Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-07-04
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

In Loutsians--The Crops--Tbe surrstt
| Trisl--The Postal service--nIore about
the Temperance Cause.
| Special Correspondence OF the Chronicle.
WASHINGTON, June 20, 1867.
| Active preparations are in progress
| throughout the entire city for the recep-
! tion Of Congress. Hotels and boarding
houses are undergoing thorough renova-
| ton, and the officials In charge of the
capitol are straining every nerve to put
the halls, committee rooms, &C., In suit
able condition for the occupancy of-the
! distinguished gentlemen SO soon to as
semble there, and to counteruct, as far as
possible, the oppressive features of the
heated term. = - .ft !. Z n
Already members are arriving from
various sections of the country, and not
doubt exists that quorum will respond
| to the call of the roll on Wednesday next.
! Whether Congress, at this session, will
enter upon any general legislation or not,
is mooted question. 1t Is thought by
many members now here that about all
| the business transacted will be the pas
sage of an act declaratory of the true in
| tent and meaning of the Reconstruction
acts of the last session, and more partic-
ularly setting forth and defining the
powers and duties of the District Military
Commanders, and otherwise clearing up
the muddle made by the Attorney. Cen
eral. H' ...t
The idea of impeachment will not be
entertained, as majority of the Com
mittee, and the wiser portion of it, have
failed, after long and arduous research,
to find cause sufficient to justify such an
| extreme step. Some intermediate meas
ure will, however, doubtless be adopted
such, for instance, as a resolution of CEN
sure, something in the nature of the cell
eprated Senate resolutions censuring Gen.
Jackson, afterwards expunged on motion
of Thomas II. Benton.
General Sheridan and his fearless off.
cial conduct IL the topic of much coni-
ment in political circles here. His course
is generally applauded, while almost
every one regrets and condemns his last
published letter to General Grant. 1t
breathes too strongly of INSTRUMENTATION
and should be appropriately rebuked by
the Commanding General.
Still, many allowances should be made
this gallant officer, surrounded as he Is
by hosts of rebellious office holders and
office-seekers, who are moving heaven
and earth to wrest the Government of
Louisiana from his hands. 1t IL not
strange that his natural impetuosity
should lead him beyond the limits of re-
spect due to his superior officer.
A recent dispatch states that Ex-Gov.
Wells refuses to accept his fate at the
hands of Sheridan, and threatens that
unless his friend, the President, comes to
his rescue, he will Immediately issue a
proclamation forbidding all civil officers
of the State obeying or recognizing any
other than him as Governor. In Gods
name let him do so, and then leave Sher-
nor afterwards.
From information received at the Ag-
ricultural Department, from all sections
of the country, it is conceded that the
crops of cereals, grass, and fruit will be
by far the best this year that we have had
for many years past. The recent heavy
rains have somewhat injured the wheat
crop in the Southern States, but notwith-
standing the yield will be extraordinary.
The Surratt trial still drags wearily
along. AS the prisoner was not indicted
merely for murder, but for coaspiring
with others, known and unknown, to
asssssinate the President, the prosecution
is compelled to travel over nearly the
same ground already gone over by the
Military Commission; thus much time
Is necessarily consumed proving up the
case cOnfOrmably with the terms of the
Indictment. 1t Is thought the prosecu-
ton will have all its evidence in within
three days from this time. st. Marie,
for the last.
The new mail service will go into ope-
ration on Monday, July 1st. Extensive
preparations are being made at the Post
| Office Department to reopen the entire
Southern section to mail facilities; and
no place South need now he deprived of
the privileges of the U. S. mail II persons
can be found qualified to act as agents
/ of the Department.
Ao,~ Ii H. III ~
rolling on. Last Wednesday afternoon
a large and enthusiastic public meeting
was held In front of the Patent Office.
Father John r.. Williams, the veteran
Ohio State Temperance Lecturer, ad-
dressed the crowd, and for two hours held
the assembly spell-bound by his natural
,elOquence and humor. 1t Is true that
Mr.. Williams is neither polished nor a
cultivated speaker, but the deep, sincere
feeling with which he speaks in the
cause of temperance exerts powerful
influence over his auditors. Gov. Ford
followed and carried the audience enthu-
suits of this meeting was the appending
of AZ names to "The second declaration
of independence, as Mr.. Williams calls
the temperance pledge.
The accumulation of work I'm the Pat
ent Office Is still on the increase. 1t
would seem that, since the termination
of the war, the inventive genius of our
people has been wonderfully stimulated.
For the week ending July I'd, two hun
dred and seventy-four patents will be is
sued by the Commissioners greater
number than has ever been issued in any
one week previous. Many of the patents
to be issued this week are of great intrin-
sic value, and will prove OF national ben
eft. Among these / notice an entirely
new machine, invented by DIR. James
johnson, resident of North Carolina,
that will prove of vast benefit to farmers.
1t Is calculated Mt one operation to open
drills, deposit the fertilizer, sow the
wheat, corn, cotton, or other seed, and
close the drills completely. 1t is regard
ed, by those capable of Judging, as the
most complete agricultural machine ever
invented-not inferior i'm merit to Nc
COrmick s celebrated reaper.
BELMONT.