The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-09
osou ..rR.s.l.r oos'sspeaAss., .

much delay. and the Message will b rad at
On early hour. and simultaneously published
In oil the great cities. In this Ne may o..
pect nothing moro than an interesting review
Of the achievements Of the Army ard Navy
with satisfactory statement Of the condi.
tIop Of the National Treasury and of the
strength Of the National Finances, posspon.
ing the discussion OF many questions Of pub.
lie Importance for tho Inaugural Message
three months hence. Congress will not, dur.
ing the present session. undertake any busi-
ness of importance beyond that directly con.
nected with moving the machinery OF Gov.
eminent. such ~ voting appropriations for
the support of the Military and Naval forces
Of the Nation. The most important husi-
ness now on hand Is that Of crushing the lew
remaining hopes of the leaders Of the Rebel.
lion, and to this end Il 10 certain tina, Con.
gress will devote Ito best energies with Prob.
ably the exception Of Incorporating an amend.
ment to the Consultation. abolishing Slavery
In all the territory Of the Union, that the
Stars and Stripes. wherever they Goat. wheth.
or over our present territory or that which
NAV hereafter DO acquired, shall ooYer mono
but free men.
With the Influx OF Congressman and thou.
sands Of Others incident to the assembling Of
Congress, our hotels became crowded To over.
flowing. our streets became thronged, and
Washington L. suddenly me,amorphoss3 from
tho somnol.nt torpidity Of . southern city
to the busting activity Of Northern Me
tropolis. Theadjournment Of Consrrs. and
the departure Of the members to their homes.
places the Capital in the category Of "desert.
I'd villages" while the Inhabitants. particu.
lurly hotel and clearinghouse Keepers.
with "uccupatios gone, "-sattlei ntoa state
of sluggish inaction and doubtless begin to
cnunt the Profits Of ''ncxt session." lmme.
da,ely after tho close Of the last session this
happy condition OF things was suddenly dis.
turbed ono morning by the announcement
that large rebel army had belcagured tho
city. The roar Of artillery and the rattle Of
musketry was soon heard in our streets and
houses; two rebel Major Generals, c,rps con-.
,nanders In the confederate army, spent
nigh. within sight Of tho Capitol. then sud.
denly being impressed with the conviction
that discretion was the better part OF
valor" hastily retreated across the Potomac.
During the engagement ut Fort Stevens. peo-
pie here would frequently enquire the news
ut the front. and occasionally boy and rad
an extra, and listen IN tho rUar OF battle feel.
ing secure that the Sixth corps would look
after the safety OF the Capitol.
CABINET CHANGES.
II Is finally settled that Mr.. Fessenden will
consent to remain member OF the Cabinet
until the expiration Of Mr.. Lincoln's pre-
aent term Of office (; when owing to the fec
BILE state of his health he feels It his duty to
retire. Mr. Fesscnden's services to the Pnas.
ury Department and TO the Senate are alike
Indispensable, for while he has for years been
acknowledged the ablest debster OF the Gen.
ate. his long experience as n 6nancier. bcing
Chairman OF the Finance Committee OF that
BODY, and the confidence which he has in.
spired In the Treasury among financial men.
renders him at :his time tho most desirable
man in the Country for Secretary Of the
Treasury. The Hon. Robt. J. Walker will
doubtless succeed Mr.. fessenden
The Hon James Spred ui Kentucky his
received tho appointment OF Attorney Gen.
enl of the United States. to MI the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation OF Judge Bates.
Mr.. Speed is spoken OF rs gntlcmnn OF
bivh character who has filed. with credit,
places Of Importance in his native State.
There ID q rumor which comes from
source entitled to some credit, that MINT
comery Blair will be Secretary OF the Navy
after tho 4tli OF March noxr. Mr.. Blair 10
also spoken of In connection with the Chief
Jnsticeship. hut more probably no will DO
Senator from Maryland. to Ill the vacancy
occasionsd by the resignation Of CIV. Hicks,
who will pr,hhly be collector OF tho Gus.
toms ut Baltimore.
Mr. Chase is much talked Of hero a. n"xt
Chief Justice: hut there Is evidently good
reason W he will never receive the appoint-
ment. Mr. Santon's chances are considered
tho best for this Office. but hir Indispensable
services at tho head OF tho War Department
e,nstitute an important obstacle to his ale
f, ointment. The President has expressed his
inability IL "run tho machine" without Mr..
Stanton's assistance.
snERxAN's CAMPAIGN.
But tho all absorbing topic OF interest
hero In Washington rs in Richmond IL tho
campaign Of Gen. Sherman In Georsia. Tho
boldness Of this movement, which IN view Ut
the distanc. b which he has penetrated an
enemy's country, from his base Of Supplics IN
without q parallel In history. seems 10 havo
baifled the rebel Generals and rendered Iu-
tile the military tactics of the confederncy.
Il Il we'll known hero. and better known In
that NJ military force can bs mndo
available by tho rebels b. intercept Shernmns
or to place any obstacle in the way
of his moving wherever he pleases IN any ,
tho Gulf States. The rebel journals admit
this fact md what 10 stiil moro satisfactory
evidence. the private correspondence Of load.
ing rebels In GeOygia asseris it beyond qness
tim. Many Of them are known to favor im.
mediate emancipation that the States may
depr,ye Sherman Of the honor Of freeing
their slaves. With largo urrny upon their
,oil. foraging on their prodacts, subsistinR 10
their gn.narIes, burning and destroying their
and with their soldiers all with.
drawn to Richmond. Il 10 not unreasonable
that the people Of the Cotton States. being
possessed as they doubtless nre, of ordinary
human weakness. should tirc Of the protre-
ton which they appear 90 b. receiving at tho
hands Of the Richmond Government and 10.
gin to cast about for change Of masters.
Jeif. Davis 10 becoming every day mors IN.
popular and were Il not Tor the absolute dcs.
potism which muules public opinion and
controls the southern pres, hc would bccom'
pclled to abdicatc at once. The breach 70
rapidly widening between 'he Confederacy
and the Gull States. and the timc j. near at
hand when they will ascrt their rights nm
der tho constitution Of the Confsdef.tsstaees
10 secode At pleasure. Sherman will. how
,yer. soou separate these States from the COO.
Isd .racy. and thus relieve them Of any din.
,ul,y which might sriss between them and