The Portland daily press., 1866-04-12
Letter from the Federal Capital.
~.9a' WASHINGTON. April 6. 1863.

TO the EdiforQt the Pyess. ill>f Prs 8
On account of the decease of Senator Foot,
and the circumstances attending his obse-
quies, the consideration of the Civil Rights
Bill, returned by the Presidentwith objections
on the 26th ult., was delayed until Wednesday
the 4th instant. In the meantime the meas
ure furnished matter for great deal of earn
est discussion in political circles, and its ulti-
mate fate was the subject of numberless con-
impression prevailed quite generally that the
bill would pass notwithstanding the veto, I'M
til it became probable that both Senators
Wright ofNew Jersey and Dixon of Conn.,.
would vote upon it. Some still hoped for a
favorable result, but the greatest uncertainty
respecting the issue, and the most intense anx-
iety were felt by nearly all. The shameful
and outrageous treachery OF Scovel in the New
Jersey legislature in preventing the election of
Union Senator of the U. States added an
other shadow to the prospect. Thus when
the bill was called up on Wednesday, it was
not without profound anxiety on the part OF
its friends as to its fate, and the fate of four
millions OF people aspenaenis upon 10 for pro-
lection in their rights of property, liberty and
life. 717iaiflfea = nlssGi 900 - f-74
The speech of Senator Trumbull was calm
and digniied, yet earnest and forcible, with an
occasional burst of indignation. The inaccur-
ate statements, to use mild expression, con-
tanned in the veto message, the disingenous
and sophisticated reasonings-I had almost
said pettyfogging quibbles-of that surprising
document, the gross inconsistencies between
it and the Presidents acts and words were
treated by the Senator with his accustomed
skill and Vigor. A very interesting part of
the speech was that which related to the Sc
cret history of the bill 1t is now morally GER
tain that the Freedmen's Bureau bill was pre-
sented to the President before its introduction
into Congress, and that it then received his
hearty sanction and approval. To the accu-
mutation of evidence upon that point has re-
Gently been added the statement OF Gov.
Brownlow. AS to the present case, while
Senator Trumbull reveals no private declare
ton of the. President respecting the Civil
Rights bill, he leaves not the slightest doubt
that this bill also was presented more than
once to the President, and was approved by
him. No abstract of the speech of Mr.. Trum-
bull on this occasion can do it justice. 1t will
richly repay the careful perusal it will doubt
less receive from all reading people. =
As no other member of the Senate seemed
ready to occupy the floor upon the conclusion
of Senator TrumbulPs argument, and as
vote could not well be taken, several Senators
being still absent on account of the funeral of
Senator Foot, the further consideration of
the subject was postponed till the next day.
On Thursday morning the Senate galleries
were filed as they had been upon the preced-
ing day with dense crowd of interested audi
tors, and at the expiration of the morning
hour, during which Mr.. Edmonds, the newly
appointed Senator from Vermont was sworn
in and took his seat, the consideration OF the
bill was resumed The first speech of the day
was made by Senator johnson of Maryland
He was followed by Mr.. Cowan of Penn. who
spoke in his usual style. The great interest of
the occasion preserved full Senate, nor did
the honorable gentleman's peculiar style of
eloquence succeed as usual in emptying the
galleries. The point which he attempted to
establish, that the bill, in comforting property
rights upon citizens irrespective of race, color,
or previous condition of servitude, confers
them also upon ,conaen, children and idiots
the ladies will doubtless thank him for this
Observation-Disclosures probably entirely original,
and as brilliant perhaps as any part of the
speech. would not positively assert, howev-
er that other portions of his argument did not
equal this in power and splendor. At length
the Senate adjourned with the understanding
that vote would be taken on Friday.
On Friday morning Mr.. Lane of Kansas,
who was believed to be rather hard pressed for
some color of pretext for reversing his vote
on the Civil Rights bill, seemed to have found
1t In certain remarks of Mr.. Wade the nrev;-
Gus evening. He succeeded in exciting him
self considerably, and then proceeded to ateor
his passion into tatters" after the most approy-
ed style. He was replied to with spirit by the
Ohio Senator, after which he again got the
hoor, and succeeded in making his Endorsement
OF the Presidents policy very well understood.
perhaps some other things. A veto he pro
nounced simply "eQaivalent to cote to re-
co'asader"-comments are unnecessary-"with
Inc 'neao light contained In the veto naessaoen
IL is quite evident that the Kansas Senator
'as- got ner light" He shouted himself
lie h.