The Portland daily press., 1868-04-23
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 20, 1St


SERGEANT BATES.
To the Editor OF The Press:
The facts about the refusal to allow Sergeant
Bates to plant his flag on the dome of the cap
iLol are these. He was escorted from the
bridge by band of music without any ro-
cession except rag-a muffin crowd on the
sidewalk and some four or five of the De no
cratic Club on horseback. On arriving at the
capitol he was informed by Capt Corson-
chief of the capital police-that no public
demonstration could be al owed in the capitol; ;
but that he and any OF his friends were at
perfect liberty to visit the dome and display
his flag if he desired to do SO. Instead, how
ever, of avaiing himself If this very polite
and proper offer, he refused to proceed further
at the suggestions of some of the party who
accompanied him and who made the statement
that "they had row accomplished their object
and were ready to leave the capitol" The
whole affair is regarded here land will be so
regarded by the country when the facts are
known as a stupendous humbug concocted
by the rebels and their sympathizers for the
purpose of throwing dust into the eyes of the
loyal people of the country. 1t has succeed
ed so badly that even its authors are heartily
ashamed of it. A certain gentleman well
known in Maine, of which State he is a ma
tive, and who during the "late unpleasant
ness" was a Major General of Volunteers
naively remarked on the evening OF Sergeant
Batess arrival that he knew several very
worthy soldiers in his command who had car
ried that same flag from Atlanta to Charles
ton and from there to Washington when they
had to fight for every mile of ground they
travelled over, and that they were not honor
ed on their arrival by any such demonstration.
IMPEACHMENT
is the all absorbing topic here at present, as it
no doubt is throughout the country. The city
is lied with the mos silly and ridiculous ru-
mors as to the proposed vote" of certain SEN
tors, or what Mr.. Such-and- such-a said at
an evening party the other night" which may
furnish newsmongers with little sensational
capital but which has about as much founda-
ton in fact as the greater part of the dispatches
which are sent over the country by veracious
correspondents from this enterprlsing city.
Without expressing any opinion as to the
final action of the Senate in the matter can
at least allude to the fair and impartial man
ner in which that august body has uniformly
acted in the bearing of the case thus far, and
predict that the charges presented agangt Mr.
johnson by the House of Representatives will
receive due and proper consideration and
that the action of the Senate will be amply
sustained by the good citizens of the nation.
Personal.
Ex-Mayor w. w. Thomas, of Portland, ar
rived here this evening, and has taken rooms
at the Ebbtt House.
Joe Jefferson is having crowded houses at
the National Theatre where for the past week
he has been deliehtng the Washingtonians
with his Rip Van Wrinkle.
General Sherman is still in the city in at
tendance on the impeachment trial.
Hon. j. G. Blaine who has been at home on
a short visit is expected to arrive here to-mor-
row. CAsCo