The Portland daily press., 1866-06-05
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. May 81, 1865.


To the Editor of the Press
"A fe-r -aeys' snjanrn in this city enables one
to obtain a fair knowledge of the p0fts..-l a;t-
,.ation. The Radicals in both Houses of Con-
gress preserve their phalanx unbroken; the
doubtful, compromising men have been slough
ed off, and the Union party is stronger than
ever. DooIittle, Cowan and Dixon are no
longer invited to the Senatorial Republican
caucuses, and in the House the members of
the Raymond and Delano clique, altogether
insignificant in numbers and influence, having
left their old associations, as yet have found
no house of refuge Even the President is not
apparently as much of johnson man as he
was month ago; he evidently begins to re-
spect Congress for the determined front it has
shown, and the dignifed position it has as
sumed.
The Presidents party commenced the war
openly, and pursued a bold and aggressive pol
icy, as if it felt confident of popular support.
Now all is changed. The supporters of @my
policy" resort to cunning strategy rather than
open attack. Whenever a chance occurs for
change in any important office, instead of
nominating an avowed and active johnson
man, the friends of the President select some
soldier whose military record is good, and who
nations the Senate cannot well reject, and it
follows, that gradually, men who are depend
ent on the President, are being placed in po-
sitions in which they can WELD very power
full influence in behalf of their patron. The
first Assistant Postmaster General, Governor
Randall of Wisconsin, is at the head of the
johnson organization in this city, and it was
lately ascertained that he promised collect
orship Of Internal Revenue to soldier of
his. State provided he would use his influence
in favor of the election of Randall to the
Senate of the United States in place of Sen
ator Howe, the present incumbent, who is
true as steel. The offer was rejected and thus
was made public. Offers of a like character
which are accepted, are probably kept in stric
confidence between the parties. t hrs
This week win be devoted to the discussion
of the reconstruction question in the Senate.
1t was at one time believed that the report of
the Committee of Fifteen, as it came from the
House, must be adopted by the Senate. 1t is
now well understood that the Republican
Senators have agreed upon an amendment to
the third section, which removes many of the
objections which were raised against it in the
House; the amendment excludes all those
who voluntarily participated in the rebellion
from holding Office, and provides for other
pains and penalties in lieu of the wholesale
disfraachisement until 1870. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Fessenden supports the amendment,
and that he will make an elaborate speech on
the subject very soon. Mr.. Fessenden being
regarded as the leader of the Senate, his opin-
ions will have great weight with the country.
The true policy of the Republican party UNI
doubtedly is to support its representatives in
Congress, and in fixing the future policy of
the government to pay little regard to the sill
~ talk about DISTINGUISHING whole people
for four years, more or less, and deriving
them OF representation. That people. for
whom SO much sympathy is shown. d;s6.nn-
chssed themselves by secession. and do,.,;,roa
themselves of the right to representot,a, -,
delantly Withdrawing their delegate. 60
Congress. Having done this, the question ~ =.
TO when and how their seIf-iorfeited r;ah,s
shall be restored to them is one to be deter
mined by that portion OF the people that re-
NAMED loyal and saved the country from de-
struction.
The work of the Republican party is one of
preservation not destruction, and it will be
laise 10 Its purpose if it too hastily entrusts
unrepentant rebels with political power. Be-
lore 1870, men will be glad to call themselves
A q who now claim to be nothing but
Georsians, Virginlans, Carolinians, or at
most, Southerners. The true idea of nation
atty has scarcely taken root in the Southern
mind, but it has been planted and will soon