The Portland daily press., 1867-01-24
Letter fram the National Capital.
Correspondence OF tie Press'l
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. Il, 1867

Correspondence OF tLc LfesS.l
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. q, 1867.
THE IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION.
For once the reporters have lost the scent;
the amid ,a,ncs are off the track and in default
of knowing anything themselves are declaring
that the Judiciary Committee know nothing;
the opponents OF the Investigation are alarmed
by the extreme reticence with which the Judi
ciary Committee have managed their affairs
while the Committee are doubtless laughing in
their sleeves at the manner in which they have
succeeded in keeping their own council.
This much however may be relied upon: The
Committee are at work industriously and reg
ularly. There is little doubt moreover mat
the investigation can result in but one way
the nrasantation of the articles of Impeach-
ment.
The Wilkes Booth Diary has been at last
forfeited ont. This document found ON the
person of the assassin has hitherto been sup
dressed II undoubtedly shows that the as
sassin was acting in the inception of the plot
in the pay of the rebel government, but that in
the latter fatal portion thereof, he seems to
have himself decided on the murder, as the
best way of aiding the cause and at the same
time of extracting himself from completely
it'll the conspiracy to kidnap Mr.. Lincoln,
which the trials developed to have been in ex-
istence. There are reported to be minutes in
the diary which show the presence of Wilkes
Booth in the neighborhood of Silver Springs
the residence of the senior Blair. The queS-
ton is raised in connection with other matters,
as to what he was doing there. Mr.. johnson,
it will be remembered, was guest at the same
,fto Tho dr, han
alton.
Mr.. Pixies Committee for the invesngauon
of the release of the murderers OF the malne
soldiers had Secretary Browning before them
this morning Mr.. Browning IL Is declared
received $4,000 for the procurement OF the
murderers release and final pardon. i1. Do
While on the subject of pardons let me note
nv the way that the report sent in by the At
torney General in answer to the resolution of
the House relative to the number of pardons
contains but go names of pardoned rebels. Of
this number the Attorney General seems to
have endorsed and engineered one sixth of
theln--forty- seven in all.
THE MARYLAND COUNTER REVOLUTION.
This morning Gen. Hamilton A. Ward of
New York stirred up the Maryland "Cops" and
their associates in the House, by the presenta-
ton and advocacy of resolution calling for
all the papers and demanding an investigation
into the interference with the late elections in
MARYLAND blythe Executive. q en- Wards reso-
luton was couched in ardent terms, and his
advocacy thereof was equally as ardent. There
is no doubt whatever that there was deliber-
ate oyerawing and threatening of the loyal
men. by reason of the expected interference by
Gen. Grant with the Police Commissioners le-
gal resistance to the Governors usurpation.-
Hamilton's resolution brought to his feet the
clumsy looking shadow Of a man who pretends
to fill the honored seat of the eloquent and ele-
CANT Henry Winter Davis. He declared the
resolution was inspired only by the defeated
candidates in Maryland. General Wards res
ponse was stirring. He charged that the situ-
alton in Maryland was part OF the conspiracy
in which the President, the Supreme Court,
the northern Copperbeads and the Southern
rebels were all engaged to rehabiitate the forces
of the rebellion and restore them to power in
the land, and 4fat the loyal people had no re-
course except in the action of and protection
by Congress.
The resolution was adopted and is the first
step towards a movement for the rescue OF
Maryland. The pro-rebel Legislature of that
State is actively engaged in the work of de-
stroying all the safeguards which the loyal
(white) minority had industriously erected
Gov. Francis Thomas, the representative from
the Western District of Maryland, has bill
prepared authorizing the people of Maryland
to organize Republican State Government,
the one existing there being subverted by dis
loyal influences Under this, the intention is
to obtain the votes of the loyal colored men as
as well whites. There are believed to be about
5000 of the former who would then be oompe-
tent to vote. Hon. j. j. Stewart, the Radi-
cal contestant for the seat in Henry Winter
Davis old District has arranged to poll the
votes of this disfranch sed class in that District
claiming if the votes of disloyal men are to be
allowed when disqualified by State enactment,
then the votes of distranchised loyal men, rec
ognized as citizens under the laws of the U. s.
ought fairly to be counted.
THE NAME OF A GENTLEMAN OF THE OLD
SCHOOL ra 81
Gov. Francis Thomas will be remembered
by tae Elder politicians of the old Democracy,
as that of one of the most promising and
eloquent men in the Border States, about a
- W
OF Mount Savage" having lived in wild and
romantic portion of the Allghahies during
twenty years-a recluse and secluded from
all public life. The attack On the Union
brought him from his privacy, ard those who
were here in the extra session of1S61, will not
soon forget the electric thrill which followed
the magnificent rebuke admin tered by the
Governor to Henry May of Baltimore, who
had dec AIRED Maryland to be for the South
Governor Thomas is a dignifed, silver-haire6.
and intellectual looking man of sixty years,
above the middle stature, slender but wiry
form, and with all the courtly grace of the "old
school," He wears the look of recluse, one
who had lived near to Nature and the Great
Thinkers. The appearance of this venerable
man in public life has In it much of romance
and something Of pathos 1t is told that at
the time of his sudden retirement from the po-
litical arena he was the most formidable OPP
ponent of Polk for the Presidency. He had
been or was at the time Gov. of Maryland
His wife Virginian belle was the cause of his
hermit life. Accusations of frailty were whis-
pered Her family took up the defence and on
this Gov Thomas was violently assailed He
returned to his home and never afterwards
took part in affairs until the rebellion reused
itself to action. .lo.
Gov Thomas is an able and still remarka-
bly, eloquent man. His voice is very rich and
sonorous No more radical man is found ON
the floor. In the last canvass he was an open
advocate of unive rsal suffrage. The only rad
zeal elected without question from his. State, to
Maryland in the 40th Congress, the attention
of the House will be drawn to him. -.
SPECTATOR
New Hampshire Items.
To THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS
DOVER, N. H., Jan. q. 1867.