The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

it contains the only reliable account oil the Important
doings and transactions at Washington which has
been received either by telegraph or mail, west of
Chicago for the last nine days. The author of the
letter is a well-known citizen of Upper Minnesota
whe will be recognized readily by his initials; and
who as he tells us, has been appointed to an inn
portant office -EDl
The iSayinqs and Doings of Some of our Mime
Ssta Delegation at Washinyton-Ramsey and
the Russians-IVkat WAX says and schere he
Sleeps-Our old teOnsmae j. j. Knor Gad
Mrs. Jane S,cissheIa on Skate-JVm. p.
Murray pressing tke Superior Land Grant, s0tM
q Charcoal Sketch of the President and one of
Old A6es last Stories.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 1864.
r. 10 the Editor Of the Pioneer:
have here obtained the situation told you
aspired to- with very little of those difficulties
I thought to encounter. Indeed, l found
things very different here from what had been
led to suppose them; and where 1 expected to
meet dignified opposition / have been received
and welcomed with gathering levity. In
word, owe my success to the pleasant and
fortunate circumstance of having laughed very
heartily at one of the Presidents jokes !
When l arrived here, I found my letters of
recommendation were ready passport, every
where. Ramsey was delighted to see me, and
promises to teach me the Russian language,
which he says they speak in lower Pennsylva-
nia Wiki stood up by bar, two hours, and
told me everything about the secrets of the
Government; Knox put on his gig lamps, and
with Mrs. Jane Swissheln and some other
Young fellows, who are clerks in the Depart
ments, took me a skating on the canal. They
all seem to be feeling finely, and are quite re-
signed to their. hard lot, OF having to serve and
| save their country.
Well, this is the way got my appointment.
After Ishad been here short time, met VIM.
P. Murray, of your city, who told me that he
| was here for the purpose of getting q land
grants ito the Superior and Mississippi Railroad
that he, was appointed by the City Council of
| St. Paul. of which he was a member, to come
| on for that purpose. I think he knows what
| he is about, for the next day he took me up
with him to see the President.
Before proceed any further, must give
you my views (off hand of course) Of Abraham
Lincoln In order to do this, shall be COM
peRed to draw the picture, somewhat by COM
parison, anG that too, after familiar and Min
nesota models. He struck me then. on first
view, as being physically and mentally, ebout
what naturally might be the result of twisting
| into one organization, the stock OF our Secre-
tary to Belgium, and ourssomewhat, long-imb-
ed United States Senator, for the ehort term.
The readiest distinction one would make, l
think perhaps is, that the President seems to
have the advantage of both OF them, in homes
| ty, if not in looks.
When we entered OLD ABE Gas everybody
c,lls him here) was sitting with his feet upon
table, telling Lord Lyons a story about a
Justices Court trial he once attended in South
ern Illinois; but en- seeing us, he jumped up
nd shook Mr. Murray's hand and received
nv introduction ir the most cordial manner !;
and calling Mr. NJ. 10y his name 'BiH," he
showed out and invited us to take chairs.
"Well boys" said the President "what do
you want, this mornipg?"
1.-The fact is Uncle Abe" said Mr.. NJ, (and
here discovered for the first time that they
j
up to see about that land grant, again, and
when 1 get that through, and some claims for
Sioux Indian depredations, I'm ready to ramOse
the ra.sche. You see its just here" and here he
threw. cut huge eud of tobacco, which struck
small statue of Psyche right in the eye
"You see it is inst here: think, old fell you
ought to do something for me, for you know
| 81 lot
the bows in the Second ward ct st. Paul know
| it,"
"That reminds me of little story, Bill, said
the President, and he was about to 60 on and
| tell it, but Mr.. NJ. did not notice his purpose
and continued himself
"You know, this Superior railroad runs right
into Canada, and there's great many Of US of
all colors, who want to 60 there; and besides
I've worked hard in the st. Paul Council before
could get 'em to agree to give this here CON-
pany $3.50, 900, and all we fellers get for our
trouble, in getting through this land grant, is
what the company hes agreed to give US, out
of the two hundred and fifty thousand. An
other thing is, that this railroad would help
the folks OF Superior to get away from there
in case of war with England; and so you see
you could recommend land grant in your next
proclamation, on the grounds of military ne
cissity.
81 didn't want to 90 into this, but since I'm
at it, I'm like the old mans sow, which he said
he had to pull her ears off to get her to the
trough, and her tail off to get her away"
This seemed to please the President very
much, and Mr.. NJ. was about to proceed, but l
could see that Old Abe was not to be kept from
his little story any longer. So he said, some
what hastily, think:
"Well, well, we'll see, as to that military
view, first what Seward says about war with
England in sixty days. But the way in which
your st. Paul Council are trying to get land
grant from Uncle Sam, reminds me of a little
story once heard about the way the deacons
ola little Methodist church down in Illinois used
to manage to take up very large collections.
Each Of these old deacons carried around a hat,
and each one as he started out, would take