The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-08-04
Our Washington Correspondence

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 90, 1865.
| The dog days have come, md, will
them, dust, heat and diacomfort. TIN
music OF the locusts by day, and tn
singing OF mosquitoes n; night, arc melo
dies plcasen.cr to read about than [,
hear. The thermometer lifts itself up
high aspossiblc, that it may take an en-
largcd view Of things; and PERSISTENT,
maintains its position, though shirt col
lars may dioop, and linen wilt, and hand
kerchicis, guided by uneasy hands, keer
up mopping motion about the head,
and laces Of unlucky people who canno
get away to Saratoga Springs or the Lit
tic Mountain. Even the dogs wear theil
muzzles uneasily, and the flies are the
only individuals that appear to be salts
| fled with themselves, and who try by the
most assiduous attentions TO mako them.
selves pleasing 10 all, especially to people
at table. Youthful darkies, not over
dressed, favor the sunlight and complain
not Of the heat. 1t may be well TO tell
the pale iaces OF riper years 10 become as
lllllo children in this respect, but they
don't SO feel il. SO the wind raises
clouds of dust, which wrap you about as
mantles, making large deposits in the
hair, clothes and throat. The latter can
be washed down with soda water, and the
former knocked out with brush, but the
energy to do the former is wanting, and
to compass the latter cannot be coniured
up; SO dusty coats arc the things 10 wear
until after rain.
The city is fast returning 10 the quiet
condition it once occupied before the war.
Troops are leaving for home, hospitals
and barracks aro being removed, the
mule even is being driven off to bc sold,
no more to form an adjunct TO the de-
pariment of military transportation, but
TO do his part in reconstruction, by draw.
ing the plow over the desolated fields, and
calling them back to better degree Of
culture, under the stimulus OF freedom to
nerve tho arm Of the laborer. The great
number OF transports that were purchased
by the Government TO carry on our gi-
ganllc war over such vast expanse OF
territory, now that their "occupation's 8
gone," arc being sold'to private parties,
once more TO take their place in the fleets
OF our foreign and internal commerce.
The long lines of amy wagons time daily
filed through the streets and avenues Of
the cliy,bavc almost entirely disappeared.
md the white tents Of tho soldiers that
covered the hills, shave quietly stolen
away" We can begin to comprehend
that it has taken some weeks to realize
that tho war 80 long and so fiercely
whged is over; that armed resistance to
the authority Of the nation has died out,
and that the fighting has ended.
Yet, while all these ext eror signs as
sure us that tho rebellion of arms is over,
we should not deceive ourselves with the
idea that there has been conversion or
change Of heart on the part Of the Reb.
els. All the accounts from the South,
and all tho indications are, that large
part OF tho ruling classes are still rebels
at heart. They admit they are subjuga-
ted, but assert they are not saJaard,
which, In plain English, means they will
fight no more because they cannot, but
the spirit of fight is in them just the
same. The poison OF State Rights is still
in their blood. They have no moro love
for the Union than during the war;
They still l'hate the Yankee, though they
have conceived n marvellous respect for
his fighting qualities. In this particular,
tho scales appear to have fallen from
their eyes, and left them in the posses.
sion of clear vision. With this feeling,
they will endeavor to compass, by their
social and political action, what they
failed to achieve by .he sword. They
will strive by all conceiseable methods to
nullily the Presidents Proclamation of
Freedom, and TO retain tho negro in
condition OF real servitude, though they
may not call him slave. Should they be
able TO do this, TO be the owners of the
soil. to keep the colorcd men in isno.
rance, they will also keep tho poor
whites OF the South in the same condi-
tion OF degradation in which they now
are; the result of which will be that they
will, in large measure, regain their inllu-
ence in Congress, and the country, and
will prepare the way for future trouble,
II not for repetition OF our late struggle.
But, while tho governing class at The
South are still disloyal, the black man is,
and has been, and forever will be, loyal.
II we give him The means to defend him.
self. There is but one way to do that
place in his hands the ballot.
M.
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GD~The Atlantic Jfonihiu for Aucus, 10