The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-14
Letter from Washington.
WAsHINeror. June 10. 1865.

Inanks 10 steady anu ho'A -
from the southwest, which sprang up ias'
night and still continues, we are having TO day
resuite from the uninterrupted and almost
,nto,erab,a hest under which we have groaned
and s,,o.,e1 for the last fortnight The hot
raathar has commenced its reign this season
,,rod earnest, and at least three weeks earli-
- than usual, and while it has not spared the
! old residents Of Washington, 1t has been par
tIculary severe upon us poor Yankee soJourn-
ers. mot native and to the manner born,
whom 1t has roasted and broiled and other
wise cooked In decidedly thorough If not
fascinating manner. Men served Ia dust and
Precipitation, with q dressing "a Ia Sandwich
Islander" no longer attract attention by rea
son OF their rareness, and lucky i that speci-
men of the genus who, while being subjected,
to the process referred to, can affordthe, alasl
too feeting enjoyment Of basting the inner
man with the ceoliDg julep or cobbler.
Meanwhile, the military court for the trial
Of the conspIrators has held It's daily session,
showing BY its disregard Of the labor discourage
ing temperature, it's appreciation of the i'm
pSrtance OF the business upon which it has
been engaged. The court room is constantly
crowded with spectators, men, women a. d
children, many Of whom, unwilling 10 leave or
unable to do so by reason OF the dense mass
OF humanity about them, remain throughout
the entire day. 1t is understood that the last
Of the evidence viii be introduced to day, and
on Monday or Tuesday of next week the ar
guments for the defence will be commenced.
Hon. Reverdy johnson, one of Mrs. Surratt's
counsel, has taken no active part in the con-
duct Of the trial since the fourth day of the
session, having been engaged in the meantime
la the preparation of an able and exhaustive
argument against the jurisdiction of the
court. q W.
TIE trial has been long and tedious, but it
has been marked throughout by mutual fair
ness and courtesy on the part OF both court
and counsel Neither trouble, nor expense
has been considered by the Government in
procuring the attendance Of witnesses, as
we'll for the defence as the prosecution, and
the result has been the complete unraveing
Of more than one plot on the part Of the
very "pinks Of Chivalry," having for its OBJ
jects murder and arson. Even "His Excel
lency," Jefferson Davis, sour Christian Presi-
DENT" as he is styled bylthat eminently uirt,l-
ous defduIter, Beverly Tucker, is shown to
have been one of the plotters.of these deeds
of darkness. May he and his fellow-conspir-
ators have their reward ass 81
There is much speculation here, as else
where, as 90 what the policy of the Admin
stration win be with regarn to its disposition
of the principal rebels who have fallen and
may fall into its hands. Many are fearful
that Davis, Stephens and others of that ilk are
not to receive full punishment for their crimes
but will be granted pardon conditional upon
their leaving the country forever; others be-
lieve that Andy Johnston meant much when
he said that "Mercy to the individual might
be cruelty to the State,p aud that the policy
foreshadowedin that remark win be sternly
pursued. The policy which would be most
satisfactoryt TO the great mass Of the loyal peo-
pie OF the country, l have no doubt, Is briefly
this: Forgive the leaders, but hang them for
Examples sake; forgive the followers, and lei
such of them hang themselves as seek that
refuge from their guilty eonsciencies. n0 =
ga desperate recontre between some soldiers
and negroes took place to-day on the sIsland, I
Ia part of the city lying between the canal and
the Potomac. 1t is said that several were
killed on each side; but full statement O
facts has not yet been made public Cause
bad rum and bad women. "a g
Some rogues entered four rooms ID the
from money and other vaiuables amounting 4
about three thousand dollars. Among The
losers is Brig. Gen. N. j. jackson, OF Maine
vino was robbed of magnificent watch anl
chain, presented to him by the officers Of New
York regiments formerly under his command
The General cherished the gift from his oil
companions-in-arms very highly, and deeply
laments his misfortune. &
Prices at the capital for provisions of all
kinds still continue capital for the vendor
Z though they fail to produce satisfaction Of
that kind in the breast of the unfortunate pen
dee, House rents are still held as high az
ever, which IS owing in a great measure, /
presume, to the increased demand created by
the return Of many Of our misguided breth-
ren." Hasten the day when men OF moderate
means can afford to live, or, what is now
equally difficult, afford to die, in the Capital Of
the Nation. York.