Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-02

"A Heeteng OF Badgers at The Capital.
Correspondence of the State Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb IS, 1864.
Contrary to my hopes and most confident
expectations, find the business of President
making engaging the earnest and almost ex-
cited attention of political wire-workers
gathered here, and indications of a heated
controversy over the question of who shall be
the Union nominee at the next convention.
The friends of the different candidates are
marshallns their forces and viglantly pre-
pairing their plans for the approaching cam
paign. Secret combinations are forming, and
all the partizan machinery is being called in
to requisition, and leagues and agencies ex-
tending throughout the loyal States are being
organized in behalf of conflicting asprants
Since | was here two months ago the Strong
Band has been formed, having for its pur-
pose, it Is said, the concentration of the
Union opposition TO President Lincoln, upon
a common ticket To judge by the "logic of
| events" and the common expression of the
masses wherever l travel, it would seem that
Mr.. Lincoln would be nominated and
| elected by an overwhelming majority. And
| it would save much complication, and give
much strength at home and abroad, if such
could be the common consent But poll
| ticians will not sink personal and partiZan
| feelings even when the nation is in the mal-
strom of destruction. The most active and
| efficient organization here now in opposition
| to Mr. Lincoln is undoubtedly in behalf of
Mr.. Chase, who, without question, Is the
strongest man out of the military circle. He
has acquired a world wide and lasting reputa-
| ton as a tinancier and is undoubtedly among
| the purest and ablest men of the country.
| He has a strong hold upon the confidence
of the people-no civilian has a stronger
out whether in the present peculiar situation
of the nation it is wise to attempt change,
is matter for serious consideration, and, in
nv opinion should be left to the result OF the
spring campaigns of our armies.
Ii is stated here, "by authority" that
Fremont will run as an independent candidate
if Mr.. Lincoln is nominated, but | cannot be
lieve that he is prepared to commit political
suicide in this way. Again the course of the
New York Herald and the utterances OF GER
tain democrats are cited as indications that
war ticket will be formed by putting Fremont
and Mcclellan on the same ticket This of
course would damn the former to the same
J political infamy of the latter and do not &C
cept it.
Though Grant is strongly advocated by
many and is the speciality of Mr.. Washburn,
it is generally conceded that he cannot be in
duced to be a candidate at the next election I;
and Butler is hardly considered in the right
! position for present purposes. 1t would seem
| that the inevitable result will be the union
upon a ticket with Mr.. Lincoln and some
| prominent war democrat as Nice-President.
! But what combinations may be formed or
what complications may arise from the prog
ress of events be precipitated by politi-
| clans it is impossible now TO determine :;
| though nothing can materially change the pol
| lev of the Government In regard to the war
| and to emancipation. Thank God, that In his
righteous Providence he has compelled the
| proclamation of, and the general acquiescence
| in the abolition of American slavery.
Mr. Lincoln, though humorous and full Of
anecdotes as ever, looks somewhat careworn
and as though the affairs of state bore heavi-
| " upon his mind and heart, but it is not gen
! orally believed that he bestows much thought
upon the Succession.
| Congress moves somewhat tardily, and it is
| safe to say that the errors of the session, If
| any, will be, like those of the President, on
| the side of prudence and caution. An Eman-
| cipation or Freedmen's Bureau Will undoubt-
| edIv be established, and it would not be sur
| prising if an additional Department, making
| another Cabinet officer, should be created.
| If a complete and radical revolution In the
| conduct of all the departments, by way Of
| simplifying the complicated machinery and
correcting the evils transmitted from the
| past, were to be acted upon, 1T would add
| greatly to the efficiency Of the administration
| of the Government But this will be Her
| culean labor, and will probably induce the
| tolerations of the ellis we have"
| | am surprised and disappointed that they
| refuse to do full justice to the colored sol
diers in not paying them full wages from the
| time of their enlistment; but the placing
| them on a proper footing from the first of
January last is partial justice, which we ac-
cept as the evidence of the rapid progress of
republican equality.
am highly gratified with the caution in
the legislation in relation to the return of
the seeded States, and on this subject my
mind has entirely changed since my residence
South. 1t is far less desirable to have those
States represented in Congress Immediately,
than it is to have them properly represented.
The experience in admitting the representation
from old Virginia taught valuable lesson OF
prudence and caution. class OF men of
desperate political fortune and reckless char
acter find their way to all those States, or
remaining in them, seek to take advantage of
the disorganized state of things to foist them
selves into place, and fasten themselves as
incubi upon the body polite by imposing on
the few who at first would control their destiny.
Such were the efforts of Foster IN North
Carolina, and such the object OF the getters
up of the sO-called Union demonstration re-
Gently in Florida. But Congress seems de
termined to recognize no revolutionary pro
cess, save so far as it is necessary to get the
State machinery in motion in constitutional
form by legitimate means The bill reported
bv Winter Davis think is the most sensible
thing in this direction yet devised, and hope
| it will be adopted.
Mr.. John F. Potter, and DR.. Davis, Indian
Agent, arrived here last week, on business
with the Indian Bureau. So far, they have
been successful beyond their expectations,
| having discovered errors by which over slS,-
| 900 have been improperly withheld from the
| tribes of which the DR.. is agent. But for the
| interchangeable exertion of these men, in con-
| nection with their experience in such mat
| tiers. this sum would have been lost to the
Indians, and great injustice done.
| The first visit Of Mr.. Potter to the House
| of Representatives, afforded gratifying evil
| dence of the esteem in which he is held by
the members Immediately on his entrance,
he was surrounded and thronged by members
| from all parts of the hall, seeking to take him
| bv the hand and welcome him to the Capt.
| toll; and his room is constantly occupied by
| friends made by his unyielding integrity and
| frf. devotion to thc true interests of the ma