The Portland daily press., 1865-01-09
WAsH1NaroN. Jan. Q, 1853

nomen, who delighted while sucking last sum-
mer,s neaches to shut his eyes and imagine
himself in Jersey, we need only to open ours
and take q sniff or two of the outdoor air to
enjoy an imaginary return to the land of home
and friends, of sleighiug, coasting skating, and
all the old accustomed delights. The North
country can hardly display more wintry as
pect than the Capital and its surroundings.
Even the river now frozen quite over has
donned the color of the season, so that where
the eye looking toward Arlington Heights
or downward toward Alexandria, usually sees
broad expanse of water, blue and placid or
sparkling in the sun, it now meets, nothing in
all its sweep TO break the winter landscape.
And now that the streets are musical with
sleigh bells the season seems quite like itself.
The first Reception of the season on last
Monday attracted very numerous and brill
liant gathering. The Russian, Brazilian,
French, British, Spanish and Belgian Lega-
tons were fully represented. Several Cabi-
net Ministers, and Judges Grier and Nelson
of the Supreme Court, were present. The Ar
my was represented by Generals Halleek,
Hitchcock, Hunter, Doubleday, Angur, Ca
sey, Torbert, Fessenden, Tucker, Terry, Farms
worth and Thomas, and by many officers of
inferior rank. Admirals Goldsborough and
Smith as well as other officers were present
from the Navy. GO Il MkB.TAXW
The crowd in attendance was so great that
some went away unable to get admission.
Notices. than five thousand persons, one-fo fourth
ladies, are estimated to have succeeded in per-
sonally paying their respects to the President,
receiving from him pleasant salutation and
shaa6e of the hand. For two hours steady
stream of people We're pouring from the spa
cious hall into the "Red Room, )" thence to the
"Blue," where the President stood with Mar
shall Lamon and his Secretary, Mr.. Nicolay, on
either hand, and bis lady attended by several
| gentlemen near by; thence to the Screen" and
East Rooms, !" from which, the crowd emerged
into the open air with crushed corns, and ribs
thoroughly tested, possessed of whatever BEN
eft may be gained from tremendous squeez-
log by '.the people," and the condescending
touch of power. All this is of course very de-
lightiul to the vititors, but what it is to the
President we are each left to imagine for him.
SELF 1t may however console the disappoint-
rnent of those numerous individuals who new
eF get to be President to reflect that this is
only one of the many penalties which those
rash persons who do attain TO that high state
of discomfort have to pay for their temerity.
, The dag was observed as New Years
throughout the City and many dignitaries had
their "atch strings out" The judges of the
Supreme Court, Members of the Cabinet, Sem
ators, several Members of the House and not
a lie " lesser officials kept "open house," The
Receptions of Secretary Stanton and that OF
| Senator Sumner were in particular numerous
| Iy attended. The Vice President also re-
cieved many friends and distinguished visi-
tors. q 1T
A new thing has come to pass under the
sun. The National Intefligencer known and
noted far and wide during 80 many years for
its sturdy conservatism, slow and sure sin
telligence"-for it seldom published "newsn-
and its immaculate responsibility in general,
has at last changed hands and promises to be-
come SO modified as to remain no longer a
tCiiC vi luO ptloJsi, uI- k3CdtOuS Lie SuIfAtluS
partner Of the firm of Scales & Seaton," after
connection with the paper of more than fifty
two years, retired and the Journal has passed
into the possession of new firm, composed of
Messrs. Snow, Coyle & Allen. The Intelli-
gencer has for year or two past been con-
sidered quite copperry, butt is now under
stood TO sustain the measures of the Adminis-
tration. 81 A -31
The week thus far has been a busy one at
the Treasury. Subscriptions to the stem
forty loan" have come in freely and for large
| amounts. As no other gold-bearing loan will
probably be offered atpresent, this is sought
for by capitalists with money for permanent
investment, and also by those who, anticipating
rise in gold bearing bonds upon their with
drawal, are disposed to speculate in them, 1t
is expected that the loan will be nearly II not
quite exhausted by the time fixed upon for its
withdrawal. The "seven thirty loann is also
very active so that the wants Of the Treasury
are likely to be supplied for the present at
least A t--.l $50 1A-t ~ III 3 e ~
The Reciprocity Treaty, affecting as it does
! the whole northernmost tier of states, is at
present attracting much attention. While
the people of the north. eastern states, believ-
ing its operation to be decidedly unfavorable
to them, are generally anxious for its discoI-
\ tinuanee as soon as may be, consistently with
it's terms, those of the north. west. valuing
| highly the increased facilities for transporta-
ton afforded them under the existing arrang-
in ,orfaf laa IT,
tinuance. The resolution introduced by
Senator Morrill, early in the session, requiring
the President to give the necessary notice to
the British government for the termination of
the treaty, has not been acted on by the SEN
ate. A similar resolution. having passed the
House on the 18th ult, was referred to the
Senate committee on Foreign Affairs, and was
reported by them with amendments, but has
not yet passed. During the recess a pretty
strong lobby Influence has been concentra-
ting here defeat the resolution directly, or
to kill it by delays. see no reason to doubt
however that it will pass both branches. Z
Congress met yesterday with fair attend
aace in both branches. In the House Mr..
Clark of New York, introduced resolution
requiring that all vacancies in the departments
oe filed exclusively by men who have served
in the Army or Navy; and that prerent In
cumbents be displaced to make room for such
applicants, as fast as can possibly be done
consistently with the interests of the public
service. The resolution was referred to the
committee on Ways and Means. 49,
In the Senate the Vice Presidentpresi for
the first time this session. General Sickles
was upon the floor during the morning hour.
But little business was transacted. T. S. P.
IHE PAPER QUEsTroN.--The Argus this
morning makes some Characteristic filings st
our remarks upon the price of paper, without
attempting any denial of Tho lonts Mo ha We