The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-08
WASHINGTON, January 6, 1858.

Congress met today, and PROCEEDED 10
do nothing of any Importance. Inc same
spirit of opposition to anything resembling
Justice to those outside of the Radical
party organization, as prevailed before the
recess, still exists, and it is vain almost TO
hope for anything good coming out Of tho
present Congress-. I'm the Senate, Sumner
was on hand, as he usually is, with o petit
tion from negroes asking for some of their
imagined rights. He is never apniss In
this respect, and !, q days session with
out a memorial or bill FROM Sum
ner, seeking the practical enforcement
of one or another of his insane
views. would be a curiosity, OF con-
gressional affairs. Party spirit is as
rampant as ever, but not SO impetuous IN
rushing into extremes. Il has gane now
SO far chat there is no hope for the Radical
party, but the ultra members are acting on
the principle that returning is as tedious
as going o'er, and are not disposed, TO let
their hold go on the rope, which is bound
before long to smash their organization.
There was no word said to-day toward
helping tho impoverished South; no action
taken towards eleyatiDg the financial con-
dition Of the Government. These are
secondary measures in the estimation OF
the ultra Radicals. Their first idea is to
save their party and at the same time,
in the height of their folly, they are
pursuing impetuously the very course
to ruin their party. Just now there IS
great attention given to Presidept-maklng;
and Notwithstanding the annoying reti-
cence-annoying to those who are 80
anxious TO nominate bim-of General
Grant, there is no doubt that among the
Radicals of the Lower House there is a
majority in bis favor. They are willing to
accept the General, without single word
from him, as their only hope to beat the
Conservative or Democratic party, which
is becoming stronger and stronger every
day. Prominent members of the Radi-
cal party admit this, and express
anxious fears with regard to it. In a few
days the situation will be made much
more interesting by the attempts, in va
rious ways, which are certain to be made
by prominent men Of the dominant party
for the purpose Of showing to their own
and the general satisfaction that the object
of their honors is with them. The Demo
Gratis are moving, and will doubtless COM
mence dCtiue operations in very few days
from now. There is to be no divisonin its
ranks next fall, whatever may be the re.
suit of the disagreeing views among their
opponents. -
The letter of Hon. Alexander FL. FL
Stuart, Of Virginia, in response to the
invitation to be present at the Democratic
banquet on Wednesday evening next, is
being received with the most favorable
comment in many high places. zstT ..r>Eta
The Indian Peace Commission has at
length prepared and adopted a report.
They will recommend establishing the
southern Indians on a reservation south of
Kansas, and those belonging north on a
position north of Nebraska.
The usual monthly statement of the
public debt, which, it was thought, would
be ready to-day, will not be made public
until tomorrow. The delay is on account
of the national banks having not all
reported their receipts for the month, the
excess of business at the close Of the year
and the duty of making up quarterly
returns occasioning more work than usual
with many of them.
The clerical force in the Departments
are again agitating the twenty per cent.
Increase to their compensations, with but
slight hopes, however, of receiving it.
The impression is becoming strong in
some quarters that the Radical majority in
the Senate will overlook every considera-
tion excepting those Of party interest in
the discussion Of Stanton's case, and re-
store him to his late position as Secretary
of War. In that condition Of affairs it is
somewhat difficult to foretell the exact re-
suit; but it is not to be thought that the
President will not maintain the dignity and
respect of his position in the premises.
The bad weather continues. Snow and
rain combined to-day have not tended to
make better the almost impossible condi.
tion Of the streets in some localities.
TIM0N.