, 1866-06-11

letter from speaker Colfnx.
uoUsx OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
WASHINGTON. June !. {
Editoys IF lie National Republican:
Returning 10 Washington from West Point.
I tlnd the following in your leading editorial
OF Saturday:
At the termination Of tue military career
Of the insnrrectian Congress was not in ses-
sion. No one suggested its convention, no
public demand wRs nude for an cxtraor-
Speaker of the Uouse started On m infer
esting trans-continental journey, without
either suggesting call Of the body of which
he IVES presiding officer, OF contemplating
the abandonment Of bis pleasure trip. Events
hare since proved that it can be regarded as
which has been utterly incompetent to finish
up the work of ofEestoratfon did not have the
Chance to mar and mismanagc it's commence
meut."
SuppoeiDg that I am the person referred to.
you will sufier me to correct few mistakes
in tho above.
1.1was not Speaker at all when made
my s'1ntercsling trans-contincntal journey"
my term having cIpfr,d with tho tertnlnn,
ton OF the Thirty eighth Congress, March 4
1856.
9. had some expectation of reelection
when the Thirty ninth Congress should con-
vcne; and came 10 Washington on the 14th
Lincoln wes murdered, to consult with him
5. / did suggest the necessity Tor an extra
session, in the summer, to President Lincoln,
and he replied TINT he should put Il of as
long US possible. From an-allusion to Ken
tucky mol clecting Congressman till August,
I inferred that II would not be convened till
the close Of tho summer.
4. He urged me to make the over puuttrip
had contemplated, md gave nc message
to tho miners, which be wished met deliver:
md be added that as be should give sixty
days. notice Of m extra session, If he con-
ycEcd ono, would have ample time to re-
turn. He also stated TINT he would telegraph
nc at San Frarcisco in June Hhat his conclu-
sions were then !; and 1t will be remembered,
when he bade me !" goodbye on that fatal
night, as be parted from Mr. Ashmun and
myself, at the door Of the White House, he
added, having evidently In mlnl his promise
Of the morning: "r1l telegraph You at San
i. a short time after Mr.. Lineoln's death,
certainly within nnr or two days, I had an
interview with President johnson In the par
lor OF the KrkWool House, In which, among
other topics. the possibility Of IN extra ses.
sion vas suggested by me. lie replied at
once that he had no time, With his sudden
ccntise office, to think Of that question,
aud could not then make any decision
upon II. lclt tue weight Of hts re-
mark, aud did not attempt to argue the
question; and, after stating TO him where Mr..
Lincoln's correspondence rclatfye to the as
temb'ing Of the Virginia rebel Legislature
had been placed by him, which he had read
to me the morning Of the day Of his death,
and which, up to that time, had not been
found, lett, and did not sec him ngaln till
Inst November.
{. Convinced, as Twas, that an extra scs-
sion would be found necessary BY the fall, it
not earlier, Acallel on the Secretary OF War,
aud be promised to telegraph me If one be-
camc probable. He did send me three des-
patches during my journey, In two Of wlirt,
be alluded to this question; and, Us the te}e-
grams contained other news, foreign and do
tncstic, they were published,
. Z. When on the Pacific slope, told my
travelling compunIons, and other gentlemen
With whom conEersed, that ! expected to
be called home by the convening Of an extra
session. And all my Journeys from San
francisco were planned so that
could be back In the city at the
starting OF every serni.montlly steamer for
New York. This scrcral times compelled
very laborinus and continuous travel, ns
when our party travelled north through Cali
torn,a, Oregon, up the Columbia River. across
Washingtory Territory and Pugct's Sound to
Vanconrsr's Island, thousand miles north,
and back within thirteen days, including all
our yisits and stops IN route. so Us to be In
San Francisco, and ready to start home, ii
necessary. b the ocean t.,; steamer.
EcpryfpH f.nIFAv