The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-19
Letter from Washington.

,ror a foot-au occurrence almost unprecedent-
~, i, the memory of the oldest T. F. " inhab-
;tant The sleighing is as fine as you ever saw
in Maine, and the whole city is resounding
with the merry jineling Of seigh-bells. Afew
hours of good sleighing is a rare treat in this
latitude and never fails to be improved in q
manner that strikes the Yankee beholder as
insanely ludicrous. The sleighs used on such
occasions are for the most part compound of
willow baskets and bob. sleds. and look as
though they might have travelled in Noah's
Ark or been dug out of the ruins of Nineveh'
The regular stable rate is five dollars an hour,
and it is difficult to get team even az that
price. The laws against fast driving are tenn
porarilv suspended and Pennsylvania Avenue
the main thoroughfare of the city--is to-day
swarmine with teams, many of which can
",,nock the spots out Of 2-40, easy" As the
noet remarked about the battle of Trafalgar, it
is ..-- 1,,,,,
For one who has no friend or brother there"
but the practical acquaintance of the natives
here with snow is SO limited, and the reckless
ness with which they "come down the home
stretch" in their ramshackley old basket
sleighs is SO apparent, that discreet, calculat-
ing Yankee is instinctively impelled to keep
as far on the other side of the street as posi-
BILE. t.e. .-,...,.. r ..i.
SOLDIERS CONVENTION, AND LOYAL LEAGUE
Last week the delegates of the Loyal League
held a business meeting in this city, and in
connection with the Soldiers and Sailors
Union and the Grand Army of the Republic,
have issued call for National Convention,
to be held at Chicago one week prior to the
Republican Convention. These associations
claim to represent over million of votes and
to hold the balance of power in the coming
contest for President. 1t is pretty well under
stood however that their candidate will be
General Grant, and that their nominations
will be made subject to the approval of tie
National Republican Convention.
a REBEL OFFICE HOLDERS.
While there are SO many deserving soldiers
and citizens who were true to the cause Of the
Union during its struggles and perils, it is a
disgracetul fact that the Departments are to-
day filled with men who served in the armies
of the Southern Confederacy. I have it from
a source that is thoroughly reliable, that there
are nearly forty clerks in the Treasury, State
and Interior Departments, who during the re-
bellion, held commissions under jeff Davis
Among them is an old Lieutenant of Mosby's
and the Purser of the pirate Alabama. If this
is what is meant by accepting the logic of
events" it isn't so bad to take after all. res
olution of inquiry relative to the matter will
be introduced in the House this week by a
member from Maine, and the whole affair
thoroughly sifted. 1t is by no means probable
however that their former connection with the
''lost cause" was known to the heads of the
several Departments at the time of their ap-
pointment; such mistakes will happen some
times.
KENTUCKY GENEROSITY.
Among the claims recently presented to the
Government for payment, are several from
turnpike companies in Kentucky for toll
when the Union army was fighting at Cum
berland Gap and Bowling Green and trying. to
clear the State of rebels by driving them over
these. turnpikes. Very many of the roads in
that State are in the hands of corporators and
instead of being thankful for the services Of
the government in preserving their liberties
and property, they now demand from five 70
twenty cents head for the boys in blue who
drove Bragg on his way towards the Gulf 1t
is not impossible that another bill may soon be
presented for the Irregular fares" of the Con-
federate army, by these same turnpikes.
EaF.iff..- CONFEDERATION.
Night before last the Calvary Baptist Church
of this city was entirely destroyed by fire.
This church was one of the most magnificent
structures in this part Of the country, and was
finished less than year ago, at a cost of $125,-
600 of which sum Hon. Amos Kendall, for
merly Postmaster General, contributed $70,-
900. 1t had the only "town clock, in tie city
and one of the finest organs in the country.
The fire was caused by detective fue and
was not discovered until the building was in
flames. The society is a new one, just start
ing into existence and their loss is severe
one, as the church was insured for but a
small amount -5-.tg .so,ttB ..ss. ..s-
PERSONAL.
The Princess Salm Salm whose adventures
have occupied SO much space in the newspa-
pers and whose career will hereafter furnish
SO many pages of romance to some enterprise
ing G. P. r. James, is in this city, stopping
for few days with her sister, and will sail for
Europe next Saturday. The Princess is an
American lady of great beauty and accom-
plishments and her adventures in Mexico in
her efforts to save the life of her husband and
others of Maximilian's officers will be we'll re-
membered. Thaddeus Stevens is in his seat
to-day, apparently much Improved in health,
though he is still too feeble to take much part
in the business ofthe House.
The affairs of the Agricultural Bureau while
under the charge of Commissioner Isaac New
ton seem to have become pretty badly mixed
up. There is said to be large balance tab
sent and NOT accounted for" and many debts
outstanding for which appropriations had
been made; but whether there is any criminal
ity attached to any person connected with the
Bureau has not yet appeared. CAsco.