Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-16
From WASHINGTON.

Feauers can write again. - " -
From Washington.
Tie Resig7aatiorOf Mr., Chase The Fa,ilts and
Weaknesses Of The late Secretdry-Better
Things Expected of lEr. Fessenden-Closing
Hours Of CoagresS-IHe Cd6inet-- Wiscon
sin Fare per cs'u. Fund Confdenceia Grant
Col. Poole and Col. AHe,a-TeT7n Of Scr
rice of lie Fifth Wisconsin Expired.
Correspondence of the State Journal.
WASHINGTON, July l., 1864 4
The resignation of Mr. Chase yesterday
took everybody by surprise, and for a time
Oceasioned some sensation but it is follow
| ed by feeling of relief and even satisfac-
ton, since Senator Fessenden has been APP
pointed his successor. No one was more
| surprised to find him out Of Office than the
distinguished Secretary himself He had so
long been accustomed to have his imperious
and frequently unreasonable demands grant
ed both by the President and Congress, and
had come to regard himself so indispensable
| to the Administration, that he could continue
to dictate his own terms. He demanded ex-
elusive control in all matters pertaining to
the New York subtreasury, as he has here
tofore in the Custom House; he wished to put
Mr.. Field in place of Mr.. Cisco; Mr.. Lincoln
his exclusive prerogative, and for the second
or third time rendered his resignation, ex-
pecting, of course, conciliatory Father Abra-
ham would yield as usual, but this was the
"feather which broke the overladen cameFs
back" he was taken at his word, and while
at the capitol engaged with the Finance
Committee, not dreaming of any change, the
name of his successor was sent in.
: Whatever may be said of Mr.. Chase's abil-
ity and integrity, his imperious temper, his.
arrogance, his logged determination to have
his own way regardless of, his, friends, his
towering ambition, his utter Inability to dis
criminate character, unfit him for a safe
administration of position of patronage and
power. No department of the government
has so many corrupt and unprincipled attaches
and none has fostered more traitors and rebel
sympathisers than the Treasury under his add
ministratiOn. When his attention was called
by the Potter Committee of Congress to the
rebels and traitors in his Department, he re-
piled, "if he was not competent to determine
his own business, Congress had better take
charge of it." When a distinguished Senator
called upon him to demonstrate against his
retaining a known corrupt assistant, he re-
piled in high temper, 81 do not thank any
one to talk to me thus about my assistants"
BY fattery and deceit, innumerable agents
have obtained his confidence and been en-
plOyed, (under the extraordinary powers con-
ferred upon him by Congress- whose moral,
political and financial characters would dis
honor any. government. His trade regula-
tiOns have been a most fertile source of ad-
vantage to the rebels and of disaster to our
arms, while the persons selected to admins
ter them have caused the valleys of the Ohio
and Mississippi and the Al antic coast to ring
with loyal curses against political, moral and
official delinquency. stEs
Gen. Washburne has interpOsed the strong
arm of military power at Memphis, but the
evil has been incalculable and still continues
from Cincinnati TO New Orleans, save within
his jurisdiction, as'well as at Norfolk, Beau
fort, and all down the Atlantic coast. If Mr.
Fessenden accepts the position, his character
affords some guaranty of a change for the
better The seorruptions within the Depart
ment, which have been whitewashed and
smOthered by a recent committee, and the
schemes of fraud so long carried ON under
permits" &C., will receive a wholesome
check under the new administration while
the National credit will sustain no. damage by
the rupture which has so long been threaten
ed and finally occurred. -. Il
Congress is in the last throes of dissolu-
ton and a few more days will close its inhar-
monious but not fruitless session. am more
than gratifed that it has finally wiped out
the infamous fugitive slave law, Though it /
could not adopt the constitutional amend !
ment prohibiting slavery, because of the /
love of northern Democrats for the institu-
ton which has so long been the corner stone
of their political hopes 1t has been impos-
sible for the friends of the government to
act as a unit on any measure of general i'm
portanee and no caucasihg could bring to
gether the majority into solid phalanx
against the opposition. The most "radicals'
Republicans would sometimes be found vet-
ing with Copperheads, and then again. the |
most conservative would be taking the
lead in radicalisn. On all measures of
finance and taxation, as well as those pertain
ing to the oonduet of the war there has exist
ed a great diversity of opinion among the
UniOnists, which has emboldened the opposi-
ton until the rankest treason has been open
ly proclaimed by many who came into Con-
gress claiming to be War Democrats.
The action of the Baltimore Convention
produced for a time salutary effect and, III
have no doubt, was the inducing cause of the |
final repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law But
disappointed ambition had its representatives |
in both Houses, who have not failed to favor |
unjust aspersions upon prominent men in the |
Administration. In the midst of the conflict |
of politicians and the want of harmony
among the leading friends of the Union as to |
the best measures for its restoration, it is |
gratifying to notice the irmness of the popu- |
lar mind in behalf of the Administration.
and the determined purpose of the people to
fight " on the same line and under the same
standard,bearer until peace 4shan be con- |
quered.CE .rFF
Mr. Lincoln, Mr.. seSAss and Mr. stanton |
have gained great strength. I'm the popular |
estimation, from the answering consistency |
of their course amid the storms Of conflicting |
congressional opinion. 1t is generally con-
ceded that Mr.. Blair will have to leave the |
Cabinet, though he has ceased to obtrude his |
obnoxious views on the slave question. "My |
Maryland having determined that hence |
forth nc more slavery shall exist within her |
borders, Mr. Blair viii no longer attempt to i
resist the popular current of freedom, but the |
people will reguigs his Overthrow for his past
sins.
The effect of the change in the Secretary |
of the Treasury upon the stock marketis the (
opposite of what was anticipated here, and i
the repeal of the gold bill also had strange /
effect upon the price of gold. Nothing, how
ever, will establish stability in these matters
but decided triumph of Gen. Grant at Rich
mond.
The resolutions for a settlement of the five
per cent. due Wisconsin from the sales of