The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-10
Letter from Washington.


Andy's last-poSititioey the last.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. z, 1868.
THE MEETING OF CoNGREss.-pERsoNALG GREET.
INGS.
The scene to-day upon the floors of both
Chambers was of the most animated descrip-
ton. In spite OF the violent rain storm
the galleries were well filled, the ladies even
being out in considerable numbers. In the
Senate the Senators were SUR ounded by their
friends. Mr.. Fessenden seemed to be received
with great friendliness. Gen. Nye, back from
Europe, was as jovial and handsome as ever
Mr.. Sumner seemed to gather more about him
than usual. Perhaps that was owing to a ru-
mored chance of his being Secretary of State.
Mr.. Wilson, as usual, was the centre of party
of anxious journalists, trying to extract
SENSATIONAL for their afternoon dispatches
from the good-natured Senator. The two
Georgians, who are anxious applicants for
seat in this body, were in animated converse
ton with Senators; evidently engaged in at
tempts to disabuse their minds of prejudices.
Joshua Hill, the senior claimant, is no new
hand at the Congressional bellows. He will
be remembered as the Georgian Union Repre-.
sentative who remained in the Both Congress
some time after his delegation withdrew. He
IS man OF nearly sixty, of large frame, and
rather ungainly appearance. His colleague,
DIR. Miller-a simple tail to the large kites of
Homer and Virgil, which are his christian
names-was rebel surgeon, is man of fine
culture and rare oratorica1 abilities OF the old
norld and rhetorical type. Politically mod
crate Democrat, he was reconstructionist
In the House, Mr.. Colfax received many
hearty congratulations He looked we'll, and
SO did MIR. Blaine, who foudly hopes to be his
successor. Mr.. Dawes keeps shady. Gov.
Boutwell, was welcomed by all with quiet
sincerity which testified to the high esteem he
Is regarded with. Gen Butler, soft hat on
head, drawn close do IN over his dexter eve. a
cigar in mouth Che is almost as inseparable
from the weed-no reference to ThurIow -asis
Grant hiInself) and general roll of self con-
tent and quiet satisfaction which was quite re-.
freshing. One said, "see how he swagcers. !"
and another, How well he looks" land the
two phrases were types of the greetings and
gances he met. This man is a power in the
nou'e, wh@tA~Ar men thought. and he is desir-
GUS OF being at peace with his party not war
His friends declare that there is no desire on
his part to divide or raise personal issues A
good deal of fun was bad about his having
dined so suspiciously in New York on Satur-
day. 1t was generally rem lrked that the
Western members all looked exceedingly well,
while the Eastern ones seemed little changed
The Southern men wore an anxious and hunted
look, and not more than half of them were in
| their Seats
The colored Loaisanian, who has a sort of
falf claim fer seat was one OF the noticeable
figures on the floor Mr.. j. Willis Menard is,
understand, by birth, a British subject, hav-
ing been born in Jamaica. "a carpet. bag"
negro, think some one says in horror He
was brought up in the United States, and is a
graduate of Oberlin. man of thirty or
thlrty-five years, he is of dark brown color,
tall, well made, gentlemanly appearance and
fine address.
Twelve o'clock comes, aud the gavel de.
scends. The miscellaneous m ltsrial floats
back beyond the bar, the members stand or sit
In their seats and the Chaplain invokes Gods
blessings. DR.. Boynton is a good man, but
rather TOO eloquent in PRAYER for my taste; be-
sides ne has an uncomfortable habit of telling
the Aim ghty at great length all about the af
fairs of the nation.
Looking around, but few seats are seen to
De vacant II the reporters gallery, the busy
pencils aud keen brains are at work. There
are the usual hdbitues and others. Colonel
Don Piatt of the Mac-A. Cheek Press, Ohio
Is here for the Cincinnati Commercial White
law Reid, late of the Cincinnati Gazette. now
of the Tribune's editorial staff, is here to touch
up the opening. Others are on hand-names
known, or becoming SO, in the world of men
letters and types.
BUSINESS INDICATED
The temper of the House on Reyedy John.
son was early manifested by resolution re-
questing the President to recall him. 1t was
referred to Banks committee, merely to avoid
the appearance of undue haste, but no one
could doubt but that Mr.. Johnson's diplomatic
career would be as sudden in ending as it has
been disgraceful in enacting, if the House ma.
liority could control it.
In the Senate the Georgia senatorsbips
brought on spirited debate. Mr.. Sherman
offered, as you know, Mr.. Hills credentials
Drake, of Missouri, wanted them referred
Thayer and Wilson sustained it. Sherman DO.
Tended Mr.. Hill, and said he desired to ee.4;r
to aid the right OF the wrong done the colore1
ioyailsts by the rebel members of the Georgia
Legislature. After q sharp debate the matter
was temporarily postponed. Mr.. Hill will no
sworn in
MIR. Sumner, as will be seen, seeks to oct ont
of purgatory as soon as possible-both f,pon-
cial and political-so he offered bill for The
resumption of specie payments on the 4tb os
July next, and one abolishing all distinctions
80 far as the elective franchise is concerned
on account of race, color or former condit;o,,
Senator Trumbull is strongly in favor of ~.
organization of civil service as proposed NV
Mr.. Jenckes' bill. The Senator believes tba,
measure will pass.
II seems certain that beneficial and rest,;o+
i've provisions will be made in the natpra,;za-
ton laws. Mr.. Broomall of Pennsylvania and
Gen, Schenck of Ohio, both offered resell
tions instructing the proper committee n
bring in bill at an early date
ON DTS.
Attorney General Evarts, having or taLina
occasion to refer to Gen. Butler at q snnnor
party had here on Saturday, suggested that he
trusted the General had brass enough left af.
ter all he had expended, to build his o,v,, 49,,
ument with.
Hon. Robert J. Walker is reported nc b.v;,o.
received $4,000 in gold from Rnss;" f fsu,,
services he rendered in securing the rat,f .no
ton OF the Alaska treaty. nice little nina,
that. SpnoT ,e PUN
LIST OF PATENTS issued to Maine inventors
and bearing date of Dec 9Th, reported for tho
Press by VIM. H. Clifford, ESQ, solicitor ~
American and Foreign Patents, 3o1 1-2 Con.
yress street:
W. R. EvaDs, Tbomaston, magazine guns
s. w. Huntingdon. Augusta, shearng mi.
chine.
j. E. Sturdy, Augusta, tack holder and car
pet stretcher.
NJ A. Ward Baucor assipnor TO self. d q