The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-07
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispasch.l

srsxvp ~rr.rura,cs CHANGE OF FRONT
sourHrRS CONGREGATIONAL pELxaATIoSs-THE
PsRsrpRST's FRIENDS II THE CABINET ETC.
wAsHISsroS, February5.
A. .oon an the morning hour expired this
morning In the Senate, Mr.. Sumner arose and
com menced the promised speech on the Stevens
constitutional amendment. He presented n
most formidable and fearful bundle of manu-.
script. from which, after he had cleared his
throat and sounded his sonorous Mr.. Presi-
dent" he began reading, and the entire bur-
den OF the senatorial song was enfranchise-
Ynent for the freedmen. 1t were difficult
thing TO imagine that the putative father of
the constitutional amendment could be ont
weighed In the balance Of radicalism but
Sumner, who must have trembled for his lau-
rels when the great Jacobin leader sounded his
bugle horn. has at length surpassed him, and
fights him on the line of adopting the resolution
from the inquisitorial committee, proposing
IN It's stead one that will not allow the South
ern States TO exclude the negroes from voting
upon any pretext whatever. The argu-
ment of the classical Sumner Is that the loyal
black man is, and has been time out- OF. mind,
entitled TO all privileges and immunities, both
social and POLITICAL that belong 10 the white
race The elaborate, philosophical, and meta
physical disquisitions of the great fanatic will
have the effect of so dividing the ranks Of his
party In the Senate that II is highly improba-
BILE II the amendment will pass that body by
the req uisite two thirds vote.
A straw which shows the way the wind
blows is contained in the fact that within the
past few days there has been decided change
OF front among some of those enthusiastic
individuals who favored and advocated so
strenuously the rights of the negro in this
District at the ballot box. There has been
comeplete summersault in this respect with
certain Department officials, who signed the
abolition paper that WAS going the rounds,
and receiving the names of citizens Of the
District-lately imported from New England
asking for the right of suffrage for the multi
tude of unfortunate and forlorn negroes in
its midst. The certain determination on the
part of the Executive to prevent any such
infiction becoming a reality has brought to 4
lively sense of their errors many of the origi-
nal advocates of the unholy scheme. These,
however, are the weak kneed lambs among
the flock, and hosts Of the faithful yet remain
who will Join the new party Of anti-restora-
tionists.
The delegations from Tennessee and Arkan.
ming to adhere to the conviction that there is
no possible chance for their admission to their
seats in Congress during the present session,
and the hostile array of the majority of the
members against the President will, through
a spirit Of pure revenge, delay any examina-
ton into their credentials whatever by the
star chamber cabal, to whose tender mercies
they have been consigned, instead of to the
proper tribunal Of the Committee of Elections.
There is 4 general impression, based upon
reports we'll founded, that the two most cor
dial of the Presidents supporters in the Cabi-
net are Messrs. Welles and McCulloch; and it
Is also asserted that Il recent occurrence at a
Cabinet meeting made manifest the truth of
this impression, though Mr.. Seward was
absent At the time, and what position he might
have assumed is unknown. Rumors of all
kinds have been as thick as " leaves in Vallam-
yrosa," but no practical evidence of their truth
has vet TRANSFERRED Future legislation by
Congress will demonstrate the relations that
exist in Cabinet circles. There must be some
change. The very nature of even is predicts it,
TIMoS.