The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-14
letter from, washington.


five thousand teachers.
letter from Washington. 9
WASHINGTON, d. C. Dec. IL. 1867.
To tie Editor or the Press st
To use an entirely original phrase and Old
that you will readily perceive to be both su.
gestiye and comprehensive" all is quiet
the Potomac" The agitation on the
IMPEACHMENT QUESTION
Has subsidized, and everything seems to hav=
fallen back into pretty much the same old sto
tus quo ante 5eltum The movers OF that meas.
ure, however, are still determined to mako
another fight on it, and learn that some timc
next week it will be up again by way of a
privileged question however, for the
purpose of speech making than with the hope
of carrying it. A very large number of men,
bers on both sides had prepared elaborate
speeches for their constituents and buncomb,
and are determined not to cheated out OF their
delivery; so that the resurrection of the SUBJ
iect will be an entirely harmless affair result
ing in nothing more serious than the ordinary
periodical escape of congressional gas. alta
CLAIMS AGAINST ENGLAND. .a .aie.
The most exciting measure now under con-
sideration by Congress is the settlement of the
claims now pending between this Government
and England, arising out of the anglo-confed-
crate pracies during the rebellion. The Com
mIttee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, of
which Mr.. Sumner is chairman, has had this
subject under consideration nearly three years
without making any report, while the willy di-
pl mats of The two countries have been writ
ing adroit and very polite letters about the
matter-each tryin. to persuade the other that
two aud two make six. The thi' has now
been brought to focus by way of Abyssinia
Mr.. Chandler has introduced resolution to
extend to that sable monarch in his war with
John Bull, the same courtesies of neutrality
given to the rebels by the said John. Yester-
day the subject was warmly discussed in the
Senate, out scarcely al al'usion W IS made %
to the King of Abysinnia and it was evidently
only an opening wedge for demand for the
payment sof the claims referred to. The de-
bate was not general enough to indicate the
feeling of the Senate, but Mr.. Chandler feels
confident of carrying his point, and it is well
known here that large number of Senators
will warmly support him. The speech Of Mr..
wye Vi NtVdud III ldNUT VI Tie uledSuTc was
one of his most brilliant efforts and in his very
wttiest STRAIN. He kept the Senate Chamber
convulsed for nearly three-quarters OF an hour,
and none Joined more heartily in the fun than
the Earl of Morley--a young English noble
mtn who happened 10 be on the floor of the
5 ME at III ii ne N a
IMPORTANT FINANCE BILLS.
The two bills introduced ia the House yes
tsrday by Mr.. Lynch of Maine seem to find
considerable favor in financial circles. Their
object is to enable the government to resume
sp Gle payment as speedily as possible without
mourning the danger of a too sudden contrac-
ton of the currency. One provides that all
outstanding legal tender notes shall when re-
ceived at the Treasury Department. in the
course of its ordinary transactions, be destroy
cd and in lieu of them there shall be issued
notes of tle same denomin ltions payable oGe
year after date in gold. These nt ties W Il bt
legal tender for all purposes except duties
imports and the interest on the coin bearing
bonds, and in cas-. of their receipt at the De-
pirtment will again be issued. To provide for
the Treasury is to be authorized to purchase
Culu W tue dltjuut VI w tEe ISSUE
of bonds payable in coli at the rate of six per
cent. or in any other Lawful money at the rate
OF seven and three tenths per cent, and run
ning forty years. Mr.. Lynch also Introduce,
another bill TO provide against undue contlac
tions and expansions of the currency by The is
sue Of coupon bonds to the amount of $500
100000 payable in lawful money during the
first twenty years and after that in gold and
bearing interest at five per cent These are
essentially the same bills Introduced by Mr..
Lynch at the last session OF Congress, but fail
ell to receive consideration through want of
time. Fl, s.fdss. hob /
This currency business seems to be getting
about as complicated and engmatical as the
Scheswig- Holstein question, and Congress is
overwhelmed with all manner of memorials
ami letters of advice from every section of the
country. For nat'ly however t,ey ale l.
dom read, or there wouldn't be a sane NJ y. III
Washington. et of @ ."a
GARRETT DAVIS ON THE RAMPAGE AGAIN.
1t must have been a great mystery to the
country a. large as well as source OF profound
graf ication to the Senate that that sprightsy
and irrep :e3sibls old &c atle nan, Ct arrett Da-
Wis, of kentucky ,ihas preserved such marvel
Gus and unprecedented silence during the
present session. To-day however he took oc-
casion to remind the Senate that he still lived
and had lost none of his rebel fire. aa
On the introduction of resolution by Mr..
Wilson relative to reconstruction, the Ke H.
lucky brave unsheathed his battle knife and
surpassed even himself in his defiance Of the
policy of Congress-threatening
another rebellion if the "niggah governments"
were forced on the South. The scene was a
very amusing one, and the wrath of the old
gentleman was famed into fairy by the merri-
ment of bis colleagues who hal been SO lona
waiting for his first appearance >
THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS UNION
held very large and enthusiastic meeting
here last evening a. the Union League Hall.
The meeting was address ed BY Col. Buckley
aud Gen. Brisbin, both of Kentucky, who |
made radical speeches and warmly advocated |
the nomination of General Grant for the
presidency. Il
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
The National Executive Republican Com |
mittee, of which Gov. Ward of New jersey
Is President, are in session to-day at Wizards
n1Vel Cor the purpose of deciding VIII IRE to
"oi me next National Convention. 1t is |
p,o:.' view =, settled that Chicago will be the |
III s,rin o"%mittee. as that city offers to
build a.w,swam" aud place in the hands of
the coiiiihi''eo 9Aoooo for the luxury of having
the convention meet there " A"''Ns
Personal.
Hon. L. ID. NJ. Sweat arrived h.
urday. Judge Rice of Augusta i, ,,ss '"'
business connected with the Northern pa..c J
railroad. Gen. Hersey of Bangor is in tow
to attend the meeting of the National Repub |
ican Executive Committee. Forrest is de-
lighting the theatre. goers for brief season at
the National Theatre. Gen. Sherman has
been iu town several days to look after the
Indian Peace Commission and was on the
floor of the Senate yesterday for long time
in conversation with Senators. He remarked
a few days since that he "could not be induced
to accept the nomination for the presidency
under any circumstances" and judging from
his outspoken uenuciation of "rebels and con-
perbeads," it is quite certain that he can new
err be induced to run on that ticket Tho