Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-17
CUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Death of Secretary RawIins-IIf
Character, Gc. DC.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Sent. 8, 1862,

Character, Sc. DC.
| WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept. s, 1869.
Dear Journal The death Of Secretary
Rawlins was not unexpected, but it is not
saying too much to declare that its an
nouneement came upon our citizens some
what like personal bereavement. The
abilities of the man were too great to be
questioned, his integrity beyond doubt,
his devotion to the condition of his coun-
try pre-eminent in this age of venal trail
tors and demagogues, and, in addition, his
simplicity of manner and the frank pleas
antness of his address have made him
generally beloved in this communicative
only member of this Administration who
was regarded in any other light by the
people than that of mere abstrac ton or
cold, selfish mass of brutality and stu
pidity. It is rather remarkable that the
Radical party, with all it's boosted philan-
thropy, has furnished to the people only
one popular heros only one man who was
beloved, and the affection bestowed upon
him arose principally from sympathy with
the man, because of his assassination, and
children. Mcclellan and Rawlins, who
were objects of the peoples lore, mere Demo-
Gratis and never changed their party afilia-
tions. Lincoln alone was always Repub-
lican. Does it not seem a mockery for this
party to pretend it is endorsed by the
people when only one of it's members ever
commanded the affections of that people ?
Rawlins' body was embalmed shortly after
death, by the same embalmers who did
that mournful duty for President Lincoln
Immediately after this was done, the re-
mains were taken to the room in the War
Department occupied by General Sherman
as the Office of the General Commanding
the Armies of the United States. Here the
undertaken had been at work, draping the
windows and doors and picture frames in
black bombazine, and erecting catafal-
que. The latter consists of two steps, it's
length at the base being nine feet, and in
breath five feet, and that portion which the
coffin rests on six and-a-half feet in length
and two and-a-half in breadth. This is
covered with black cloth, draped neatly
with Grape and bombaZine. Here the
corpse was deposited, and large numbers
of people passed through the room to gaze
upon the face of the dead man. The flu
neral takes place tomorrow. The Depart
ments are closed until after the obsequies
are over ana the banks and other places
of private business will also suspend oper-
ations until the funeral is over Many
Hundreds of persons from other cities will
participate in the last exercises in honor of
the only statesman and pure man connect
al with Grants o1n Of Go1opo
and Gomorrah would have been spared the
fire and birthstone that fell from Heaven
if ten righte us men had dwelt therein,
but only Lot was found there. The Lot
of the Administration is gone, called away
by God himself, and if Grant APP
points in his stead either of the
most prominent candidates for the
place, woman murderer Holt or nous
tache Logan, it will be proof positive
that the Almighty has foredoomed the adj
ministration to at least pOliticdl damnation
rs speedy and overwhelming as he did the
cities of the dead sea. The personal dam
nation of the Radical leaders has already
been definitively settled by the Fiend, and
the LORD, having given them up long ago,
takes no interest in their future welfare.
The only regret have in the matter is that
the Devil is so tardy in claiming his own.
Another Radical "dogde," to put more
money into the pockets of Radical mem-
bers of Congress and spectators, is on the
" carpet" The National Republican 4"
Of this morning, says: Correspondence
OF private character, between members
Of Congress and parties connected with the
revenue service here plainly indicates a
determination on the part of the former
to increase the whiskey tax. They say
that the present successful administration
Of the Revenue Bureau will warrant such
a movement, and argue that successful
collection of an increased tax will warrant
a decrease of the income tax or some other
burdensome impost." I predicted this
proposed increase of the whiskey tax in
my letters six weeks ago, and said it was
the result of grand scheme on the part
of the large whiskey distillers. They pro-
posed to buy up members of Congress
enough to carry through such bill. They
propose by this means to break up the
smaller distilleries, and, having accom-
plished that, enjoy a monopoly of the bust
ness. Of course they intend to evade the
payment of the increased duty. AS to the
Radical party's relieving the country of any
burden, that is SO preposterous an idea
that it don't admit of moments thought.