The Portland daily press., 1866-01-31

med circulation of all the Other aa,ies IN the eitv
Te'nas-SS,0 90 per ycar In adranee.
~ Reading Matter on all Four Pages.
| ---.----- -----------7- -
Letter from the Federal Capital.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 49, 1855.
To the Editor of the Press:
I find it duly written out and set down
among other squibs in Prenticeana, that
there are two seasons when Congress never
does anything,-one before the holidays, and
the other AFTER" How mueh-or to speak
with more literal exactness-how little the
present Congress did to verify the first part. of
tne saying every one can Judge for himself;
as to the latter part it Is proving untrue in the
present instance very mantle stly. I do not
remember, IN the years during which I b, We
been conversant with the proceedings of Con-
gress, ever to have seen so long daily sittipcs
at this stage Of the session, to have witnessed
so much and 50 general interest and spirit in
the proceedings from day to day, or so mani
fest desire on the part of most for prompt
and speedy dispatch Of business. anit
The debate in the Senate upon the Freed
mans bureau Bill was pretty general, and to-
ward the last grew very tedious, Mr.. Davis OF
kentucky occupying great deal of time. 1t
was at length brought to a vote on the alter
noon Of Thursday, the 25th inst and passed
with no other material amenGment to it, as
reported by the Judiciary Committee, than the
ore mentioned in my last The vote by W .ich
1t passed, thirty-seven ayes to ten nays, is very
| gratifying to the friends Of human liberty
showing as it does that the Senate is not be-
hind the House in steadfast denomination TO
| protect the rights of those whom the nation
has emancipated ~ sd lj09 1uiaDH
Immediately on the passage of this Bill,
Mr.. Trumbul called up another of a kindled
nature to @protect all persons IN the United
States in their civil rights. and fuini.h the
means of their vindication." 1t declares that
there shall be no discrimination in civil right,
or immunities among the inhabitants OF any
State or Territory of the United States, on
account of race, color, or previous condition
! of slavery; and gives the Circuit and District
| Courts, exclusive of all State Courts, jurisdic-
tion OF all offences against its provisionl.-
The District Attorneys, Marshalls, Deputy
Marshalls, and Commissioners of the Govern
ment are to institute proceedings against all
who oppress the freedmen or people of color.
The machinery of the bill, which seems well
suited to its purpose, is too complicated to be
described at length in this letter. The daily
accounts received here Of wrongs and outrages
perpetrated in many of the Southern States
upon those whom this bill is intended to pro-
tect, furnish a sufficient reason for Mr.. Trum-
4 bulls purpose TO press e 20 rs passaes as soon
as shall be found practicable. 1t win undoubt-
edly give rise to a lengthy and animated de-
bate. but of its final passage have no doubt.
The House has also been working of late un-
der the spur of an exigeney. Several State
legislatures meet only once in two years, and
should any Constitutional Amendment be sub
mitted to them for their ratification, with any
prospect OF their speedy action upon the same,
it must be at once. This is particularly the
case with the Pacific States. Accordingly the
Joint Resolution reported from the Recon-
struction Committee by Mr.. Fessenden to the
Senate, and Mr. Stevens to the House on the
22d inst, has almost constantly occupied the
attention of the latter body since that time
Mr.. Stevens once called the previous question
but so great was the desire to debate the reso-
luton that he was overborne and withdrew his
call. A great number of ten minute speeches
have been made, without however, effecting
much towards harmonizing differences of opin-
ion among those who want either this mea-
sure adopted, or some other OF similar ma
ture. The discussion, in Fact, has been very
unsatisfactory in its results thus far. The gen.
eral impression this morning seems to be that
it will be re-committed to-day. Some objec-
tions are started to the resolution, which will
not take the trouble to repeat; and some mem
bers, fearing that it might tail OF adoption by
3 the states, OF if adopted, might be evaoed by
the States piescribing some nominaly impair
: tial qualification for electors, which then by
: class legislation, might be rendered un4ttaiI.a
bic to the fleedmen, decline tv accept this as ii
measure Of safety, wnicl is ,e4t by nea iy al
TO be necessary before adInittin. tie iebe. ou,
States to repre- entation il. Congres>. SINE
measure ior the tutu- e peace Of the equity
some guarantee ior The sood behavior OF til,
rebels, we must have. Ii be.ter can lie lie
n vised, let us haveit-i not, give US this.
4 On Tuesday, the 23d, Senator Fessendel
!. made an excellent speech on the Freedmen
bureau Bill, in the course OF which he tol,
the Democratic side Of the Chamber, and th
Democratic party in general, great deal Q
plain and wholesome truth. His remarks ar
specially commended to those who either fea
| Ira pfr1.o al kn,.
between the President and the great party b
which he was elected, and in very particr
Jar manner to those Democrats and Coppe
I, heads who daily go off into &C. tatic raptur,
over the "Presideaes Policy" and re, ,rese1
him as fondiy languishing and piniug ior the
lraternal embrace. RepTesen ations OF this SC
the Senator pronounced sau idle, yidiculo,
: ramors, Dithoat The slightest foundation c
cept the acish of those ,cho inpent and 0i,
: them currency" "Sir," he said in concluAic
upon this point, "there Is no collision; and
say it-be my word worth much or little
r for the benefit OF the country, to add my wol
to that statement Of fact" Mr. Fessenden
entire exposure of the Democratic deyi'
to get up quarrel between the Presidei
:. and n 's friends was very severe and cuttin
If he had ho N saying the most agreeable an
comnl;n,a,,t.r, a.. 'ngs, however, he could n
complimentary thi- ,.r,,fed co,,rta.v The
have displayed more a.. --at,c s,ds of :,
in while explaining to The Demoe- - :,
b Senate, in manner perfectly cles.., -, :, :,
= dullest or most reluctant understanding :.
'S foolishness and meanness of that choice Iittl
plot. The Senator has aremarkable agifsn fc
doing things of that sort, and it was exercise
very fully and effectively on the occasio
referred to. t.. '' itl
After the conclusion of Mr.. Fessenden,s rt