The Portland daily press., 1866-02-24

L
Letter from New York-The Veto.
! n.. .- .,', New York, Feb. 21, 1866. B.,
To the Editor of the Press: e.
The Presidents veto has opened the food
gates of political excitement in this city. Yes
terday the halls of our principal hotels re-
sounded with the voices of men engaged in
hot debate; meetings were arranged by the
supporters and by the opponents of the Presi-
dent, and every element Of great political
canvas was as manifest as if we were on the
very eve of an important election. Every cop
| perhead in New York as elsewhere rejoices
over the act of the President the Word and
the Nesos are loud in their praises, pretty
sure sign that the President is wrong. He can
not but remember the exclamation of the old
Athenian: "what wrong thing have 1 done
that the mob should praise me-" l
1t were in vain to deny that the true Repub-
licans are deeply grieved at the course pur-
sued by Mr.. Johnson-not SO much however
| at the veto itself as at the reasons assigned
for it; they believe they discover great
change in the opinions of the President since
he denounced treason and declared his deter
mination to punish traitors. ru ..I-
The cry Of the Democrats has heretofore
been, "let the discussion concerning negroes
cease and let the country turn its attention to
other subjects" The veto has given them the
first real cause forrejoicing, and the same veto
has rendered the discussion of the 4negro
| question" ten times more animated than it
has been since the close of the war. The next
attempt to stop the debate on that question
will be by the admission of ex-slaye owners to
seats in Congress, who will take with them
their hatred Of anti-slavery men and who will
express their hatred in true plantation style.--
Democrats and conservatives have yet to learn
that while wrong exists in our institutions of
| government the means of its removal ,eiH be
! the subject of discussion. El
That there is less of the moral element in
the politics of this city than there is in the pol
itics of the nation at large, is perfectly mani
fest to any observant traveller. The govern.
ment of the city is primarily in the hands o.
ward politicians, who know little and care less
about the RIGHTS and wrongs of things, and
who regard measures ofpublic importance only
as they affect the number of votes they will
be able profitaDly to dispose of at the next ell
ection. Nine-tenths of the shabby tricksters
who are now talking SO loudly of the veto, care
less for its effects upon the country than they
do about its relations to the ascendency OF
Tammany or Mozart. .l1,l
In the "Rotunda" of the Astor House where
politicians "most do congregate," that is, poll
! ticians Of the ward-room and bar-room stamp
the discussion yesterday, partly inspired by
whiskey, was of the most animated character
and the President could hardly be congratula-
ted upon the character ofthe friends his course
has secnred. Applicants for subordinate places
in the Custom House, who were week age
radicals and avowed friends of Summer and
Stevens, experienced very sudden conversion
and those of them who can know the wrong
will undoubtedly contribute for celebration
of the victory of conservatism.
You will observe that the Tribune is awake
to the Importance of the new issue; as friend
remarked this morning, "that paper is of very
little use in victory, it requires the spur of adj
versity to bring out its power" From this
time forth we may expect good, if not great
utterances from the Tribune. plf Ft
Last evening Henry Ward Beecher deliver
ed lecture at the Academy of Music, Brook
lyn, upon the text, the "North Victorious."-
As usual, the lecture was received with great
applause. The lecturer, moved by his evident
desire to controvert the opinions of Wendell
Phillips, draws very pleasing picture of our
present condition; far more pleasing than the
facts will actually warrant. Mr.. Beecher is
never very careful ofhis logic, and this last ef
fort is by no means free from incongruties, in
some cases amounting to contradictions
While listening to the reverend gentleman one
does not desire to criticise, he only wishes to
be charmed, and his wishes are usually graft
fed. Upon reading the lecture afterward il
cold blood we are too often reminded of thu
proverb "All is not gold that glitters.D
4 The city is filling with business men from
all parts otthe country, and the prospects fol
lively spring trade are very f1attering. The
great thoroughiares are crowded, and good
lodgings at the great hotels are not easily OBJ.
tanned. would recommend those intending
to visit New York to secure their rooms in adj
vance; by so doing they may avoid disappoint
ment and trouble. e'4l tHr-
The weather for two days has been very
! pleasant, and the pavement of Broadway has
in consequence, been crowded by Brilliant!
| attired pedestrians, of both sexes. The place
Of amusement have been filled nightly and il
addition to the opera and the theatres, largt
number of successful concerts have been Civ
en-. The advent of Lent will check the pros
| perity of the managers, but they have beer
reaping golden harvest during the past sea
son. - i-'''a .' >i+ '' w.