lincoln six years ago, and remarked that the
sentiments then uttered were worth more than
all that had been written by [since?l Edmund
Burke. His address was we'll timed and his
visit to this country will be productive of
great good. In opening he effectually re-
PEELED the charge uttered by Morris, of Ohio,
that he had ever expressed sentiment in
opposition to our Constitution.
After long and laborious tinkering at a
National Bank bill in the House, the measure
was killed by two-third vote on Wednes-
day, much to the establishment Of all. 1t is
difficult to perfect scheme of that kind in
open house, and such is the multiplicity of
opinion, and the diversity Of interest, that it
is impossible to abide by the report of a COM
mittee, however consistent and proper
One great obstacle to legislation in the
House now is, that so many of the members
are absent that it is difficult to keep a. quo
rum For some time, there has been but 1O8
or 100 in attendance, and when vote is tax
en-, the opposition demand a count in every
case and thus the time is wasted. A sharp,
managing parliamentarian, like Nose Strong,
to lead the minority in the House, and the
majority would be thwarted in every impor-
tant measure, if so disposed. 1t is a great
evil, but [ hope no disastrous results will
follow.
The entire want of confidence in the abil-
ity or disposition of the company holding a
land grant for a railroad from Hudson to Su-
perior, will probably secure the passage in
the House Of the Senate bill granting lands
to Minnesota for a road up the other side of
the st. Croix from St. Paul to Superior. Our
Senators and Members cannot resist the in
fuence of the fact that eight years have pas
sed since the grant was made to Wisconsin,
ana little or nothing has yet been done tow
ards starting the road. 1t will be no fault of
theirs that the grant to Minnesota is made.
had mind to give your readers sketch
or sketches of the DeTso1selte of the leading
characters of the Administration as they APP
pear in the light of experience and the esti-
mate of observers, but on the whole guess
I will not attempt it for fear that truth will
compel ue 10 Ou
will say however, that father Abraham gains
strength and confidence daily and that M.
Seward has conquered the censure which was
so profuse two years ago.
II. K Lawrence and lady arrived here a
few days since from New Orleans, and yester-
day Mr.. L. was arrested by order of the War
Department and placed in confinement On
some charge connected with the robbery of
his safe at New Orleans. The case was fully
examined and adjusted at New Orleans by a
military commission and Mr. Lawrence hon