The Portland daily press., 1869-03-05
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. March @ 1876.
CURRENT GOSSIP.

CURRENT GOSSIP.
The excitement is at fever heat F6ftupate-
ly there cannot be much longer to wait. II
there was some of the expectant and anxious
would explode. The reticence of Gen. Grant
is "poser" to the elderly quidnuncs, and a
sumner " to the young politicians. have
heard great many persons give their expert
ences as to recent interviews with Gen. Grant.
They all agree in stating that he is among the
most sslf-reliant men they haveseve met By
this is meant not egotistic assurance, but a
quiet belief in his own knowledge of the situa-
ton. As prominent man from the West ex-
pressed it. " Grant is evidently master of it,"
Those who have interviewed him declare
themselves surprised at the readiness with
which he talks, the knowledge of affairs he
displays, and the great skill he exhibits in say
ing nothing or evading direct replies when it
is his desire SO to do. A member of Congress
who spent two hours with him recently, was
profoundly impressed with his political sagacE
ty and capacity for managing things" An
other one felt satisfied that GrDnt's Cabinet
would be composed of men against whom his
own character ands will would stand out az
from background.
1t is no use to write of Cabinet speculations,
because ere they could get in type the facts
will be known, and they might, and probably
would, prove different from the speculations
l have heard at least fifteen Cabinet states
made up within the past week. Toe latest was
given me to-day by veteran New England
journalist. As far as it goes this is it: E. B.
Washburue, Secretary of State; Treasury,
John A. Griswold, New York; Post Office,
Gov. Denison, Ohio; War Department, after
Schofeld retires, Henry Wilson, of Mass 1t
seems pretty clear that the South will not have
a man, as Gen. Grant in conversation with a
southern delegation remarked that he thought
they should be content with having the man of
their choice at the head of the government
Another story, told on pretty good authority,
too, is that Grant has indicated that neither
the South, Pacific coast, or Ohio, will have a
Cabinet appointment. A third story, which
have good reason to believe, j., that John w.
Forney's friends have been very urgent in the
presentation of his name for Cabinet appoint.
ment. Not content with the snubbing Nc
Clure got, they approached Grant. His an
swer was in explicit terms that he meant to
please the man he saw in the glass, when he
appointed Cabinet The hint was taken
So ends the chapter from the chronicles of
Forney."
ORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS.
There are fifteen new Senators in the 41st
Congress, and about 108 Representatives -
Eleven Senators and six Representatives were
in Congress during the winter of 1860 -'61.
There is larger representation than usual of
gentlemen who have been, or are now, con-
nected with the press. There are nine Senat.
ors who have been connected with the third
estate; two of them are now editors, Anthony
and Schurz, while they and Messrs Ross and
Casserly are professional Journalists The
press is about to receive another honor by the
election of Mr.. Blaine to the Speakership. He
will have no opposition. Clerk Mcpherson is
an editor also.
Laura Keene made her first appearance on
the stage since the night of Mr.. Lincoln's as
sassination. A journalistic friend exhumed for
my qualification letter he wrote a short time
after the conviction of Mr.. Lincoln's assassins
to prominent western journal, which contain
ed declaration that all Of the persons con-
demned to imprisonment for participation
would be pardoned before Andrew JoAnson's
term of office expired. SPECTATOR.