The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-27
WASHINGTON, December Is, 1867.

WASHINGTON, December Is, 1867.
Christmas morn broke bright snd Jar,
and now, at noon, the sun is warm anu
cheering. and every trace Of the rec ,e,
stormy weather is fast disappearance lno
streets are not particularly aSreeaoie loi
pedestrians, but the bright SKIES ana
snrine- like atmosphere have called 1orth
many who wou,d otherwise have enjoyed
the day within doors. Pennsylvania
avenne. the great thoroughfare of Wash
inpton. is thropged and all along the
ronte from the capitol to the White House
is life, animation, and pleasure depicted.
EVERYTHING austere, serious, or forbidding,
is banished, and every body seems to have
made up their minds to be happy to-
day. The toy-shops, with the thousands
of wonders made to delight the children's
hearts, have been overfiowiDg with bust
ness, and the bcaming faces and glad
smiles of many little one to-day well
attests how successful their trade has been.
All business, except that Of buying and
making Christmas presents, has been en-
tirely suspended. The freedmen are also
opioying themselves as best they can; and
although to-day nothing is seen upon the
surface but bright smiles and contente d
faces. there is no doubt that in many a
heart memories of 2 time when plenty and
abundance reigned, with case and comfort
as attendants, is uppermost; and there's
many an old freedman who stands leaning
upon his staff to-day watching the happy
tbrongs that cloud these streets and
thoroughfares whose mind reverts to the
olden time when cold marse" or "young
missus" came with an eager hand to tighten
the burden Of his years and make the
Christmas season for him and his little ones
one of happiness and contcntment in truth.
Probably at no time within the past two
years has there been less political excite
ment in Washington, or fewer thoughts
upon reconstruction, convention proceed
ings, and the various other matters attend
ing the condition Of the country, than at
present; and in addition to this suspension
of affairs there is really nothing else going
on outside Of the holiday enjoyments to
make politicians wonder Or sensation mon
gers stare. No appointments are being
made by any Of the Departments, the Pre-
sident rests on his oars in advance of the
rush that will be made upon lin when the
session of Congress begins again, while
the standing applicants for foreign appoint
mcnts, internal revenue Offices, and Other
nice "little" positions, are fain to content
themselves with watching their chances
when the day of strife Officially spcaking)
opens again, and noting the genuine COM
placency which shines upon the faces of the
prominent officials who have, for the present,
declared that they will not be- annoyed,
and have set up for themselves respite
until the 9Th Of next month. In the War
Department there is general rejoicing
The three hour labor system has been in
troduced for a weeks trial, and with only
half the clerical force employed at that
This takes something away from the sting
occasoned by the withdrawal of Grants
twenty per cent. recommendation letter
The members Of Congress who have felt il
to be their duty and convenience not tc
leave during the recess demcan themselves
very quietly, aud arc not threatening any
particular evils when they all get together
again; and this is certainly something Of
an epoch in the history Of affairs. What
is to be the result Of this very even state Of
things is hard TO be predicted. We must
wait and see, though from the very gradual
change which is coming over the Radical
dream Of power, it is imagined that the
day is past now for another combined at
tempt at prosecuting those advanced ideas,
The condition of the starving freedmen
in the South will doubtless receive the at
tention Of Congress as soon as it meets.
The marriage OF Colonel Parker, OF
General Grants staff, was the sensation
Of the week, and as the wedding was an
nOunced to take place at the Epiphany
church, great crowds were attracted
thither on Tuesday morning. Great was
the disappointment when it was known that
what the papers would have duly heralded
as a "brilliant affair" if it had taken
place in public had been quietly consum-
mated eighteen hours in advance of the
community's "great expectations" and to
the great disappointment Of about four or
five thousand Of both sexes who were
anxious to see the wedding knot tied be-
tween fair Caucasian and an Indian SOL
der. r,