The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-01-20
THE UNION &c JOURNAL,
CORRESPONDENCE.

CORRESPONDENTS.
(rrOm our Regular corrsspondsn0
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10th. 1863
PEACE
The atmosphere Of the National Capital J
nlled with rumors OF peace. At the hotels, OF
the street corners, everywhere where tao "
three are gathered together the conversation
directed TO the discussion Of the probabilities o.
an early peace. Francis +. Blair, seriof, sno
Gen. Singleton Of Illinois, who represents ,n'
peace aLany-priee wing Of the late pemoorA,'s
party. have each, separate and distinct Ioa
the other. started on seltccnsntu!eo m' sn.,
TO Richmond, under the belief, II 10 said, tha'
the negotiations Of each will be successful 10 40
completing the desired result. The puohc en-,
PERTAINS but little confidence In the success OF
these independent peace commissioners oeing
Of the opinion that Grant at Richmond. Sher-
man at Savannah and Thomas ut Nashville arc
the only competent commissioners 10 conuuct
negotiations which. under the existing state OF
affairs, the Government will be willing 70 nc
eept Still there Is probably no harm Ia agai u,
sounding his rebel majesty on the subject OF
peace aud IL il very probable that our grca'
naval victory ct Mobile the brilliant victories
Of Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley the an
Inhalation Of Hoods army in Tennessee the
unparalleled achievement OF Shsrman's marcn
throu III the heart OF Georgia, forcing the iney.
table conclusion that Yankee troops can marcn
at pleasure through any portion OF the ConIeu
erscy and the capture OF the cher sea,por
Of Georgia lit Is NOT improbable that glance
At these several Southerh geographical points
and A review of the various historical incidents
associated with them may disabuse the mind o!
his rebel highuess OF certain fundamental errors
relative 10 the establishment OF peace upon the
basis Of Southern independence, and thus open
the way to peace on the basis OF the old Union,
IA movement st once earnestly desired oy q
majority Of the Southern people as well rs BY
the people Of the North.
Whatever may be the disposition OF the South
ern leaders Of the rebellion, respecting return
70 the Union the indications all point one way
and JEFF Davis canuo. long delay the irresisti
BILE course Of events. which make his abdication
only question Of time to be solved In the i'm
mediate future. With oue-ha,f Of the Southern
people only waiting an opportunity to rally
round the flag Of the Union, and the other hall
ready to cut his throat, the time Is not Tar dis
tant when there will be q favorable opportuni-
~ to open propositions for peace. The object
for which the war was inaugurated Is now strug
Cling for few more breaths, aud Its approach
ing dissolution is openly acknowledged by its
ardent supporters, the Northern Democrats In
Congress, who are now debating the practical
bility Of comforting upon their old love the
honors OF O constitutional burial !; one by one
the States are abolsh,ng slavery, and one af-
ter another in rapid succession the Union VIC
tories are knocking the foundation from beneath
the Southern Confederacy. Like row Of bricks
standing on their ends. the falling OF which is
slowly commenced by topping over brick num-
Der one, but greatly accelerated as brick after
brick falls upon its neighbor, the pillars OF the
Coniederacy are now more rapidly topping
over as the &C. s. A." reaches the end Of Its
row.
rnr CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Congress has been occupied nearly the entire
week with the discussion OF this most important
subject. Many brilliant speeches have been
made. Cox of Ohio, Fernando Wood OF New
York taking the lead ON the opposition side.
and making set speeche, Of an hour an half
each over the grave Of their friend. So tena
cious is the love still felt for the idol at whose
shrine they have bowed for so many years, that
certain copperhead democrats in the House are
seeking to pro!ong the wake. into the next
session. The vote has been postponed till two
weeks from to-'lay, when other members will
put their speeches on recOrl. II Ia not ex-
pected that the amendment will be adapted by
the requisite two thirds vote this session, but II
can be easily carried by the next Congress
which is composed Of very large majority oil
Republicans. II is understood that IN extra
session will be called immediately after the 4,h
OF March, for the purpose Ut taking action on
this question. Two days before Cox made his
speech he promised number OF the leading
Republicans In the House that " they would
postpone the vote tor Twenty days, in order 10
give Blair time to 90 to Richmond and return,
he would vote for the amendment. There Was
under the circumstances, some surprise among
said Republicans when Mr.. Cox addressed the
House in opposition to the measure.
FLIGHT or SENATOR roorr FROM RICHMOND.
Some two months ago the Hon. Henry S.
Foote, formerly United States Senator from
tho State Of Mississippi, and late Senator IN
the Confederate Congress, took leave OF the
rebel Senate in much the same language and
manner in which, four years ago, another Sem
a,or Of Mississippi, now the ruined chief OF
bankrupt Confederady, took leave OF the Sen.
ate OF the United States. In accordance with
his plan announced on his withdrawal from the
Davis dynasty, to flee from "the most accursed
despotism ever invented" Senator Foote and
wife were en- route to Washington and had
reached our lines, some twenty miles from this
city, when they were overtaken by party OF
rebel cavalry which. had been sent to capture
them, aud Mr.. Foote was taken back TO Rich
mond. Mrs. F. was allowed to proceed to
Washington, where she arrived on Friday. Up
on her arrival OF the steamboat wharf she was
met by Secretary Seward, who escorted her to
willard's Hotel, where she Is now stopping.
THE INCREASE or SALARIES.
The subject of increasing the salaries OF de-
partmeut clerks has been constantly sgitsted
by memorials and otherwise since the opening
of Congress The enormous rates Of living nj
the capital was urged rs nn argument in favor
OF these thousands Of petitioners but the de
bate In the Senate on Friday, on the Consular
Appropriation Dill. removed all prospect Of an
increase of>salaries. While the exigencies OF
the tunes are an argument against mourning
any additional expenses, not absolutely de-
manded by the requirements OF the Govern.
nent, gentlemen interested In this measure
must consider that the Government Is now paw.
ing more. and in many instances double the
salaries which could DO commanded by the same
abilities In any other occupation.
PRIZE MONEY.
The officers and men who ~ houoraply and
40 brayely represent the "web-foot" OF oui
country. have been, and still are. doing high
In profitable business in the capture OF block
AIDE runners. Since the commencement OF the
rebellion. nearly two thousand prizes, amount
ing to more than ffty millions Of dollars, hav,
been captured by our Navy; one half Of which
IL appropriated to the usual pension fund, ant
the other half IL divided among the captors
PRO ra!a. according to the amount Of salary
they receive; 90 that each person on the cap
turing vessel, from Rear Admiral to the loves
boy, receives his share in exact proportion &c
his monthly pay. Many OF these prizes are 9
fortune TO every man on board; the share o.
the commanding officers amounting, in some
instances. to nearly forty thousand dollars foi
n single capture. Nearly i've hundred prizes
u, al, I'D ted nd hatnov