The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-22
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch


Sumner on Colorado and Nebraxka-Thc Vote "a
he still kept at n distance-Thc Congressional
Holiday Tour : Executive Session Recon.
struc,ion looking TO Desruction-The Leader
OF the Radicals In the Senate-Sumner the
Man.
WASHINGTON, December 90, 1866.
Sumner has proclaimed his purpose Of
using every effort he can possess himself OF
to secure the defeat of the present bill be.
fore the Senate for the admission OF Colo.
RADIO; aud in this enterprise he is not alone
rs several other Radical senator's have en-.
listed for tho war, and will not, as far as
their influence and votes tend, permit the
admission OF either Nebraska or Colorado
until the word "whitc" is expunged from
their constitutions. There is probably a
sufficient majority in both Houses to admit
both, as far as Congress is concerned, but
il is very generally believed that the PrcSi.
dent will not approve the bills, and in tina,
case they canpet be passed. Wade tried
hard to-day TO get vote, but the tactics
Of the Opposition defeated him. At leas,
half-dozen senators, and perhaps more
have agreed TO make set speeches on Ne,
braSRa and Colorado when ii comes up
for the purpose Of delaying the passage and
defeating the bills if possible.
Several members of Congress left
Washington this afternoon, and others will
leave tomorrow, some going south and
others north, so that by tomorrow
night there will hardly be quorum re-
manning in Washington. Forty senators
and representatives will leave tomorrow
for trip over tho southern railroads to
cit IN
General Bcauregard has furnished free
passes over the road of which he is presi-
dent.
The first executive session of the Senate
in which the business of combinations was
commenced occurred to-day, when quite a
number of naval appointments were con-
frmed. There was but one civil confirma-
ton, that being an internal revenue officer
in New York. Minister Dix has not yet
been confirmed, and there are several
senators, who, for his fault of conServa-
tism, are disposed to take no notice what
ever Of his appointment.
All assertions that Congress will lay
aside the question of tcrritorialiZing the
southern States until the next session
are assurcdly premature. 1t is intended
as soon aS the sessions REOPEN after the re-
cess 10 make bold attempt at this game,
and the Reconstruction Committee will
make preparations for it during the holi-
day. Stevens intends TO test the question
whether he is or is not still mas
ter of the situation, and upon the
basis Of an abolition OF State governments
the trial is TO be made. In the House, the
disposition is very far removed from an
abandonment of this latest tayOrite theory,
and in the Senate it has yet many advo-
Gates, who are waiting TO see what pro-
greSs is made in the House before com
mcncing operations. The indications are
that not only will a series Of bills looking
to the destruction of the southern State
governments separately go through the
House, but also that it will be seriously
proposed to impeach the President before
the adjournment. This will be d &c, in the
way Of experiment, 10 test the popular
view of the subjects, and will not be
taken up in the Senate. If they should
be, however, there can be no doubt of the
utter confusion which would follow. As
intimatcd in previous letter, the PrcSi-
dent will not suffer his power and influence
as commander -in-chicf Of the land and
naval forces of the United States TO be
wrestcd from him by such men as Thad.
Stevens and Charles Sumner without
practical opposition to their revolutionary
schemes.
Sumner is now recognized as the head
and front of the Radical party in the
Senate, as his more sarcastic but less
classical political colleague, Stevens, is in
the House, and whatever the former can
do TO advance the theory of social equality,
amalgamation, and other evils, will be car
ried out to the very letter. 1t is even now
proposed to abolish all distinction between
children in the public schools Of this Dis
trict, and mix the white and black all to-
gcther. Stevens is the author Of that I;
but at present there does not seem any
strong evidence that such a dispenSation
Will he agreed upon. Those things will be
determined after the next municipal cleo
ton. TIMoN.
For the Dispatch.