The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-02-02
CORRESPONDENCE.

When last your correspondent made his appear.
ance in the columns Of the JOURNAL, the streets OF
Washington echoed To the tread OF our dlsband' .
ing armies and the National Capital was crowd
cd Oh every hand with the relics Ofwar. The CITY
was surrounded for miles by q vast camp contain
inC an army Of two hundred thousand muskets.
Our army had accomplished oil II had been sent
forth to do, and two hundred thousand OF the
best soldiers of the world made Pennsylvania ave-
nue. ring with the triumphant shouts OF victory
rs they marched to the railroad which was To
bear them to their Northern homes. AT the ex,
pensc Of half million lives. and four thousand
million dollars.--ofa nation OF dcsolsted homes.
and when In the hour OF triumph the n0oiest i'ie
Of all was sacrificed to the Unsuitable spirit OF
malignant cncmy,-thc life him, Of whom, like
William of Orange, Il can be truly said that "as
long ~ he lived he was the guiding star OF n
whole brave nation; aud when he died the little
children crc'l IN the streets. after this vast eH
penditurc Of blood and treasure, the gigantic
Shareholders Rebellion had suddenly collapsed;
and its representative head. flying from Justice,
with no hope beyond that Of escaping with ms
life, hal been captured and his career brought to
an ignominious end. Ills conietlcratcs in crime.
'lcaying their country for their countrys Soou
neither asked, nor hoped for anything better than
to place themselves beyond the reach OF captivity
in foreign country. The rebel officers VINO
came within the pale OF the terms granted by
Gen. Grant to Gen. Lee. who,
"Forcmost In the fight,
Not u,itc y felnn, and but half Knight
The Gbbt or the field prepared 10 gr"cci
mighty mixture Of the great and base"
were entirely satisfied with their experience of
war, aud we're but too glad to avail themselves OF
the PERMISSION tO return to their homes upon the
promise Of good behaviour. In short, the Rebel.
ion was on il knees. and those who hal been
connected with II only hoped that their punish
II. L.. IL ..,kl
Eight months have passed., and the scene chan
gcs, also the actors. To-day the confederate grey
is decidedly u fashionable color ON Pennsylvania
avenue; aud Washington hotels sui bar rooms
are vocal with the spirit Of the late ccntcderacy.
The iucn who 10 July 1864 marched under The re-
hc flag TO the capture of Washington and who
fought under tho guerilla Mosby, robbing and
numbering dctenseless Union citizens, have now
returned Ia their homes in season To vote against
Negro Suffrage, aud to perform various other
acts of violence and yillany in consonance with
their late character as rebels. Since the Negro
Suffrage Bill has been before Congress with the
certainty of becoming u law, frequent Tires have
occurred in which our colurcd people have been
turned destitute into the street with thrlr homes
destroyed; and IL IL needless tn say that in SD ma
ny instances the origin Of these fires has been ira
eel to gentlemen who occupied positions In tho
rebel army; but were recently the legal voters OF
Washington, and the constituents of our Demo-
cratic Mayor.
The city has its usual complement Of rcpentant
rebels, who are ready to be- "conciliatcd" and
rcsciyc their parions. Unfortunately for them,
Mrs. Cobb, who can procure more lardons for
less money than any other parlon-broker IN
Washington, happens Ia have other business on
hand ut this time; and these gentlemen are com.
PEELED to remain here paying hotel bills, which,
nj Washington prices, and since the Emnncipa.
ton Proclamation, arc very unpleasant items IL
is hoped that Mrs Cobb will speedily he enabled
to resume her engagements ut the White House
for the relief Of these anxious, cxpec:ant South
crners. II may be interesting to Government of
fcals if you have any in Maine), to learn that
Mrs. Cobb is engaged in breaking up tho Bureau
of the War Department, known rs the National
Detective Force" and Of which Gen. l.. &. Baker Is
chief This is most important bureau, and mt
present considered Indispensable; but MS Mrs.
G.. is supposed to have rcry powerful official in.
nucncc, IL is feared that she may succeed Ia her
efforts. Some incidents in the lifo OF this lady
who Is destined To become historic character,
will be given in my next letter.
As an illustration Of the effect produced upon
the South by the extremely lcnicnt attitude ~
sumcd by the Government towards them, we need
only to contrast the position Ut the members now
claiming for admission to Congress, with the po
sition Of these Same men but lew months ago;
when, with voice hushed to whisper, alas al.
most afraid to know ITSELF" they crawled away
into remote corners Of the land, scarcely daring
10 hope that the Government, in It's superior mag.
nanimity, could overlook tho enormous ofenscs
with which many Of them now stand charged.
But amid the arrogant assumption OF these men,
II Is n qualification to sec that Congress will not
throw open its doors during tho present session
to admit any person to It's privileges whose hands
have been stained with the National blood. And,
assuming the very decisive vote which tho House
has taken on question which may be considered
q test, TO he an indication of the complexion OF
Congress- it is fair to suppose that the represent
ativcs Of the people arc compcnt To control any
questions of this character. independent Of any
Influence which might, under certain contngen.
ccs, be cxcrted at the opposite end of the avenue
TIE TRIAL or JEFF. DAVIS.
The Government has been for some timo past,
and Is now, actively ut work making preparations
for the trial of jeff Davis. Tho detective forco
has been employed in securing evidence; and II Is
now stated that sufficient has already been obtain
cd TO convict him. There is certain evidence in
existence which unmstakably duplicates him with
the assassination conspirators and II is proposed
10 try him on that charge before military COM
mission at Fortress Monroe. At the same time 1t
Is fair Ia state that there arc so many questions
involved in this case, and they arc so continually
changing, that those who control the movements
Of the case cannot tell what changes day may
bring forth II is, however, believed that the trial
cannot under any circumstances be long delayed |;
and II is the opinion Of prominent officials that
the result of the trial will be what the country
seems to demand.
REWARD ron CAPTURE OF BooTu.
The list Of rewards for the capture of Booth and
Harold arc now ready for distribution. and II is
expected that certificates will be issued to the par
Elephants during the coming week There are sew.
cral hundred claimants who will be allowed TO
share. II is understood that one person will re.
ccivc as much as $4,000. FAIRFAX.