The Portland daily press., 1866-12-31
2 ~saa,sA EA,ss- sveshinstsa.
fCorrsspondence of the Press.l
WAsH1NGroS, d. c., Dec. q, 1866

Inefe are very many mere VINO uOuDt Cne
propriety of members of Congress allowing
themselves to be feted and chaperoned by men
who are yet malignant enemies of the cause
and country they represent Senators Ram
sey and Foster were reported to be theguests,
at Chattanooga, of Gustavus w. Smith, ex
street commissioner of New York city, and
once prominent rebel General AT Nash
vile others of them are seized hold OF by the
Copperhead major and others who were inim-
ical to the influences which saved Tennessee
to the Union.
This will be true elsewhere. At New Or
leans we shall have the spectacle presented of
a mayor who is accused of having directed
wholesale assassination of loyal men, and
whose conduct is the subject of investigation
by Congressional Commission, being fore
most in feting and pretending to honor men
foremost in sending the Commission, and eve
ry one of whom, probably, during the CAM
paign, denounced this same Munroe as the
chief of Thugs and rebel assassins. Yet how
are they to avoid it?
The general unanimity with which every
where the rebel-Johnson officials have and
are coming forward to nionopolize the Con-
gressional party, is so apparent as to establish
conclusively the existence of Encouragement.
The loyal men now here from the South natu-
rally feel very bitter over these manifestations
and our representatives acquiescence therein,
There are twI objects directly influencing
those who got up and managed the affair
Our friends seem to have been led by the nose
quietly into the trap The first is political. In
spite of all Their journalistic buster, the pro-
Southern leaders have begun to realize fully
that their only hope Of preserving even a rem
nant of power is to ratiiy the constitutional
amendment, and to find among the less known
but equally as dangerous rebels young men or
others who never having held Federal Office
OF subscribed to the oath OF allegiance, are not
technically disqualified under the third Sec
ton of the amendment. They realize that if
they ratified the amendment they might hope
to become represented in Congress, and they
hope that in the way pointed out they may
cheat the radicals, retain their State control in
large degree, prevent the spread of Republi-
can party therein, and assure the return to
power of the Democracy with themselves as
Of old, its leaders.
The Rebel-Johnsonites are exerting them
selves to the utmost to make the radicals ex-
cursion pleasant and send them back to Wash
ington Modified and inclined to moderation
Mr.. johnson himself is preparing to play this
rOte, and there are not wanting those in the
Republican party who make haste to aid him.
Another object animating the promoters OF
this excursion is connected with the lobby
Before the war certain projected railroads in
the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia
\ A..
large land grants. These have relapsed to the
General Government by reason of failure to
build the roads owing to the rebellion. There
are two separate interests seeking to revive
these grants. One is thoroughly loyal, and
numbers such men as Hamilton, Stafford and
others, with prominent Northern capitalists
1t is Gained that the 'oyal men ought to have
suc'l influences as the general government can
in this way give to advance their movement
and build them into power.
The old pro-rebel influence which has always
run the Southern railroads, is represented by
some Of the parties engineering the Congress
sional excursion. The principal roads have
been making Through route combination
Like all such monopolies they want to absorb
everything, and the old interpretations of the
unfinished roads, joining with them against
the effort Of the loyal men, have made up
powerful lobby to revive the relapsed land
grants. This excursion is one of this lobbys
moves
There is strong feeling among members
against any land grants for the South. Mr..
Julian and all his Committee ON Public Lands
are opposed to their revival, and favor very
strongly the putting of ali such lapds under
the operations of the Homestead act 1t is de-
clsred, however, that the Senate Committee is
much more likely to be influenced by out
side parties. Senator Pomeroy is at the
head. Western railroad men are very anxious
for combination with roads in Arkansas and
Northern Louisiana and Texas.
POLITICS AT THE CAPITAL.
1 refer now to those of the District There is
considerable pressure brought to bear in favor
of the abrogation of the City Charters, and the
Government of tine District by Congressional
Commission; said Commission to be nominate
ed by concurrent resolution and the subordi-
nate officers to be appointed by the Commits
sion, the Interior Department and the Courts
Of the District respectively.
Senator Morrill, has made several amend
nents in the bill introduced last session by
himself proposing this mode and will urge its
adoption. One of the amendments allows the
election OF Delegate in Congress.
The creation of such an office has been ar
IDENTITY advocated for years by Mayor Wallack
and his partizans, but now they are as ardent
ly against it. because, I presume it is feared
the Republican vote would be too strong The
leading Republicans here favor the change in
the mode of government il delegate is allow
ed them, as thereby they have an opportunity
OF testing the merits of free suffrage. 1t is,
however, great innovation and will be hard
to push through Already speculations as to
candidates for delegates are abundant Mayor
Wallack would be the Conservatives candi-
date. Mr.. Riddle, formerly NJ c. from the
Cleveland CO., District, now lawyer here
John Il. Elyans, a wealthy and active mer-
chant, President OF the District Republican
Association, j. Sayles Bowen, Postmaster, are
talked of by the Republicans. Col r. j Hin
ton, formerly of Kansas, is also urged by the
colored men upon che attention of the Republ-
leans.
There will be some considerable changes
made in the charters of Washington and
Georgetown, il Senator Morrill's bill is not
adopted. The Georgetown election takes place
in February. The Republicans believe they
can carry it. 1t is very seriously discussed to
place in nomination wealthy colored man,
Alfred Lee, for the Mayoralty; Lee is the own
er of palatial house by the side of Gen.
Grants, which was bought by the latter of him
The Douglas block will be remembered by all
who have visited Washington. Grant now lives
in one of three; Mayor Wallaek another, and
Lee rents the third to some foreign minister. I
believe. The block was built by Stephen A.
Douglas and John c. Breckenridge. Lee lent
them both money on mortgage and finished
one of the three himself. If he should be NOM
mated it is believed he will certainly be elect
ed. The movement for his nomination comes
from the white citizens of the Republican faith
The municipal election in Washington does