Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-09
Correspondence of The N. Y. World.l
WASHINGTON, August 4.
GLOOMY FEELING AT THE CAPITAL.

For some reason or other, Mr.. Lincoln
and all the members of his cabinet were
never in more depressed and uneasy state
of mind than at present. Mr.. Lincoln is
said to be particularly out of sorts upon re-
turning from the scene of his interview
with Gen. Grant. 1t is said he passed twelve
hours without making joke or telling a
questionable story. 1t is certain that since
the commencement OF the war, the military
situation has never looked so unpromising,
or the political so unfavorable, for the ad-
ministration.
MR.. LINCOLN AND HIS SECRETARY.
Since the publication of Mr.. John Hays
letter to Colorado Jewett, informing the
latter that he surpervises Mr.. Lincoln's cor
respondence, and only permits him to read
such letters as he deems important, there
has been quite a commotion among the pol
iticians. 1t is now openly asserted that
Hay has used this great power to the disad-
vantage of many of Mr.. Lincoln's most
earnest friends, and, as consequence, let
ters have commenced to arrive in great
numbers addressed to various parties In
Washington with a request that they be
given directly to Mr.. Lincoln's hands be-
fore Secretary Hay gets chance to "gob-
BILE" them. There have been numerous
little rows over this matter, but Hay has
become very important parsonage, as he
is the keeper of the kings conscience.
WHY FoRNEY WENT TO EUROPE.
There is considerable gossip in Washing
ton touching the departure of Mr.. John w.
Forney to Europe, pending the presidential
canvass. FOrney, before he went, is said to
have privately stated that there was no
more hope of re-electing Mr.. Lincoln than
there would be of putting jeff Davis In
the White House. Forney's enemies in the
Republican ranks, however, have started a
story that the reason of his departure is
because he was refused the handling of the
money and the pulling of the principal
wires during the coming canvass. Forney
had been useful in these respects to Mr.. Bu-
chanan, of old, but Mr. Simon Cameron has
| been given the post to which Forney as
pired, and hence the disgust and retirement
| to Europe of the latter.
MAJOR GENERAL HOOKER
arrived in Washington tonight, direct from
Sherman's army. 1t is more generally be-
lieved now that he is assigned to new de-
partment to be composed of Upper Mary
land, and portions of Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia, though some persist in declaring that
he will take high command in the Army
of the Potomac.
sERENADE AND A SPEECH.
General Hooker was serenaded tonight
at Willard's. In response to the compli-
ment, he replied in very brief speech,
thanking the crowd heartily for the COM
pliment, but declaring that enough speech
es had been made to put down the rebellion
long since. He favored, he said, in their
place, bayonets and bullets. He informed
man in the crowd, who wanted he should
appear more to the public view of those
| listening to him, that, if his inquirer was a
soldier, he might have occasion to meet him
q hundred times yet on the battlefield dur
| ing this war. He then retired.
POLITICAL CIRCLES AGITATED.
Political circles are somewhat agitated
| to-day by the arrival of Thurlow Weed and
other prominent Republican politicians.
Rumors of cabinet changes and the assign
ment of General Mcclellan to command are
quite prevalent. THERE'S something on the
tapis, evidently.
NEGRO PICNIC ON THE PRESIDENTS
GROUNDS.
Fast-day has passed off without any great
event. The contrabands, to the number of
several hundred, had picnic in the Presi-
dents grounds. Business in the depart
ments, aud throughout the city, was entire
ly suspended. The day was clear, and quite
cool for the season.
RIOT BETWEEN NEGROES AND SOLDIERS.
This evening serious riot broke out on
Capitol Hill between the soldiers and ne
groes. Tine former attacked the latter with
stones, bricks, and everything at hand
which they could use. The negroes out
numbered them, and drove them back with
axes, iron bars, etc. One negro, with an
axe, cut indiscriminately among the SOL
diers, and nearly severed the head of one
soldier from his body, killing him instantly.
Several were badly wounded. The soldiers
fell back, and were Joined by reinforce
ments, when they drove the negroes back,
and set fire to long row of frame dwell
lings occupied by contrabands. All were
destroyed. BY this time large detach-
ment of police arrived and made several ar
rests. The wounded were carried to Lin
coin Hospital. This is the most serious riot
which has occurred here in a long time.