Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-03-06
Washington Correspondence

WAsHrNGToH, d. c.. Feb. 2S, ls6S.--
An quiet on the Potomac after week
which vii! he forever memorable in the al
ntls Of the country.
The visitor in HE gallery Of The Hon sc
on Friday 2lst last, was the witness Of "a
scene. which us,lcfed in the last act in the
great drama. nov going on before the conn
try. The HulSr had been in committee
OF the whule on the Naval Appropriation
Bill with Mr.. Dawes in the chair. The
discussion WAS not finished whtn the COM
mittee rose AR. 5olfax took the chair, and
called the attention of the House TO Il COM
municatun irGm Mr.. Stanton. enclosing a
copy of the Presidents order of removal
and the appointment Of Adjt, Gen. Thorn
as as Secretary of War al interim. In
| mediately aftcrNard the House again re
I solved itsclfinto Committee of the whole
ana resumed the regular order of husines 5.
The next day was devoted to IA discussion
of the impeachment question and it was
decided 10 debate the subject until the
following Monday ut ) o'clock p. NJ. with
what result could not b. douhtful. Daring
the progress of the discussion the galleries
of the Hpase were packed with an audience
which manifested no token of its sentiment,
AS the Speaker had given notice that on
the first demonstration the galleries would
he cleared.
Nolwithstandingly at the conclusion of
Gov. Boutwell's terse and mastery ar
raignment of the great criminal" there
was an involuntary hum of appreciation
which began amoug the members and
half suppressed swept through the CALLER
!, les, when it WAS promptly checked.
The excitement in Washington during tn e
debate was intense. There has been moth
ing like it since 1861 when the Nationa
forces were summoned to the rescue of ths
c pitol. 1t is remarkable however tina
/ so soon as the result of Mondays vote he
: came nowuimmcdiate quiet MAS restored
t undlsturbed except now aud then. by an
1 surd rumors which carry falsehool ON thei
faces. As reports and papers arrive from
various parts Of the country, it is quite ev
idcnt that the Republicans are united in tn,
desire to see the Nation delivered from thu
:, misrule of bold bad man. The tempe
of the American people has been severed,
= tried by his wiiulness. ohstinacy and al
; rogance. Yet, though for two Years he ha
g resorted to every possible device to thwar
= the laws in their application to recon
d struotion, Congress overlooked all delin
). quencics. with consideration which wa
almost construed into cowardice.
g Now, when he has hut one short year t
c remain in the White H0use,and with ever
e Inducement which prevails ordinarily wit
u men to behave. this accidental Presiden
: throws down the gauntlet to Congress an
In his madness and folly bids the repres Il
tatives of the people bold defiance.
h The Presidents reception on Monda
e evening, the day Of the vote on impeach
a meut. was in point Of numbers, success
!. The President with Mrs. Patterson an
o Miss Slower, stood in the "Green Room
= and received. with accustomed courtesy
The President appeared to be in con
Is dition of robust health and gave no evi
!, II denoe Of ing at all disturbed by the pre-
e ceedings Of the day in which he was S
II vitality concerned. There was very thi
:, representation of the Republican mem
v bers.