The Portland daily press., 1864-04-01
Letter from the Federal CAPITAL.

iolDies so incident to this imperfect state. No
cause seems so good and worthy as to GER
tainly insure harmony of views or concert of
action among those who seek 10 promote it.
These edfying reflections were suggested by
the fair projected early last winter in this
city. Early in the proceedings, difference
of opinion appeared, which so widened and
| deepened as to give US two fairs instead of
one. The first, held in the interest OF the
Sanitary and Christian Commissions, sue
| ceeded but indferently, while the other for
the benefit of the Christian Commission and
the families of the District volunteers has
been much more successful. Fairs, l have
observed, are not perfect institutions here,
any more than elsewhere. That most civil of
impertineuees and entertaining of bores, the
"post Office" was active. The rattle, wheel
of fortune, and various other ingenious con-
trivances for so doing evil that good shall
come Of it, thus neatly outwitting the Evil
0ne and stealing his contrsband of war, to
be turned against himself-devices sharp
enough to have originated in Yankee land,
have certainly found wide sphere Of useful
ness hereabout.
By little and little the country is coming to
| do justice to those whom, in her time of pros
| perity, she treated as possessed of no rights
| which white man was bound to respect, but
whom in her great extremity she has called to
her defence. The bill to equalze the pay Of
Soldiers without regard to color, which will
doubtless become law during the present
asctn lie acfa ,rt se
ing of commission to I'd Lieutenant Smell,
| the first commission get qiren to coiored
| soldier except those to Surgeons and Chap
| lains, is an initiative that deserves to be fol-
| lowed. Mr.. Harlan's bill giving to colored
| inhabitants Of the District the same right of
suffrage as to the whites, though it has caused
no little sensation, will be approved by those
who think men who are good enough to fight
bravely by tens of thousands for the country,
| are good enough TO share the rights thus de-
| Tended aud secured.
The speech of Senator Howard. of Michi-
gan, upon the interference of the military in
elections, with his report on the same sub.
| jeet, has left the opposition but moderate
share of its fayorite grievance to mourn over.
1t seems, however, to be reluctant TO part
with these supposed grounds of complaint,
and to be as much attached to its wrongs, as
to her pains and aches was the old lady who
enjoyed poor health constantly" Mr.. Sauls-
bury very naturally followed Mr.. Howard in
one of his most impassioned harangues upon
military despotism," northern Bastiles"
and kindred topics.
The Blair-McClurg affair in the House
was one Of those occurrences difficult 10 par
allol in the legislative proceedings of other
countries, long the disgrace of our own, from
which we were hoping the secession of south
ern iire-eaters and ullies had delivered u.s.
If the House would make an example or two,
expelling without pity whoever shall dare to
defy its authority, and insult its decency by
the utterance of such epithets as "liar,o
"sconndrer and the like, we might hope to be
in future free from such humiliatons. A duel
was at first thought to be imminent, but hos
tilities are not considered probable at the
time OF this writing.
On Friday, Judge Spaulding of Ohio saw
fit to produce another sensation by refusing
to pay the tine of IL l-2 cts. required by the
rules of the~House for absence without leave
at roll call and resisting the attempt of the
Sergesnt-at-arms to arrest him. After max
ing considerable trouble he concluded to SUBJ
init to the rules and so the matter ended
Such transactions seem to ne somewhat more
than breaches of good manners or good order.
Although participated in by but very few and
occurring very seldom, they still tend to great
ly lower the dignity Of the House aud to i'm
pair il not destroy that respect which should
be felt by the people for all branches of the
government, and which all branches of the
government should study to deserve.
Fhe rapid advance of gold, checked indeed
by occasional downward fluctuations, but
with general trend quite too certain and d.
rect; the failure of the gold bill as yet to pro.
duce any very beneficial effect, and another
huge loan impending, may we'll cause the
country to look anxiously for some legislation
upon the all important subject of national
revenue, that shall replenish the public treas
ury and iortify the public credit. The COM
mttee OF ways and means have had the mat
ter under consideration for some time past
A subcommittee of three, consisting of
Messrs. Hooper, Morrill, and Pendleton. tax
ing the report OF the commission OF internal
revenue as guide-and no guide in such
case can be better than experience-have
nearly completed the draft of bill to be ma
tured in full committee and then reported to
the House. Mr.. Rockers currency bill is
likely 10 pass the House with important A.
mendments.
Winter, as If regretting past leniency, re-
turned upon us last week with five or six
inches of snow. A bright sun, however soon
changed the wintry aspect of things. The
daily ireshening green of the Capitol park
speedily reappeared, the yellow crocus buds,
tassels and catkins decked the branches and
gave out faint aroma, and robins hoped
and chirped, all seeming pleasantly to say,
The winds OF March are humming
Their parting song their parting song
ana summer skies are coming
AND days grow long, and days grow long
II. s. L.