Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-18

Of the Boston Post.l
THE MYSTERIES OF THE CAPITA

tonians know not how the other fraction
lives, nor do either Of the twain exhibit the
slightest curiosity upon the subject. But for
myself, must confess TO an overweening de-
sire 10 learn how the ,"Great Unknown y
that stalk grandly in and out the salons Of
the capital, dictate, occasionally the action
of Congress, make and undo men with equal
! facility, obtain their living and exert snch
majestic influence over their fellow naen.
At each Of the first class hotels of Wash
iEgton may be found from twenty-five to
fifty gentlemen enjoying the prestige OF re-
puted fortene and vaguely understood to
have some scheme for Congressional action
in tow" More than this, it is better real
lied, that at some suspicious periods of the
session, the gentlemen viii resolve them
selves individually or collectively into Sob
bies," which sometimes enter into the
confidence of the National Legislature 10
a very considerable and material degree.
term these omnipotent people the
"great unknown" because Of the secrecy
of their success, and the mystery that
hovers about them everywhere. They are
no strangers to the Capital, however. Indeed,
you may hear most any day, stories of their
Munchausen triumphs over obstinate legis-
lators, and the uncertain prowess they have
exhibited from time to time, in procuring
unusual Congressional sanction. For years
back, these distinguished manipulators OF
the nations law makers have been faceti-
ously termed the "third House." and are
known to possess constituencies Of no ordi-
nary north and potency. Do You want the
passage Of a bill conveying certain extreme
and valuable privileges, for yourself or cor
poration, by all means introduced primarily
before the third house, and enclose your
check-book TO the Chairman Of the Commit
tee with whom il has an unofficial but al!
important reference. My word for it, you
will find yourself endowed with the coveted
rights and immunities almost as soon as ycu
discover that your bank account has dwin-
died to a few beggarly hundreds from its
former handsome aggregate Of respectable
thousands.
| am not in the interest Of the "third
house." nor endeayoring TO cry up and adj
yertise its potency TO all aspirants for exclu-
siye legislation. No one Of its august mem
bers has ever had the benevolent audacity
to approach me with any philanthropic pro-
ject for securing to any one man certain mu-
niicent prerogatives justly inuring to the
whole race. But Imerely chronicle the efica-
cy Of this last of our trinity Of legislative
branches, because | am in wondering admit
ration of the power therein lodged, and be-
cause it should be considered foremost in the
catalogue of mysteries Of the Capital
EQUALLY INCOMPREHENsIBLR.
Another marvel as inexpiicably strange
as the foregoing, and largely claiming my
curiosity in the premises, is TO be found in
the facilities possessed by many brokers in
New York for obtaining valuable informa-
ton concerning financial legislation, before
the same is even tolerably understood by
the enactors thereof Rest assured it Is not
at all uncommon for nearly all Wall street
to know for days prior to publication of GER
tain measures about TO be proposed by the
committees having in charge the financial
policy of the country. venture the posi-
tive affirmation that there were a dozen
bankers in New York who knew Of the
provisions of Secretary McCulloch's bill be-
fore the same had been seen or read by
member of the House. and furthermore that
round number of thousands had changed
hands from the anticipated result upon the
market, before the document in question had
even had a reference to the committee to
whom it belonged. Nor is this an unusual
or imptrfectly understood facility in the art
of forestalling committee reports or con-
gressioRal action. 1t is resignedly accepted
as an inevitable result, which no amount Of
secresy or caution will eircumvent or break
up. As | know, the Secretary of the Treasu-
ny intimated few days since, that the high
est officials in the department have no more
prompt and successful mode Of learning the
measures than by communicating with their
confidential friends Of the brokerage frater-
nifty, who agitate the monetary depths of
Wall street.
MORE OF THE SAME SHADE.
As there are brevet ranks in the army so
there are brevet lobby men in Washington,
lobbyists in name 81 preterae Hihil Dressed
in slick black, coming God knows whence,
going Satan knows where, you may see in
the offices Of Willard's, the National and the
Metropolitan number of men Of all ages.
As the members return from the Capitol they
are invariably button-holed by these parties,
who affect low voice and important man
ner and who, when the member at last es-
capes from them, shake theirheads and cogi-
tate deeply, throwing their eyes askant 10
see If they are seen, and observe what i'm
preston they are making TEey talk never
Of measures but Of men. They speak of
the President as ANDY" and familiarly term
the stiff War Secretary "My friend Ned
They will tell you how they played Fox and
Geese with 'Tad," when he was but a baby,
innocent Of niggerism and breeehes, and can
when they used to write school
talk for Summer, who was always Every
iull boy"
In no other city could men live az these
men live on such acapitalof snowy pretence,
put everything here is gloriously hollow
md appearances do as well as realities and
little better. These fellows industriously cir
consists in unpaid tailor's bills, and borrow
ID ffty's, picked up here and there to exc
)ut their monthly hotel bills. They attend
Ill the receptions, all the lsrees Of course,
md their mania for being introduced is truly
wonderful. This session, however, they are
LONG ILL., The immortal "Beau Hickman
beats them hollow, collecting his REVENGE
With regularity which creates their inten-
est envy. @
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON.
While the political Gntagonisms are rag
ng into serious warnings, the principal ac-
ors on the stage are enjoying their evenings
It halls, parties, levees, and reunions of all |
orts. In the early part of the season, an at
empt was made by certain clique 20 create |
IN exclusive circle; but il proved abortiye,
md people Of all ranks, or Of no rank at all, |
ire now met dancing in the same sets with |
he leading men in the Senate, the army, |
md the bar. The dubious suffer, the subtle |
senator, and the promoted sodier stand on
N equal footing, and the doctrine Of social
quality among whites ia practically enforced |
'verywhere from Presidential levee to a
lotel hop, except at the Foreign Ambassa-
lors', where the foolish prejudice Of choos-
ng your company TO suit your own taste
noss wilfully prevails.
There is nothing more amusing than one |
4 these Washington reunions. In quiet |
orner Of the room you viii find the deli
ately nurtured, and well educated dangh-
er Of some old Senator trying 10 be inter
sting 10 a youth with star on his shout |
er--and perfectly puzzled how 10 let
erself down 10 the General, who can only /
ak on two themes, bookkeeping and the
Of fredericksburg and Chancel-
Drsyille, while she is as innocent Of any
nowledge OF equation Of payments, or the
Of division quartermasier,
: such wingles angel ought 20 be. On 1
n ottoman you will sec lady with wat
Tfall that would make her top heavy at the
ole were not ii weight eonnterbalanced By
semi-tisra Of gems on her forehead, seated
eside youth from Harvard, who has just
4