The Portland daily press., 1864-06-03
Letter From the Federal Canital.

10 TIE Eduor Or the Eress ~ -
The business of legislation has been going
on very busily, though quietly, during the
last week or two. The Bank bill has returned
to the House from the Senate. The Army
Appropriation bill and the Reciprocity Treaty
which with various other matters have of late
occupied the attention of the House, and the
Tax bill which has engrossed the time of the
Senate for week past, have been, fortunately
perhaps, but little adapted to displays of ora
tory. The popular branch having carried its
end of the yoke little ahead, suspended
evening sessions some days since, and the SEN
ate about the same time began to deliberate
by gas light. How much longer the Tax bill
will occupy the latter body is of course very
uncertain; though nearly all the amendments
recommended by the Finance committee have
been considered and, what speaks much for
the confidence of the Senate in that commit
tee, have nearly all, SO far as considered, been
adopted. After these amendments have been
disposed of, those proposed by Mr.. Sherman.
Sprague and others, will be acted on so that
no small amount Of work still remains to be
done before the bill can be put upon its pas
sage. The irrepressible conflict upon the
whiskey taxation has broken out anew, the
Senate after a long debate, having stricken
out section IT'S, wherein the House proposed
to tax stocks on hand, but intensified section
"a taxing future manufacture. This matter
as well as many other points of difference will
fnall be adjusted by committee of confer
ence. when will Congress adjourn? r is a
question many are apt to put, but no one
seems prepared to answer. The Tariff bill
reported by Mr.. Morrill, from the committee
OF Ways and Means, on Friday last, will nee
essarily occupy much time, and several i'm
portant appropriation bills, such as the Indi-
an and Omnibus" remain to be disposed Of
So 1t would not be very strange il the "Glo-
rious Fourth" should find the assembled wis
dom ofthe land still in council. The adjourn
ment however may take place little earlier.
On Saturday last considerable number of
wounded soldiers arrived from Fredericks-
burg. Many of them were badly injured, and
for that reason their removal had been delay
ed as long as possible. OF these unfortunate,
but heroic sufferers, one hundred and sixty
were carried upon stretchers to Armory
Square Hospital, where they will receive the
best and kindest treatment None now re-
main at Fredericksburg. who can be removed.
Two steamers with wounded on board arrived
here on Sunday morning, but they came from
Port Royal.
Among the later arrivals have been many
of the 2lst Maine Heavy Artillery. Some l
have seen slightly, and others seriously woun-
ded, but all seem strong in heart and hope and
greatly rejoiced at the glorious success in
their first encounter with the vaunted vete-
rams Of Lee In less than two weeks from
the day when they passed through the city on
their way TO the front, not few of the brave
fellows were back again disabled more or less
seriously, but not at all disheartened by their
short and rough experience of active cam
paigning. Forty OF their wounded are now
in Armory Square Hospital, sixty in Carver
and twenty-five In Lincoln.
How well the sons of Maine have behaved
In the late terrible battles is indicated by the
fact, that in the various hospitals of this city
and Alexandria, their present number nearly
reaches thousand and may perhaps exceed
it. At Alexandria there are 81 of our brave
boys, at Carver Hospital 1870, at Columbia
College rs, at Mt. Pleasant LOT, at Campbell
60, at Stanton A, at Douglas 81, at Judiciary
Square 81, at Lincoln lii, besides those at
other points about the city and numbers sent
to the North. When 1t is recoIlected that
many of onr regiments engaged were old and
thin these facts need no comments. Major
Leavitt of the 10th Regt., died at Douglas
Hospital on Sunday evening, where Captain
Getchell of the Sd is now lying in a very low
and critical state. Colonel Conner of the 10Th
at the same place, though severely wounded
10 doing well. Colonel Chamberlain of the
goth detained here till after the week of fight
Ing upon court martial, has at his earnest
solicitation been allowed to 60 to the front.
The Soldiers Relief Association OF this
city is doing all in its power for our soldiers
Messrs. Watson & Farwell, agents for the
State, and by the voluntary exertions OF
Maine citizens now located here. 1t is now
receiving from the State more than formerly,
but still depends largely for its efficiency upon
the contributions of its friends. Supplies sent
from Maine should be forwarded as am re-
q1ested to say through George r. Davis,
agent for the State in Portland. The cost for
transportation by Express is very great. Yes
terday an express bill of si0.75 was paid upon
two light barrels and one small box, the con-
tents Of which might very possibly exceed
twice that amount in value. l think our
friends may feel assured that any supplies
sent to the Association will be judiciously
and faithfully applied to their designed object.
Mrs. Sampson, sometimes known as the "Lit-
tie Colonel" is still at the front, where she
went as soon as possible after the fighting be-
gan, and where her energetic labors will be as
they have been invaluable to the wounded.
rs p