The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-07
Our Washington Letter.
[raoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Our Washington Letter.
[rRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON, January 2, 1s67.-New Years Day
yesterday was rather more Of success in Wash
ington than Christmas. The latter was cold, un-
eventful and deserted New Years, on the con-
trary, b.istled ell over with -gUod cheer, and
became great and attractive feature the moment
the way-farers feet turned towards the Presidents
or the residences Of any Of his Cabinet. Every
body turned out about eleven o'clock to call on
the President. and that duty done, everybody
placed their own houses in order, and prepared to
receive all that came. The Presidents reception
was indescribably brilliant, embracing, ss it did,
the presence Of the diplomatic corps in the re-
gala Of the respective courts represented, and
several hundred army and navy officers: The
general public were very largely in attendance,
and among the crowd was solitary negro. MIR.
Johnson smiled, took the darkey by the hand, and
the latter went on his way in an ecstacy Of negro
delight. Last year the concourse of colored peo-
pie that waited on the White House was very
large. II is probable that they have been taught
to expect that the President is going to veto the
Universal Suffrage Bill for this district, and 30
trate ssthe compliments of the season.
Tomorrow Congress commences, and there will
be scramble for the introduction Of bills and
that have been preparing by ambitious
Congressmen during the recess. Thad. Stevens IL
primed with bills reformatory Of the executive and
judicial branches o. the Government. Both arc
Induced by an excess ofbile-frst as applied to the
President, and lastly to the Supreme Court which
has become thing Of evil in Radical eyes, since
the decision invahdating the jurisdiction Of mill
tary commissions in districts where civil law was
o4anf N
lenient to the Supreme Court Bench, however; as
four out Of the nine judges, headed by Chief JUS
tice Chase, went out OF their way In promulgating
the above decision, to give supplemental minor
cies Of wRr, Congress might pass law yaidat-
ing the setting up Of military commissions, even
in States and districts where no war or rebellion
existed. This extra opinion, which was altogether
in excess Of the question at issue, was obviously
thrown out by MIR. Chase and three associates as
a palliative to the Radicals for their unanimity
upon tho decision finding military courts and COM
missions unconstitutional amid civil tribunals and
without war or rebellion. But the Radicals refuse
TO be appeased, and Old Thad. g bill looking to re-
form in the judiciary system, is looked for as the
one especial Judgment, before which the ancient
gown and wig OF the Supreme Bench must humble
itself to the very dust.
One J. NJ. Ashley, member of the lower House
from Ohio an nmiable nonentity in his party, and
famous for nothing but an orerweening personal
conceit, is ambitious to offer q joint resolution
tomorrow, calling upon the Southern States to
assemble Conventions in short order, that new
governments may be set up, republican IN form. ;"
The fact is, that ever since Ashley introduced at
the beginning Of the session, the resolution in
quiring OF the Judiciary Committee whether any
officers OF the Government of the United States
had done that which merited impeachment, and
which produced quite sensation at the time,
Ashley has been In an agony OF sollcltude how TO
keep UP his unexpected notoriety. He has labored
asstdnously all through the recess in plotting how
to keep up the popularity OF his name and has
finally hit upon the subject of the above resolution
as the one thing requisite to all his hopes. Under
the circumstances, you may hear OF some very
Ashley; but let them pass as the idle wind, for the
conccted ass never gets furthor than to propose
Legislation, and has not the mental capacity or
clearness to follow up, if he would.
The leaders of Congress have got to decide fair
ly and squarely within o week, what is to be the
Constitutional Amendment, adopted by those
States, will suffice to cloar tho path for their
eniree to representation. Gov. Patton ls still here
to press this question in behalf of Alabama; and
arrived b 1t this morning, to gather light IN the
same direction. These gentlemen do not propose
to be put of with any generalizng or easily per-
verted answer, but will seek such men as Fessen-
den Howard and Wade, in the Senate, and in the
House, Wood, Stevens, Boutwell,, Wilson, Garfield
responses as to whether the Constitutional Amend
ment may be regarded as the Congressional ulti-
matum concerning the admittance Of the States;
and if not, what may be SO considered and to
Of the problem Of reconstruction. Thus approach
ed, these Congressional head-centres will have to
speak out, one way or the other, and it will proba-
bly, result in refusal to guarantee that the Adop-
ton Of the Constitutional Amendment will insure
restoration. This will be 3 good point for the
people to know, who have al along been led in tho
North to believe that the Amendment was the
grand sticking point that deferred reunion. Un-
deception cannot come to them too soon.
Tho Congressional excursion party to New Or
The Radicals who remained behind have.watehed
the progress of events with marked attention snd
not little soicitude for the partisan stability Of
their absent associates. Particularly was the
course and speeches Of Senator Wade noted with
extreme care, not to say jealousy, and even now,
upon the eve of return, the Radicals are not quite
certain how they shall find the gruff old fellow,
whether all crrses as usual, for everything south
Of Mason and Dixon.s line, or considerably molli-
fed and disposed to tsmporise and ab8te the moro
extreme rigors Of Congressional reconstruction.
The meagre reports Of his speeches that have been
brought over the wires have worried sthe faith
ful" increasingly, being in their estimation sure
signs Of softening Of the heart and general en-
largement OF the impulses Of charity toward all
men. Wade will undoubtedly be mounted as soon
as he sots foot within the capitol to determine the
apprehersions of his friends For my own part, T
have no doubt that he will stand up for prescribing
no other requisite for final reconstruction than the
ratification Of the Constitutional Amen Iment and
such position for him will be great blow to the
extremists, who have the Radical scourge in view
in all that pertains to the South.
There has actually sprung up an Ortega Lobby
in Washington, altogether mysterious, as yet, in
personnel, yet undeniably ready for opera
tions upon Congress and the Executive
Tho interest has sprung up in twink
ling, and no doubt owes it's birth at this
time t, the we'll known and popularity discussed
failure of the late mission of Gen. Sherman and
Minister Campbell to Mexico in search OF Juarez
and his mythical governments 1t is rumGred that
this new lobby in q rival Mexican Republican in
terest, has so far gained footing in the halls OF
the national legislature, as to secure the prospec-
tive introduction of resolution providing that it
will not be expedient Mt this time for the United
States to manifest any partiaty or aid for one ma
tive Mexican faction over another. This is, OF
course to cut off Juarez from any fayors from this
country. and these withheld, Ortega and his party
are confident Of wrestling the Presidency from his
grasp.
It now becomes a matter of speculation whether
Ortosas agents in Washington will endeavor to
carry The day by bribery. Last season, when re-
solutions were so thick in the House proposing
that the United States guarantee the faith Of the
fifty million Mexican loan, just about to be put
upon tho market, the Mexican bonds were as thick
as blackberries in offer Of payment of services
beneficial to the passage of the resolution in ques-
ton. But the disbursement was small, and even
Fenian bonds would have been preferred by the
few who did receive the worthless MeXicanos.
VIDEX.