The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-20
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch

,Sx,vrx .norr rur rsnEpNSy's BUREAU BILL
rur rxrrxs,oS OF rHR ELEcrIvE FRANCHISE
rur psxp,ys coSsrIrrrIeSAL AMENDMENT
spscr, IrIoys About CABINET AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON, February Is.
-r,o ,,os, intense interest is felt to know
,,ha, "a TO be the fate Of the Freedmens bill
now in the hands of the President. He has
until next Friday to consider the matter, and
either sign or veto It. Very much depends
upon the result. and IL it is vetoed, as very
many predict il will be, the effect upon the
next elections will be remarkable. Connect.
CIT especially will be influenced and as that
State is now somewhat shaky, the great pro.
liability is, that, should the President upset
Radical calculations by disappearing their
last pet scheme, the Democrats, reinforced BY
conservative Republicans who desire TO sup
port the Administration, will carry the State.
There are very few who doubt that the bill
will be returned 10 Congress, and the suspense
is rather uncomfortable to the Radicals, who
are intensely anxious rs to the disposition
which will be made Of it,
The bill for the extension OF the elective
franchise in this District has been the means
of putting the dyed in the wool advocates OF
il in somewhat of aquandary. 1t passed thu
House in exact accordance with their desires,
and its passage called forth great applause
from the African audience in the galleries,
and mutual congratulations among its earnes,
friends in all quarters; but since that date,
when the President has taken such a bold
stand in opposition 10 the measure, its para
mount importance seems to have dwindled 10
very small proportions. Its beginning to b.
looked at as something dangerous to be han
died and although suffrage bill, materially
1n.r yl,a IN
there is a great desire to "reform it alto
cether = and report some measure that will
get rid of the bone of contention. The propo
siiion 10 change the form of government for
the District is receiving considerable atten-
ton, and the residents here, or the old citizens
at least, would hail such an act with pleasure.
There will be an attempt to vote on the con
stitutonal amendment now pending in the
Senate during the present week. 1t is not
definitely known how many ardent advocates
of equality will vote with Sumner against it,
on the ground Of the right it bestows upon the
representation. 1t will be interesting to note
the Republican names in the negative when
the vote is taken. The memorial of the negro
delegation who are determined to fight out
their matters on this line, against the passage
Gle of this morning. 1t is safe to say that the
time occupied in considering this and other
amendments to the Constitution is deplorable
waste, there is no probability of any OF
them ever becoming part of the supreme law
of the land.
1t seems difficult to get at the true state OF
the case. as 10 whether it is Mr.. Welles or Mr..
Dennison who are to Notwithstanding to
recent predictions-with Mr.. McCulloch as
members of the Cabinet. Both of the former
gentlemen have been reported as endorsing the
restoration policy of Mr.. Johnson, whilst the
Secretary of the Treasury is so thoroughly in
earnest in his devotion to the principles which
guide The President that he has brought down
upon his head the undisguised opposition OF
the Radicals His great ability as tinancier
is a bar TO any successful move on their part
against him The latest on dit about Cabinet
reconstructions is that changes will occur
Immediately after the first veto message shall
have beaSesent by the President to Congress.
Nous rerToRS. IIMoN.