The Portland daily press., 1866-05-23
Letter from the National Capital.
WASHINGTON, May IS, 1866

WASHINGTON, May IS, 1866.
To the Editor Of the Press:
The present week has thus far been COM
paratively quiet one. The reconstruction
question has again been superseded in the in-
mediate attention of Congress by other mat
ters In the House the Tax bill "drags its
slow length along" rather YEARLY. 1t was
discussed two evenings last week, and has
been daily under consideration in Committee
of the Whole during the present week, and as
much more time and labor as have already
been bestowed upon it will apparently be
needed to finish it.
In the Senate the bill ito prevent SNUG
Cling" and the joint resolution sent over BY
the House "to prevent the introduction of the
cholera into the ports of the United States"
have occupied considerable time, particularly
the latter. The passage of this resolution
with the amendment providing for "the es-
Enlistment OF cOrdOnS to prevent the spread
of said disease from infected districts adjacent
to or within the limits of the United States"
gives us reason to expect whatever security
there may be in quarantine regulations. The
Colorado veto message sleeps quietly on the
table of the Senate, and the present indica-
III,
1t was very good of the President to attach to
it that nice little supplement, informing Con-
gress and the country that eleven States are
not now represented in the national Iegisla-
ture. Though we had heard of this fact be-
fore, and indeed had some vague recollections
as to how it came about, we are still greatly
obliged to him for the information. The in
ference, which if not drawn, is still suggested,
will be very welcome to the particular friends
<1f ,n<1n <rKn A Il III.
Cromwell, and will doubtless be the signal for
renewed howl against the "Rump Congress-"
and for redoubled exhortations to try the bay
onet upon such incorrigible Radicals as still
remain unconvinced by the logic, and insensi-
BILE to the eloquence of his Excellency. As to
the defunct bill, the mOurners for it are not
exceedingly numerous, I Judge, nor yet wholly
inconsoable. The fact that the prospective
Senators of the prospective State. were Joint
ly and severally disappointed of their mile
age and certain comfortable allowances, was
probably the most affective and heart-rending
circumstance connected with the failure of
this illjudged and ill-timed effort to create
new State under difficulties, =.
Monday of the present week was marked
by very pleasant Occasion-the annual cele-
bration OF the Washington Sunday School
Union. For the first time the children of all
the Protestant Sunday schools of the city,
nearly forty in number, met at the Smithsoni-
an, grounds, and forming in procession,
marched to the west park of the capitol,
where they were entertained with music and
addresses from General Howard, who also
acted as marshal in chief, Gen. Brown, Rep
resentatiyes Price and Ferry and other gen
tlemen. The procession numbered between
six and seven thousand children, who in their
holiday attire, wearing wreaths and CARRYING
bouquets of beautiful flowers, with happiness
beaming from their bright eyes and rosy faces,
presented most pleasant spectacle. There
are now in this city 81 schools, with $40
teachers and 6746 scholars. There were but
1921 scholars year ago.
The first Congressional Church of Wash
ington has within short time purchased a
site for the erection of a church edifice. The
spot is situated at the intersection OF 10Th
and G street north, is central in its location,
and is considered very eligible. The sum
paid was S13, 800, and the title is in the name
OF the Congregational Union, the money hav-
ing been donated by that association, or rath-
er by the churches of the denomination
through it, Earnest efforts are being made
among the friends of the new church planted
mere, to raise funds for the erection Of first
class edifice. Though the greater mart of
those connected with the church are denart-
ment clerks and government employees, living