The Portland daily press., 1865-02-11
Letter from the Federal Capital,
Peace Electoral Representatives = Mr.
Rock-Items.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Z, 1865.
TO the Editor Of the Press:
During most of the time last week, the one
great thought of the Capital was Peace. A
man dignifed with no position, but venerable
with age, confided with no power to make
terms, vet we'll able from long experience with
men and acquaintance with the insurgent
4 chiefs, to sound their purposes and learn their
minds respecting pacifcation, deputed by no
civil authority, but moved by patriotic and
humane desire to avert, If possible, further
bloodshed, had twice penetrated the rebel
lines had twice entered the rebel capital; had
twice sat in conference with rebel chiefs, and
returning, had kept his own counsel. Then
come rumors Of Commissioners sent by the
insurgents to treat for peace--rumors that
soon become well defined reports; then amid
the acclamations Of two armies, the commits
sioners enter our lines-the Secretary of State
leaving the Capital, has tens to confer with
them, and soon after, the President himself,
waving all formality, gracefully laying aside
in this hour of our victorious strength the
high dignity IF his position, joins the confer
ence. The political augurs, keenly observant
of the omens, do not fail to note that the gov
ernment organ breathes forgiveness and con-
ciliation. 5.
Everything indicates that events of gravest
moment are imminent. Some, more hasty
than wise perhaps, declaim in not the best
taste or temper, possibly, against the action of
the President; some deprecate in advance, a
dishonorable and hollow peace, but more
wait in GREATNESS suspense for further devel-
opments-wait longingly to see whether this
be indeed an auroral fash, or the first streak
of golden dawn. Has Southern fanaticism
at length yielded to reason? In the tramp of
| Sherman's advancing columns have the rebel
chiefs heard the cry of an unseen prophet
"Yet forty days and Nineueh shall be de-
stroyed p" In the fiery trials of shells hurtlng
above Fort Fisher, have they read "Mene,
Meme Tekel, Uphdrsin ?" Are not the rebel
ENJOYS sagacious men, who know the invinci-
BILE dissemination of the Republic. and would
they come on sheer fools errand?
II know too much!@ cried Nottingham
when Burnett cautiously hintsdt to the states
men of England the mind of the Prince OF
Orange, and we were all made similarly wise
on Saturday morning. Too soon and too
surely was conjecture put at rest, expectation
| thwarted and hope dashed.
And now that this little glimpse of peace
has passed away like the vision of home, seen
in the momentary dream of the tired soldier
nodding beside his camp ire-now that illu,
sions have vanished and we find ourselves
once more amid stern and grim realities, i,
only remains for as to gather up our strength
and nerve our hearts for final effort, Not
too soon, not too surely do we know the
truth, since that must be which is Setting
aside handful of genuine and well known
traitors, there can hardly be henceforth mort
g than one party in the North.
The Joint Resolution of the House, declar
ing the States of Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas ant
Tennessee not entitled to representation in
the electoral college, was the subject of Ions
and somewhat warm debate in the Senate
The discussion was of very general char
acter, embracing in its wide scope the who'll,
question OF reconstruction. On this subject
as on many others which have arisen since thu
rebellion, great differences of opinion showed
themselves among Union men, and upon thu
final vote we find such radical Republicans al
Wade, Brown, CONFESS, Sumner, Chandler
and Trumbull along with those Of such rad
4 ical Democrats as Powell and Davis, Ken
bricks and Buckalew, in the affirmative
while considerable number oil conservative
Republicans, such as Cowan, Doolittle. Har
4 ris Howe and Ten Eyck voted in the mega
4 tive. 4 see, however, no reason to anticipate
what has been SO often deprecated-a serious
division among the friends of the Union.-
The passage of the Resolution by vote o
nearly three to one, does not look favorable K
{ the speedy admission into Congress of Sena
tors or Representatives, or gentlemen claim
ing ID be such, from the seeded States.
On Wednesday, the LIST inst, the Senators
from the new State of Nevada, Hon. j. w
Nye and Hon. w. M. Stewart, took their seats
in the Senate. They were cordially received
by the older Senators, and though, as 1 be.
lieve, they have never before seen Congression-
al service, they seem well able to represent
their young and vigorous State.
In the winter of '61 and 80, gentleman
came from Boston to this city upon an engage,
ment to lecture. / say agentleman, for waiv
ing one unfortunate circumstance personal to
himself, but for which he surely was not re-
i sponsible, his talents, learning and cultivated
manners would have made him recognized as
such In any society. He had studied both
medicine and law, and was at the time, as he
is now, practicing attorney. He had visited
Europe, and instead of finding himself oetra-
cised, he had been permitted to mingle freely
in Partisan society as Vincent Oge had done
i before him. Yet he was not allowed to visit
this city and speak in public without much
personal inconvenience and some risk-threats
and menaclng demonstrations being freely
made against him. as5
4 On Wednesday, the lst inst the same per
son was, on motion Of Senator Sumner, ad.
mittad by Chief Justice Chase to the bar Of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
refer, Of course, to John S. Rock, ESQ.,, OF Bos-
TN. Ii certain Justices Of the Court still
share in the opinion that "a negro has no
rights which white man is bound to respect
they evidently did not think the occasion a
proper one upon which to express their senti-
ments. 81 -
laugh has been going around the Cap
Z itol at the expense of a certain "chivalrous''
librarian to whom Senator Sumner introduced
Mr.. Rock with the request that he-the f. F.
i V.-sht uld show him-the colored friend and
brother-all the courtesies due to him as a
member of the bar of the Supreme Court
The high blooded" librarian, though perhaps
i a little fiustered and overcome by the unex-
nactad hnnnr Is snnnnsad to haua snnoandod