New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-27
From Another Correspondent.
Especial to the New Orleans Crescent
T.eu,Npra>- Erh
HON. GEORGE BANCROFT.


Especial to the New Orleans Crescent
WASHINGTON Feb. IA, 1866
HON. GEORGE BANCROFT.
The distinguished historian of the United States
had been chosen to supply the place of Mr.. Stan
ton, who declined to deliver the euogy. The ad-
dress had been carefully prepared and printed at
Boston, all the great dignitaries in every depart
ment of State assembled in the House Of Repre-
sentatives at the appointed hour, and never had
the orator, or any orator in this country more
brilliant audience before him. For two hours and
half the venerable scholar imposed on the indu-
gence of his listeners, and dlated upon every
great topic, foreign and domestic, from China to
Peru. The eulogy was the least part of his dis
course and Mr.. Bancroft seemed to have well
coined the occasion as an opportunity of venting
his spleen on foreign powers fEunmeasured terms.
AS the diplomatic corps had been invited for
certain purpose it was decidedly bearish to infict
the crude opinions of the orator not only
upon their exterior relations, but coupled
with advice as to the management of
their internal concerns. At every point of the
speech that satirized the policy of European ma
tons, the orator was vehemently applauded and
the only pleased spectator among the foreign Min
listers was Baron streekl, of Russia, whose govern
ment was hig hly lauded by the speaker. An intel
lig mt member of Congress properly characterized
these unnecessary references as "highly indecor
ous.n The affair being entirely unofficial, its in
cidents will scarcely come within the purview Of
diplomatic correspondence, but European ideas of
our courtesy will not be improved by the Bancroft
broadside The orators voice was louder and
more distinct than could have been expected from
an aged man and one of the most studious Nterati;
apd i+o m
lated, in accordance with the rules of elocution.
Butler received what Touchstone would have
called " the cut direct" on this occasion. A dig
nifed vacancy was by common consent left in his
immediate vicinity, and no one seemed DESTROYS of
Orleans" The negroes were unceremoniously
excluded from every part of the hall, and Mr..
Washburne, the chairman of the committee,
should be held accountable for making this dis
tincton of "raceand color"
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
The honors of being lionzed are divided between
| Mr.. Bancroft and this famous "show negro
| After obtaining an interview with the President
on which occasion, in the words of a New York
| Journal g he conducted himself in more disre-
spectful manner than any white man would have
| done, sFred published reply to the Executive
and was then seized on as a useful instrument FOL
party purposes. The First Presbyterian ehuroh OF
this city was used against the wishes of the large
majority of its members, who have since protested
against the violence, and the subject chosen the
assassination and its consequences. The Chief
last trump for the presidency, introduced Douglass
''not as suppliant for admiration but as chal
lenger of itsA the reasonable price of admission
many of the colored brethren focked to hear their
| great champion, who declared his object to be to
Sunderscore the assassination = to charge this
| crime and the deaths of Harrison and Taylor on
slavery, and to declare his confidence in Charles
Sumner, Judge Kelly ands Thaddeus Stephens.
| Some enthusiastic females who would not attend
| the captoan debates because negroes are per-
mited to be present. declared their fervent admi-
ration of the negro orator. The radicals are play
| ing rough game with the white President when
they import Douglass almost in his sight, to crti-
cize his official acts. There is one compensation
to the people of this District for the manner in
! which these repugnant incidents forced upon
them; it consists in the natural disgust which must
| be aroused throughout the country by the un-
seemly course of the philo Africans.
THE NEGRO sATuRNALIA.
| The colored population of this District now
amounts to twenty-five thousand more than thirty
per cent. of the total number ofinhabiants. Wash
lngton is now called the paradise of politicians,
negroes and burglars, and if the police returns af-
ford any reliable indication, very large majority
of the last category consists of colored people.
visit to the local court rooms would soon confirm
this opinion, and it is well known that most of the
| ,
committed by idle negroes. One of the most an
moving nuisances in this city has originated since
the abolition Of slavery; the swarms of little, dirty,
| black street sWeepers. They infest every cross
ing in their tattered clothes and persecute pass
engers until they have succeeded in their demands.
The rights of position sometimes curiously con-
| tested and squabbes are continually occurring
| among these swarthy vagabonds for the posses
| sion Of fee. The powers Of the professional i'm
pement-the broom-are considered appropriate
means of enforcing these informal privileges. I
/ commend this deserving class of Migrants to the
/ care of Mrs. Senator Wade and the Ladies Associ-
| alton for the Protection of Destitute Negro Or
phans. The lawyers are making great harvest
/ from this abnormal condition of the negroes, and
all the petty savings usually find their way into
! the pockets of some cute solicitor. The most
| contented negroes in Washington are domesticated
| with Southern families, and it would be superflu-
Gus to remark that their moral condition is inin-
itely superior to the emigrant negro.
| THE ADMISSION OF SOUTHERN REPRESENTATIVES.
Thel sp eches of the President have already pro-
| duced some effect on this recalcitrant Congress,
and the vote of seventy-eight to seventy, on the
| admission of Mr.. johnson of Arkansas, to the
privileges of the floor, is its earliest indication.
| The determined course of the President has irri-
| tated the radicals and this irritation is reacting,
and so it will proceed until the peace isopenly and
| decisively broken
1t is the general opinion that the Tennessee dele
| cation will be soon admitted, and the declarations
of republican members would warrant this belief.
Inc representatives eject from that state BENG
aware of this preference in their favor, are prose-
| cutting their chances with great energy. But the
President stands upon the great fundamental prin-
ciples of this government, and no douceur of this
character can influence HMM the slightest degree.
He has shown his disregard of any personal consid-
erations, and even if Arkansas was admitted, ac-
cording to the propositions of some conservatives,
| Mr.. johnson would still pursue his policy to its
farthest extent. The committee Of reconstruction
have reported in both branches of Congress an
indefinite amendment to the Constitution cOnferr-
ing power on the National Legislature to secure
the rights of life liberty and property to every
citizen of the United States in every State of the
Union. AS Mr. Trumbus bill makes the negro
citizen, this proposition would obterate every
State law referring to the negroes, and it is even
| questionable whether the right which the