The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-29
Our Washington Letter.
[rnom OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

VuF washington AcCCeT.
[rRo11 OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
| WASHINGTON Wednesday, December 26.-H it
had not been for the negroes, tho Christmas of
yesterday in Washington would have boon attond-
cd with silonce and solitude almost Us distress
! ing as that Of tue tomb Except as tho people
| came homo from their churches in tho morning,
there was move in the streots, and towards the
middle OF tho afternoon Pennsylvania avenue up
pearod vacant and dcsoatc from Treasury front to
Capitol gatc But the darllies celebrated the day
| uproariousy, and came to fights, fines and tho
lookup with raro facility. Thus Christmas crept
away without attracting visible notice, and to-day
trado opons slugsishly and as if nothing had hap
pened. It is becoming moro and moro apparent
every day that Washington has lapscd into an
apathy that affects business and society to worry
hurtful extent leaving each inert and Indifferent
Tho fact is, that tho Capital is now dropping back
to its normal condition before the war which was
cnconpassed in q small produce trade with the
prmnoss and observance Of caste by the occupants
| OF ancient uptown mansions. Thus far into tho
season but few Of the outside people have seemed
! ers from abroad havo becn wofnlly few, and what
With the exodus Of Congressman for q home cele-
braton Of the holidays It loavcs the CITY looking
about as forlornly deserted as it is possible for
big town to look, whose streets so long and so
vide that a thousand men may gather at a corner
all.
In regard to the Mexican business, you can as
sure yourselves th.t the Administration is to bo
! advised on that question with tho return Of Con-
sherman as it has not boon advised since it con
ceived iss feSolgn policy ia regard to it. The dis
patches Ct Sherman her Fl to the President have ben
over ho wires to make that he has q tale to
unfold that can be Of no sort of credit to the noi
to disclose that will show that tho Mexican Chief
conducts himself very much after the manner Of a
brigand aud it will be shown that in all the terri
government of the Liberals, the inhabitants swear
That thero is no truth faith in the man. It viii
be part Of Gen. Shormans report too to affirm that
achieve the Presidency Of the Mexican Republic,
is anything but fccble or insignificant. Juarcz
stands badly with his adherents because Of the
forced loans he has instituted and the bad repute
he has come to as cavalier who does not hesitate
at robbery on the highways whenever the executive
finances run low. Ortega, the other hand is in
tho field with more money than either Of lis
rivals-Ssnta Anna and Juarez-can muster. The
wicked haste with which both the Mexican Gencr-
standard Of Ortega, shows how potent viii be ,he
money power in raising a faction whose strength
viii enable it to wrest the reins of the Repub-
Ican Government from Juarez, whenever it Shall
be left q free fight between the contestants
It is certain that Ortega's money comes from
the United States, and it is supplied oontinu-
ally. For months past Romero, Juarez's Minister
! in Washington, has beon troubled about the sta
bility Of his Chief, and less inclined Is look for
Eeat fr roe1u ;a e5d e5San9sh
not, and tho scanty allowance Of his Government
suspended altegethe6 to- At this juncture the rop
try-mostly in New York-proposed to Romero
that he should, by gradual gradations, incline to
the belief that Orte2a's claim was more righteous
than that of Juarez, and representing to the
Federal Government, should ask that lis former
Chief should be discarded from recognition In his
al eb f IS We noMRn that r Rome sne
ro's faith was shaken; but whatever Of agreement
fol owed must have been Of q tacit nature. It is
inam ediately forthcoming from New York, and
| that the liquidation Of the Mexican Minister'S
household expenses began without delay. Now,
the gradual gradatons Of mind recommended to
HIM IN encouraging the conversion indicated: or
it is just probable that with the cunning and
caprice peculiar to his race ho has Whistled at Or
tega while he pocketed his money.
The Negro Suffrage Bill for the District Of CO.
lumbia viii be sent to the President on the Sd Of
January, when Congress resumes it's session.
Meantime the property holders in a panic
from an apprehension that real estate values will
vote. Good bargains have lately been caught ] up ID
under this view of the situation, and many more
are about to be put in market. For my part, do
not believe that there will be dozon votes cast by
negroes at any election precinct at the next cleo
ton in this city, unless, indeed, as is probable in
some degree, the Radicals should go out in the By
special parade at the polls. But it would have to
| be- done with flags, and streamers, and music, or
the sooty freeman won't come.
/ GerIain plous Congressman have made arrange
Tents for !, Congressional prayer meetings at 2he
jealous, have instituted Congressional temper. per-
n snce society Between the two the conduct Of the
National Legislature ought to be very exemplary.
not to say immaculate. There is some room for
repentance and confession if We may believe the
reports duplicating certain members Of the lower
House with an attempt to control the award Of
contracts for Indian goods by the disbursement Of
q bribery and corruption fund.
! ~ m tEolo, 90
here, Left Washington yesterday for Paris, subse-
4uently to assume his new mission at Lisbon,
Portugal His successor, Monsieur Berthemy. has
arrived, and installed himself. It is curioIs fact
that the y latter Minister and Sir Fred. Bruce,
English Minister here, met in similar positions az
the outset Of their careers at the Court of China
and not seen each other since that time until al
exchange Of ,courtesies consequent upon Berthe
my's arrival brought them together. >oN '.-S
Eerthemy ny hasn't shown his points yet, but if
that distinguished Montholon's intercourse With
n5. : ne VII be creditable Montholon married his
have liked {. to have prolonged his ministry in this
Of Monthelons s good nature, an incident viii show