The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-07
Lights and Shadows at Washington.

Rainl kainll Rain III Our city is a sea of
mud, four inches in favorable spo's' SIX In the
suburbs. Gen. Lee can sit at his head-quar-
ters and whistle, ike sailor on the forecassle
In calm, for wind but twill take Old Boreas
a week Of the hardest putting to throw dust in
the ewes Of any one. Our out posts were very
vioj,aut two nights ago, and arrested all out
Tiers. -. nv
special orders to-day at IL M. "None but
Amphibibia admitted in the Inauguration Pro-
cession."
The news from Richmond represents them
to be in anything but an amiable state; all
non-availables are politely requested to make
themselves Don-consumers.
Senator's and Members of Congress have
succeeded admirably in the new act Of invis-
Utility, and the fees to the Sergeants at Arms.
on call of the House, would not pay hack
hire. They have no news of Sherman; Meth
er have we-.but we can wait.
Sundry large jobs, are by the third estate,
hoped to pass. The Illinois Central Railroad
to which Government has given million of dol
lars toward its construction with the express
condition that it should transport men and
munitions of war free-is now asking to be
paid, and at full rates. They have charged
all soldiers on leave, sick, furloughs, six cents
per mile-have not like other roads reduced
the transportation one half.
Mr.. Davis Of Maryland, offered an amend
ment to the Civil Bill, that no person. unless
mustered into the U. S. service, shall be tried
by Court Martial while Civil Courts are open.
Quite spirited debate took place, and the
amendment though not german to the bill,
was carried.
The House will to-day give bounties to the
widows and minor children of the ninety days
and nine months men, who have been killed in
battle. Also--a most excellent feature-that
no officer shall hereafter be dismissed the SER
vice without trial by Court martial.
The House refused to- day to pay the mem
Der from Louisiana. ~ coins
Mr.. Fessenden was yesterday waited upon
by the heads of Bureaus and the clerks of his
Department. Few men have taken the head
of the Treasury with so much satisfaction to
the country at large; and few, if any, have
left, causing SO much regret. His character
like Bayard's is sans peur ct sans reproche =
Maine may well be proud of him.
as WM I r. M, March A, 1865.
We lett the Capitol at half-past seven this
morning, both houses in session, in drench-
ing rain. Our heart was heavy, the disappoint-
ment of many. Hope stock was below zero
1T still rained ten o'clock, aheavy gust and
more rain; then CLEAN Of light-expectancy
on tiptoe; more rain. and some, as our Uncle
Toby remarked of the aruy in Flanders,
swore. Still nil desperandatn. was the cry,
and all named in the programme took their
places. Eleven o'clock, doubters were id
driven to shame. Then cana the march.
Infantay, cavalry, artillery, white troops, black
troops, steam fire engines. axe men, hose men,
never was there a finer procession than that
of this day; brighter and brighter grew the
day as the procession advanced, and the hearts
of all were made glad and joyful; no one
minds their mud-bespattered garments any
body's toes can be trodden upon and no re-
marks made. He must be churl indeed who
will grumble now. Every available point, in
GLIDING picket fences, is occupied windows,
roofs, awning posts. The pavements are lin
ed one can haadly believe there are SO many
persons in the city. One must remember that
it takes great many more people to make a
show in these immense streets, and sidewalks
as wide as Chestnut street, Philadelphia
There goes the salute-hurrahl and now for
the first time shines the sun clear. God bless
the country and its leader for the next four
years. Up go the shouts-aye, peal out ye
guns and bells; down with the traitors, up
with the aagl Never were one hundred guns
fred on a more joyful occasion. We will fire
one hundred more on Wednesday for Sher
man. - So q ~ - ~ v ~
All the clouds which about our house did
lower are in the southwest buried.
Abraham Lncoln's reception will be a
brilliant affair tonight. OF the five Inaugu-
rations we have witnessed, some of great par
ty exultation, none have equaled this for true,
heartfelt enthusiasm. 9a ieasq p
Congress last night gave to the widow or
minor children of all one hundred days, nine
months men, and all killed in battle-less than
two years service-the one hundred dollar
bounty allowed to two years. men. Mr.. Odell
of New York, is entitled to the credit of this
change Of the law. NEfbs
{ Cabinet changes will go by telegraph, and
We can hardly write aught. in these days
worth presenting. y 0ss
No news from Sherman, and no news is
good. We judge from all we see in the South
ern papers that they have found the sweetness
of the Dead Sea apples. awa DUKE.