Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-04-27
CORRESPONDENTS

y
Of Emancipation IN tbs District-Seren-
ade Speeches &C., Who are to receicc the
Odfces-Haess Of Mr.. FesSeRaen.
Mr. EDIToR:-
The two Houses of Congress, have been
at work for the past week; but not much
has been accomplished owing to the ma
trrc of the legislation in which each are
engaged, and the diverse views entertained
in regard to the M easures before them.
The Senate has has under consideration
the bill approprating certain per centam
to large number of contractors who built
for the Government during the war, sever
al iron clad Steamers. These men claim
that they lost money by their contracts,
and now ask the Government to give then,
a lift. Ii is said that some of these gentle
men have become poor in consequence of
the money lost by them in fultllment Of
their contract, with the government, and
are now in much need of aid The aggregate
amount which this bill appropriatcs Is
! 81 200. 900. 1t is thought that it will pass.
believe number of your entcrprising
ship-builders have an interest in the pass
tagc of this bill.
In the House the army bill has been I'M
der consideration almost every day during
the week: but the final vote thereon has
not yet been reached. 1t has undergone
some pretty extensive and as | think, uil-
fortunate and unwise amendments. and the
probability is that it will fail altogether as
these amendments will render ii obnoxious
even to its friends. 1t is believed that
there will be some pretty important and
radical changes made in the organization
of the army but precisely what form this
legislation is to take on. is not now appar-
ent.
Washington for the past week has been
the theatre of some important events, even
outside of what is transporting in Congress
Among the most interesting events of the
last few days. has been the celebration by
the colorcd people of the district of the
anniversary of their emancipation, 1t
came off ON Thursday. Tie day was fine.
and the process sion and all things apper-
tanning to the celebration were of an i'll
intensely interesting character. At an
early hour these dark skinned children of
Ham began to throng our streets and all
were seen winding their way towards their
different rendezvous from which several
points. the procession WAS to move. II
was soon under way. and very imposing
demonstration indeed it made. 1t attract
ed universal attention, and by its order,
good behaviour. and sobriety, Won the
admiration of many. silenced the clamor OF
the opposition, and commanded the re-
spect of all. There were some twenty or
TWENTY-FIVE thousand colored people on the
street and in the procession. and a more
orderly we'll behaved crowd of people
cannot be gathered in this land. There
were 10 yVess, no fights. no disturbances,
among these people anywhere during the
day or night. Not i single colorct man
was seen intoxicated an! where; but all
was a. quiet ~ L Sabbath scene. These
are the people who cannot take care Of
themselves, ANA ought therefore to be
slaves, hazard nothing in saying. that
such a celebration could not have been
carried out Ivy an equal number of Whit
Americans, Irish, English, or Dutch, with
ont mauiic>ting disgusting large per
centage OF drunkenness.
The procession after marching through
many of the principal streets and avenues
driilrd through The Presidents grounds.
and passed il review before the Executive
Mansion. Mr.. johnson made To them a
brief speech which You viii doubtless see
in the papers. iorhcar comment. and
will only remark that the speech did not
deceive the negroes. who listened To it
] They kao,r ocbo arc Their friends. In the af-
ternoon meeting was held in Franklin
Square. and addresses were made by Rev.
DR.. Garnet (colored) Howard Day also
{colore,l. Senators Trumbull. Wilson and
others.
The coppcrhead papers here and in other
parts oi the country, have been making
themselves juhilant-ovcr grand serenade
eivel to the President by the soldiers and
sailors league OF this city. NOW it so hap
pens, that this league voted the proposition
: to serenade His Excellency down by al
most a unanimous vote, and though the
crowd that visited the White House was
tolerably large and quite respectable, the
soldiers and sailors, league Had nothing
more T. do with it, than the people Of youi
village
The speech of Mr.. Johnson on this occa-
sion. was ofthc same type with that ofFcb
5 I'D. with the personal left out. What wa,
the veto power given to the President fol
asks his ENcellency: Ito put down the
niggcr." eXclaimS a Feaian in the crowd
Again eXclaims Mr.. johnson, who made
me President Booth. : cries ont a stric
E cons rtctionists. almost 1T the President
; elbow.
1t is very generally understood here thai
Mr.. johnson does not intend to appoint any
men to Office who did not vote the Rcpub
lican ticket at the last Presidential election
: He is represented AZ saying TO a number ol
copperhead members of Congress who call
u cdon him. respecting the cOlleetorship o
New York. that he would not Tylerize tn,
Il party that elected him. lie means to figh
t. out the battle inside the party line. and he i
confident that he can carry the bulk of tn
people with him, and that only the radi
= Gals whom lie believes constitutes but
:. small portion OF the people. will leave him
It In this he will be sadly mistaken. Mr. ~