The Portland daily press., 1867-01-31

Correspondence OF tie Press.l
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. %, 1867.

Letter from the NafIonai CapItals y
Correspondence OF tie Press.l W
WASHINGTON, d. c., JAN 2S, 1867.
EXCITEMENT In THE HOUSE. "
This morning the galleries were filed, before
the hour Of noon was reached 1t is curious to
note the habitues of the galleries. Opposite
the Reporters Gallery, the seats dark with
the dusky faces of citizens just enfranchised
who are eagerly learning lessons in political
economy, legislative proceedings and the sci
ence of government generally. There is bare
~ day without from two TO three hundred oil
attentive freedmen in the seats when 'hey
commonly occupy. They are invariably among
the most decorous spectators and attehtlVe OF
listeners In the ladies galleries there Is usual
ly large attendance and on su9h days as this
a crowded one The front seats are generally
filed before the House is called to ORDER and
those who occupy them come prepared for
a SIEGE They usually have lunch with them.
and many bring their knitting. L know no
school more important than this for an Amer-
can matron or maiden, who INDUCES the usual
hope of women. t. ., fe..t
1t was understood that Mr. Stevens would
endeavor to bring the House to a decision on
his Reconstruction Bill, it being his desire to
put 1t on its passage and amend under the five
minutes rule. His being expected to make
closing argument accounts for the audience
There are great many distinguished and note
worthy persons present, not the least of whom
is a fine looking stalwart man of over middle
stature, portly and dignifed presence, at whom
the opera glasses of many fair spectators are di-
rected ,and vino seated on one of the cane settees
on the floor, is the center of many friends. 1t
is one whom thousands of fighting patriots de-
light to name sold Steady" and whom the ma
ton blesses as the hero of Chickamauga and
Neutrality-suspicious. General George H. Thomas.
The General is here to testify before the Com
mittee on the transfer of Southern railroads to
their owners, having been summoned by the
Committee charged with that Investigation
Gov. Hamilton of Texas is near him. great con-
trast, wearing as somber, brooding face as
Gen. Thomas does an open, frank, candid, san
guine one. #.L
RADICAL MISSOURI AGAIN.
Mr.. Loans impeachment resolution which
had been the cause of fiery debate on the last
three Mondays, came up again, and after Loan
moved its reference to special Committee of
seven-giving as a reason therefor that the Jul
dietary Committee were by statement of its
own members, pressed with business This
stirred the hornets nest. LeBlond, Randall
Niblack and others, declared their desire to
see Loans reference adopted. Thirty or forty
minutes of what can be in no way better char
acterized than as slang whanging," ensued.-
1t however brought out an important declara-
ton from Mr.. Wilson, that the Judiciary Com
mittee shrank from none of the responsibility
imposed by this investigation. He further de-
clared that every report or rumor yet made as
to the action Of the Committee was, SO far as he
had seen them, entirely without foundation
THE LASH AND WHIPPING POST
Mr., Kasson brought ON a most important de-
bate, in which he handled himself and his
theme with great ability, adroitness and tact,
against the ablest men in the House. The
cause of the debate was the introduction by
Mr.. Kasson of a bill topunsh the infection OF
any cruel and unusual punishment which pro-
duces physical torture. The bill is carefully
drawn, the natural corollary of the one pre-
viously carried which forbds sale into personal
slavery as a punishment for crime. He based
the power to pass the bill upon the amendment
to the Constitution which prohibits the lnflie-
AAS1 -
American citizen. This argument of Mr. Kas-
sons stirred up all the strict constructionist
on both sides, foremost of whom were Judges
Bingham and Spaulding. The entire debate
was one of the most spirited, and best exhibit
tons OF parliamentary skill and capacity, which
this session has given the country. The meas
ure was disposed of by reference to committee
on the Judiciary, with power to report on any
day. The most amusing part of the debate was
the interest manifested by the Democratic
leaders to preserve the power to whip, lash and
infiict stripes, as one Jf the great prerogatives
OF State sovereignty. The opposition, as mani
tested by Judge Bingham and other Republi-
cans, who were Kasson's interlocutors, was to
the latters construction of the Constitution and
not at all TO the object of the bill with which
they sympathized. - zas B. .4al5 ss-a .
Kasson is quite young-looking man. wear:
ing an air OF fine culture, showing himself to
have well-sUocked mind, with fine delivery
and great capacity to use the information he
possesses. General Grant was an interested
listener, having entered the Hall and taken a
seat near Judge Wilson, where he was after
wards the centre of friends. G1T5 no
~ The debate on the Reconstruction bill is now
progressing and Mr.. j lian of Indiana is speak
ing in favor Of the mo radical methods of re.
construction. l leave the debate there. and
use my remaining space to notice the very able
report of Prof Patterson (senator elect OF
New Hampshire, upon the claims of Maine for
interest on the monies due from the United
States from the "
DEFENCE OF THE NoRTHE AsTERN FRONTIER
Mr. Do g.,
committee Foreign relations, and Messrs
orth, Cullom and Randall and Dawson, for the
minority in opposition to the claims Your
readers fully understand the character of this
claim and its transfer to the European and
North American Railway Company. The re-
port of Prof Patterson is an exhaustive and
comprehensive document, and he deserves the
thanks of your citizens for his complete de-
fence of the rights of Maine After arguing
fully the character of the four claims which
Maine brings, the able gentleman closes his
report with an eloquent resume of the impor-
lance of the great railroad project which is in
tended to connect Bangor, Maine and ST.
q John, New Brunswick. The total amount of
these four claims is S2,3O0,O0O, and it is more
than probable that the suggestions of the re-
port will prevail in the House. ita lls
STATE WAR CLAIMS $500 Hiia
The amount now due the State for raising
and equipping troops, from the general govern
ment, is in all, S741, 600 From this the direct
tax due the United States, 100000, is to be de-
Quoted. About 100000 Of this, being bounty
money, cannot be allowed. The balance is now
in the Third Auditors office, and will soon 90
to the Second Comptroller, where it receives
final auditing. Ex-Gov. Cony, the Commits
soner, is urging their settlement with great
zeal, through his chief clerk, j. III. Manly,
Esq, of Augusta. The Governor is expected
here soon, to present some legal points to the
Comptroller. SPECTATOR.
The CORRESPONDENCE about the Yacht
Henrietta calls out good many sharp witt
cisms at the expense of the young American
sovereign who SO magnifcently tenders his
plaything to the son of an English sovereign
The Tribune has the following, which is good
A NICE STORY FOR LITTLE FoLKs.-James
ana Alfred We're two good boys who had little