Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-12-14
Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sth, 1865.
The meeting Of Congress- The teqistatu-
.toreshattowed.-A change an public feel
ing here.-7he reception tonard III
1hnty-ninM Congress- How the mes
sage ,cas receired.-M. Sewdrds risi
to Mr.. Stcreas, etc.
MIR. EDIroE:-
| The second session of the 39th Congress
has commenced, and right earnestly la
ti,nidity on the part of any of the uniol
members. which frequently. during tn
last session characterized the conduct of :
sew. The Representatives have returned
fresh from their constituents, backed b,
maiorities which may well infusc into thu
hearts oftle most doubling and vaciliating
a manly courage. Already during these
four day in which the two houses have beer
in session. there has been foreshadawed Q
programme of legislation. which the coun.
try will hail with satisfaction and joy
The accidental President who occupies the
White House. will by the action of Con.
sress he largely "curbcd ofhiS cruel will. y
He may not be impcachcd; but a most
thorough examination will be instituted
and his public acts will be scrntinizcd. and
laid bare to public view. Ii he can stand
the test. Congress, and the country can. he
will be shorn of much of his power of ,ni.;-
chief. for the rest of his term. ut the end
of which. he will go into reiiracy with a
blasted and uncDviable fame.
The altered tone of public feeling here in
regard to Congress is manifest and signif-
icant. Last year Congress was ''Rump"
"a pest house Of .ftnatics." "a gathering OF
unauthorized RADICALS" and the President
was advised to clear them out. though it
should take the bayonet TO do it. Even
Mr.. johnson no longer speaks of it rs an
responsible body hanging upon the verge
of the Governments" but on the contrary.
addresses it in his ssagc As 'thc Con-
wrcss of the United States" The question
OF universal suffrage is not now the bug
bear it was one year ago. The people here
are fast bringing their minds to accep the
situation and to acquiescc in the inevitable
They contemplate coolly. and without much
complaint. the probable and possible legis-
lation of Congress in case the South refuses
to adopt the constitutional amendment of
reducing those states TO territories. When
Mr.. Summer first proposed this action in
the Senate. he stood alone. and the propo-
sition was hooted at all over the land 1t
is so no longer. We may expect this TO be
done for.
truth shall. conqtc at the last
So round and round we run,
And ever the rightcomcs tppcrmost,
And ever is justice donc.''
The reception TO the members ofthe tl,ir-
ty ninth Congress COTTON up in this city was
not what it should have been. II was all
however. that We could well have EXPECT
ed under the circumstances. The old, the
wealthy. and the respectable citizens-as
the world words it-of thi. town, do no,
believe in the thirty ninth Congress: and
they therefore. would take no part in the
demonstration. The heads of department
and the clerks could take no part in the
affair. lest it should displease the occupant
of the White House. And besides, the old
residents would not go into procession
with integers" the latter therefore consti-
tnted much the larger portion of the pro-
ccssion. Hatred TO the negroe as free
man. is the old heaven which still permeatcs
what is called good society in Washington
Chattel Slavery is dead; hut the spirit Of
Slavery still lives in all of this Southern
land.
The serpent is scotchcd. but not dead
The demonstration Oil the occasion refer
ed to was respectable, the speeches wer.
able and appropriate. and the Banquet was
Il success.-rherc WAS one thing at the
Banquet that out of Difference to the spirit
of the are might have been omitted. What
ever men may choose to do in private. and
on their own account. it is their business !;
but this minglng of wines and strong
drink, Oh public and festive occasions, is
Il custom.
More honored in the breach than in the
observance.
The Message was read in both houses on
Monday. as You already know; and | only
mention it now for the purpose of abiding
10 tIfc pcIItCt Win winch II
was received. When the clerk commenced
the reading. the Galleries were full. and
the members with the printed document
before them. were generally in their seats.
Scarcely. however. had Mr.. Mcpherson
read half dozen pages, when the CALLER
les began to be cleared. and the members
leff their seats AMI walked listlcsly away
to the Hobbies. or elsewhere, and ut the
conclusion of the reading. there was hard
~ 4 quorum present and the galleries were
deserted. This shows the estimate in which
Andrew Johnson was held.
Some Washington correspondents hrve
been sending kilograms over the country
announcing the fact that Mr.. Seward cali
ed on Thad. Stevens 1t his rooms for the
purpose OF affecting some sort of recon-
Citation between the President and Con-
grcss. The truth is. the visit of the Sccrc-
tary to the eminent radical. has no polti-
cal Significance whatever. Mr.. Stevens is
Chairman of the Committee on appropria-
tons. and Mr. Seward called 10 see Inn
about certain appropriations for the State
Department. This is the up-slot of the in
teryicw.
Congress meets again on Monday and
will proceed to business. 1t may be en-
pected that on or about tie both. il will al
journ over for the holidays.
PHAROs.
1IAGEKsTowN. Mp, Dec. 9th. &c.
y. h. SAwYER-Sir:-
a copy Of your paper having fallen into
my hands, | noticed an article in regard to
the cane sent BY Miss Thomson of this