The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-05
WASHINGTON r T
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
.WAsHINGToN, February 8, l86'

WASHINGTON, February 3, 1869.
Political affairs are dull. and there is .
probability of their remaining 50 at least
until, sfser the commencement Of the next
Administration. Whether or not the OH
ciei declaration that Grant has been eiecs-
ca President will make any change in his
character as a man Of silence is yet TO be
proved. II Grant has told any man IN
Washineton. or away from Washington
that he intends to confer upon him the IA
vor Of an official position under his admin
istration, that man has had wisdom sum
oient to follow the example Of his distln-
rnished benefactor, and keep his lips sea-
ed. It would be a singular thing II, ou' :.
the prominent individuals mere ne.
less intimately connected WIN ueoe'
Grant, officially and socially one OF ."e a's
not among them to whom ne mas eonnaeo
b;a views respecting the Offices ana the
policy or his administration. de has, how
ever, been 30 entirely cautious hat no repre-
sentative or senator in Congress has had the
opportunity to stand forth in his place n
pronounce what the couree of the next
President will be. ,,
Washburne did, in his speech On the pen
sion appropriation bill, utter words 30
thoroughly covering the universaly.ac-
knowledged opinions of the President elect
concerning retrenchment that he obtained
the reputation Of speaking by the card
b1f. then, there is no positive assurance OF 1t.
II il difficult to keep Cabinet speculations
at rest. II is firmly believed that Genera,
Sobofeld will be the only officer who WIZ
re,na;n. and that the new President will set
His bouse in order at a very early day AFTER
his inauguration. The War Department
under the administration of General scho-
field is quite o different affair from What II
was under Mr.. Stanton: and without m
tending the slightest disparagement 10 the
courteous assistants who smoothed the OF
fetal career of the MISUNDERSTANDING
man. it may be said that never has there
been q more excellent staff OF othcers ano
gentlemen than are the prominent Oh
fciels of the Secretary's office atthe present
time. -,
Washington is filling up with various
kinds of individuals, from those who carry
their luggage in immense Saratoga trunks
TO the moat insignificant of "carpet-oag-
pers..n OF course, none Of these have any
ambition With regard to holding Office under
the next administration, particularly the
latter. -,
II is said that Secretary McCu!loch VIII
not leave Washington at the close OF ms
present official career. some time ago 1t
was limited that he would 90 into the bank
ing business in London under the patronage
of Jay Cooke. Mr.. McCulloch will prooa-
bly, resign his present position Immediately
after the Inauguration Of the next President.
By far the greater number of appllca-
tions for relief from political disabilities on
file in the reconstruction committee room
are from Virginia. Among those from that
State whose names have been lately pre-
scented are A. W. Smith, of Russell county,
Langdon scruggs, William M. Tredway'
and John L. Scruggs, of Pittsylvania coun-
ty. and George l.. Neville, Of Portsmouth
The fair weather has departed, and al
though yesterday brought q snow-storm OF
no mean proportions, now the rain, falling
in torrents, is making for Washington
streets that condition of mud and slush
which time out of mind has characterized
its winter season. L.