The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-19
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Empire i State.

-lE#tn stIr FrfILf
ssleta3 7s8ai1 ALBANY, N. Y, Jan. IL. !.
10 the Editor Of the Press .'vo9 tA0 ~.
The new political machinery of the State
of New York, can now be said TO be in good
running order. The old Dynasty, in obedi-
ance to the voice of the people, has given
place to the new. The old offices have been
filed by the more honorable and patriotic
members of the Union party. Gov. Fenton.
soon after his Inauguration, began to take i'm
mediate, and effective measures, it is hoped,
to fill the quota of New York under the last
call for volunteers. It is done cheerfully and
energetically--in happy contrast to the Cop
perhead growls shat continually were emitted
from the headquarters of Gov. Seymore. BE
was fearful of displeasing his Five Point
"friendsR SIT coda Eiefa 81
Albany has voted large bounties, and the
Dutchmen are waking up to the Importance
of going to war. s5is n. " .,l s ae q
col SO LEGISLATURE. a9 Hs f tuaat ~
In the Legislature there is, as is usually the
case during the first few weeks, little transpir-
ing of special interest to apublic In another
State nearly four hundred miles away. The
number of the New York State Senators is
the same as the members Of Congress, and I
think they represent the same Districts. It Is
therefore supposed to contain a fair represer-
tation Of the higher order Of New York State.
talent. / had the pleasure, last evening, of
listening to the discussion Of the resolution
instructing the Senators and requesting the
representatives in Congress, to vote for the
Amendment Of the Constitution forever pro-
hibiting involuntary servitute.
The resolution was passed and forwarded
at once by telegraph to Washington. think
the Senate has the measure under -considera-
tion to-day. .@9ins' Rg bTRa8
The New York Legislature often has even
ing sessions, but those In the evening, espe-
ciallg in the assembly seem TO be rather unin-
teresting to part Of the members. Three or
four restless old men are continually making
motions to adjourn. Perhaps they will take
itbstter bye and bye. - ~# prvv
At this particular time the legislature, the
Wood Opydke Libel Suit, the war, everything
Is cast in the shade by the ice-the last thing
to cast a shade. III (lS
1t is ice everywhere. No man, when he
leaves his house in the morning dares antici-
pate his fate, or conternplates with satisfaction
upon his safe return to the bosom of his fami-
ly before night. Ice is the fruitful and pro-
tracted topic of conversation.
Sliding is passibe in the streets, but skating
is enjoyable on the Hudson. Thousands, old
and yonng, flock to the river; and many are
the individuals who return home with bump
ed heads and lame combinations. Two miles
from the central part Of the city, is a skating
park near the old Van Rensselaer, Manor. A
horse car runs to the park to take the patrons
to and fro. se.ss.., srr, rR
The other afternoon was down street while
the rain was pouring in torrents, when the
horse car labelled in letters 16 Inches long,
For THE SKATING PARK ONLY,
passed by with one solitary passenger within
appearing and evidently feeling as ridiculous
as an old turkey refusing all invitations to
come in out of July shower. One of the in
' II Ice B6A4, ID
think they be wholly yankee institu-
tion. No Dutchman ever thought Of such a
thing, or having even thought of and manu-
factured by his more enterprising cousins
would ever dare trust his precious, fat body
upon such frail contrivauce. III
They do sometimes come to grief. A few
days since in an effort to turn one, moving at
the rate ofl0 or IL miles an hour, it was sud-
denly upset, the contents were spilled and did
not cease to move off on q tangent, on their
own basis, until they, had proceeded six OF
eight rods amid the merriment Of large
crowd of lockers on. HANCE.