The Portland daily press., 1867-11-21
Letter from the National Capital.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. IS, 1867.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. Is, 1867.
To the Editor of the Press:
As the time approaches for the assembling
of the combined wisdom of the nation"
speculation is rife and wire-working brisk in
relation to the vital issues of the times. Hun
dreds of eager and disinterested patriots have
left the sweet retirement of private life and
fiocked here from all parts OF the Union, look
ing to the main chance in the great work of
presdent-making, and ready to impart such
| wise counsel to the peoples representatives
as in their profound estimation the "dis-
tracted country" stands in sore need Of
1t is to be regretted, however, that the great
majority of these benevolent and self-sacr-
fcing individuals belong to that class OF cit-
zens familiarity denominated "Copperheads,"
whose condnct and teachings in the past have
not been such as to justify an adoption of their
nostrums at present. The chief object OF the
"ring" now holding sweet counsel together in
this city, AMI which las. week had the honor
to tender a serena.a to the President, is to
secure the nomination IF General Sherman
to the y. Presidency. Vcernees, Su set Cox and
their worthy associates are busly engaged IN
''wt rking up the case" AMI the Constitutional
Union Col. Tom. FIorence's plper-wlch is
regarded here the Court organ, mas nomi-
mated Sherman aad John i. Stockton of New
Jersey. But they viii have hard task to cut
flank Unconditional Surrender" by any srch
vancouver; he proposes to "muve against their
works" in the fall campaign of 1868.
IMPEACHMENT.
Quite number of the members are already
in ;,,1o Nv -, of ~,
marks, the impeachment scheme will prove a
total failure. Many who were strongly in favor
OF it last winter are now as strongly opposed
to meddling with it at this time, believing
that the President will come 10 Grief more
speedily and safely by being "iet severely
alone" 1t is believed that large majority of
the committee will recommend its indie finite
postponement.
IMPROVEMENT OF WASHINGTON CITY.
Probably no city on the continent is making
such rapid progress in Improvements as this,
ia matters OF material prosperity. At the
breaking out of the war it contained scarcely
1900 inhabitants, and was notorious the world
over for the shabby and unsghtly appearance
of its streets and avenues. With the excep-
ton of its public buildings it was perfect
together without regard to taste, sense or pro-
priety; everything wearing decayed and di-
lapidated aspect. The influx OF Yankee en-
terprise and capital has wrought a magical
change in all these matters; so that to-day its
population is about 10000, the unsightly sham
ties have largely given place to fine blocks of
buildings, and similar Improvements has been
effected in almost every respect. Since Last
January over eighteen hundred new buildings
have been erected, many Of them very costly
and elegant. So much fora short period of
Radical rule and negro suffrage" Tbs finish
ing touch was given to the capitol last Friday,
on which day the last block of marble was
placed in position by EIr. Clark, the chief
architect.
PERSONAL.
The many friends Of Major Ben. Perley
Poore-"Perley" of the Boston Journal-wil
be sorry to learn that he is afflicted with par
tial loss OF sight, one eye having been wholly
destroyed by cataract the result of overworl.
Major Poore has for years b 'eD one Of the
most interesting and reliable newspaper cor
respondents hero and his dispatches and
"Waifs from Washington" viii be well remem.
dered by your readers. CAsco.