The Portland daily press., 1865-10-25
Let.er from the Feaeral oapital.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1866


To the Editor Of the Press
A spare day at @the Hub seldom comes
amiss. Mine, upon a recent visit, happened
to be the last of the Exhibition Of the Mass
Mechanic Charitable Association. Though
this Association has now been in existence
seventy years, having been Instituted in 1895,
with Paul Revere of revolutionary fame for its
first president, the late Exhibition was only its
tenth. In the number and excellence of the
articles exhibited, as well as in the multitude
of the spectators attracted by it, it probably
surpassed any preceding one. The various
contrivances and devices for use and beauty
that filled. Fanueil and Quincy Halls were al
| most numberless; and whether considered
4 with reference to the inventive talent eyinced
in their conception, or the mechanical skill
displayed in their construction, they were tru-
ly admirable. Seeing is believing" wrote
George Stephenson to gentleman whom he
was trying to persuade to witness theperforIn-
ances Of his locomotive .Blueher," and see
ing is surely necessary if not to believe, atleast
to realize the mechanical triumphs of our day.
And is it not strange that some of the most
homely and common wants of everyday life
are SO difficult to adequately serve2 While
we have no lack of machinery the most. deli
cate and complicated, which like the type-set-
ting machine performs its work with a won
| dertul approximation to human intelligence.
.numberless attempts, still remain unsolyed
| problems.
The late exhibition Affords gratifying evil
dence that the industrial enterprise Of New
England is receiving its proper and legitimate
development. Western competition often
bears hard upon our agricultural interests, but
with the Yankee Grain to invent, the Yankee
hand to construct, and an fnexhaustible wa
ter power to drive our machinery, we need
faor dooi1ao Of
And respecting even that point where we are
most open to competition we need have little
apprehension 1.-The future; since by energy,
thrift, and intelligence, our farmers may safely
hope togreatlyl Offset, ifnot indeed to quite
counterbalance their disadvantages of soil and
climate. ~
The recent drouth seems to have been most
severe by far IN the New England States, and
indeed to- have been only lightly felt elsewhere.
This side of New York the grass fields and
meadows look green and succulent, in which
herds and focks Craze contentedly, while the
foliage of the. trees shows few indications of
autumnal frosts, or of premature ripeness for
lack Of moisture. The crops, Judging by the
corn shocks in the field, with piles of yellow
ears often drying in the sun beside them, and
the stacks OF hay and grain near the small
barns, appear to have been very good. Ex-
cept tne failure OF the fruit crop, the year has
Matters here are rather quiet as vet. Board.
rents, and prices generally are nearly, if not
quite as extortionate, as when one dollar in
gold was worth nearly three in greenbacks
This state OF things will probably be kept IN
in the main until after the next session of
Congress. Hany gentleman at the North, or
elsewhere, should be seized with a desire to
serve his country in public eapacity-slich
things do happen-and in fIrtherance of his
iOfi Ia
would advise him before leaving home to
"chink up" his trunk with crackers very faith
fully Ifhe can also add to his outfit a small
shelter tent, he may possibly End in it both
economy and comfort during his stay in this
city of high prices and nightly annoyances.
The Wirz trial is nearly at an end. Yester-
day Judge Advocate Chapman read his argu-
ment respecting the first charge Of "Conspir-
aey"' and to-day he willitreat of the second
charge of Murder" As to what will be the
nndlng of the Court in this case no one has
any uoubt. What course the government
Y WIN eaKe toward other persons concerned in
tne murder of our prisoners remains to be
seen can put think the sense Of the whole
country VIII De shocked and outraged if while
tnis miserable wretch, already reduced to
pitiable extreme Of physical prostration. 4 and
mental distress, is dragged quailing and COVER
ing to his doom, the thrice guilty. authors of
.haI WnVtesaIe system OF torture and murder
IN the execution OF which he was but single
agent, be not held to a stern account for their
enormous crimes. Whether or not @treason IL n
crime to be punished" matter about which
OF late there seems to- be much doubt. VET
such crimes against human nature as were
enacted III all the prison pens of the South
ought not to 60 without some expiation dfE'
ne Congreg ationalists of this city, having
e temporarily hired the Unitarian Church on
S Sl street, have fixed upon the fifteenth of
NOV :, ~, Tor the meeting OF 4 Council convoked
q He oruer to form church organization. Rev.
anellry Ward Beecher has been invited 10 be
present Maj Gen. Howard IS anonp those a Ue
NV e'y nm interested in founding the new church.
f SeT 81 Sunderland is expected to return
church, s a tSa resume the pastoral charge Of
1--WE months, although his leave ,, ~ "a about
warmI Hs saplFe tli next August BE viii he
numerous friends lS enuren' society, and
Z 0fAi4 ftHl , fzills slla.s -f.... - ~