The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-20
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

LkE1Nk1fx ErftOM. HASHlNCaIOMs
WASHINGTON, November II, 1866.-Iittle TON
MOORE long ago called this the City Of Mag
National Capital he would call it a city Of mag
nifcent jobbing. I do not know that there is
more lobbying here than at other seats Of National
Governments, though it is fair to assume it, as
the word itsolf is Of native American growth.
There may be, doubtless is jobbing in other CAPT
tails, but it is less matter Of public notoriety.
Washington is a mere village Us compared with
the great Capitals Of Europe; and everybody soon
knows everybody's business.
Before the war even there was much jobbing in
Congress. The public printing for years hos been
considered q fat thing Building forts and ships,
getting contracts for furnishing rations &C., al
ways attracted ney-loying oitizens from oyery
section of the Unon But all t is was mere child's
play to the jobs arising out of the war. lnnumer-
able fortunes were made out Of all sorts of con-
tracts. The mere disbursing of 80 much greon-
backs attracts vast numbers Of oornorants to this
point. The public lands, the bounties, the Patent
Office tho vast amount of Government property OF
evory description, accumulated through the four
years Of war, and now to be disposed of, as we'll
as hundred othor considerations, al offer 80
many Inducements for adventurers, spectators
and harpies Of every Sort to congregate within the
charmed precincts Of the capital.
The several departments employ armies OF clerks
ind aspiring ladies Of strong minds and indliier-
ont morals, crowd hithor from for and wide, sml-
ing their sweetest, and beseging their 'inf11len-
tial" friends, till they overcome the obduraoy OF
the most stolid NJ c., and vacancy must be Gre
ated if there be none It is said that this state OF
things is not tho most conducive to healthy state
of morals. I have not been here yet long enough
myself to be entitled to an opinion but it there is
any truth in old LAvAron's facial theories, 1fully
endorse the current opinion on this subject.
Eyerybodyis on tho qui usoe for the approaching
session of Congress-. 1t is the one great epoch OF
Washington lifo Remove the capital tomorrow,
and the place will soon revert to it's pristine con-
dition of miasmatio desolation. Although the
city has grown to very respectable size in little
over half century, still the wonder to me is that
it has not made more progress. Indians and but-
faloes roamed over the sites Of some of the man.
moth cities Of tie West when President MONROE
was holding his levees here, and now they are
great centres Of population, commerce. manufao-
ture, and even Of culture, while Washington still
depends for its very OF the presence Of the
Government and its expensive machinery. Tho
population here still oonsists only Of the various
attaches Of Unole SANS oface, and the crowd Of
proletarians boarding and lodging house keepers;
other inisters wants Of
these officials. Government pap alone ikeaps
Washington alive. so. go, sc''; - ~,
There is great anxiety hero at present as to what
Congrcss will do and scarcely less as to what the
President will do There are numerous pro-
grammes laid down by the partisans OF the rival
powers, and you cannot go any where without
hearing this momentous topic. "Will tho Prosi.
dent back down z" "Will Congress- impeacla him?"
ssWill the Senate confirm the Presidents appoint
ments?" eff there is radical President pro TEN.
will Ill the Department clerks be turned outf otc,
etc.. I need not tell you that many wager is
pending on these issues.
Thoro are few, if any, Monnbers Of Congress
hore as yot, but they layo nearly all secured their
places Of abode, and somo Of thom will soon be
coming in, particularly such as have Committee
work.
But will close now This is preliminary LETT
ter. In my next shall try to give you some news.
NJ. T. p. =