The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-19
Letter from Washinston.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, Ieos'
To the Editor or the Press;
GENERAL ar ANTS SPEECH


havg been fortunate enough not to meet any
of the GROWERS The Verbatim report is better
than the condensed account which first ap-
peared. There was report about the Capt.
tol in the afternoon, that in speaking of the
Cabinet, the General had said that he should
not appoint men according to politics, or
words to that effect. That did raise breeze
until it was contradicted.
THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE TO BE GRANTS
ORGAN.
Another curious rumor is the one very gem
orally believed here, that the New York Tri-
pune is 10 De in sort Of semi-oficial wav the
organ OF the new administration. 1t is yery
wen known that the recent articles in that
paper, suggesting or indicating that General
drants Cabinet would not be announced I'M
til the 4th of March, and also indicating that
the Cabinet might and should be formed out
side of political reasons, were inspired by
General Grant himself Among the bits of
gossip that excite the curious in certain cir
Giles of New York, is a query as to what Gen.
Grant had to say to John Russell Young
managing editor of the Tribune, at the Chit
tenden reception in Brooklyn. The letter.
writers say the evidently confidential talk be-
tween the two little great msn-both are
rather small and stocky in appearance-must
have related to the Cabinet. So it did, but
not in the way they think. The articles
referred to are the result of that conversation.
Here, the correspondents who hs We been most
persistent and pertinacious in their devotion
to the rising sun, are ignored, and the Tribune
staff, which in this city has never been dis
tinguished by any syeophancy, are made the
channels of any communication from head
quarters. Some of us are not at all dissatisfied
with this fact, as the devoted correspondents
referred to, have been inclined to lordly airs
ever since General Grants nomination.
| m THE NEXT HOUSE.
| Clerk Mcpherson is already engaged in max
| ing out the roll. 1t is believed that Congress
will be simply called together at noon, ON the
4th of March, and Immediately thereafter ad-
journ for couple of days without effecting
any organization. There will be, including
Georgia and Louisiana, and excluding Alaba-
ma, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas one hundred and eigh.
ty names entered on the rolls. Pennsylvania
will miss one, az no certificate has been issued
by the Governor to either party in the Covode
contest OF the members, 80 are re. elected,
62 are Democrats, and lat Republicans. Ex-
Guiding Georgia and Louisiana, the count will
be 143 Republicans and "a Democrats. From
the three States at which elections will be
held we shall have eleven Republicans and
two Democrats, in all probability.
1t is expected that the rebels from Louisiana
will be entered on the rolls, but objected to as
they present themselves to be sworn in. As
for Georgia. the policy is a difficult one. am
inclined to think her members will be admit
ted. Virginia, Mississippi and Texas will not
present themselves till next winter, and if the
two parties shall divide the delegations, as is
most probable, the House will then have 255
members, excluding delegates.
THE NEW MEXICAN DELEGATE
You pleasantly suggest an inquiry as to the
real name of the fortunate contestant for a
seat as Territorial Delegate from New Mexico.
Having had long acquaintance with that
gentleman, can authoritatively settle the
doubt existing, by declaring that his name is
spelled Chares. The present occupant of the
seat is German of Jewish descent named
Clever. He is merchant who has resided q
iOuS tiIut III tu6 10ErlbOEy.
BY the way, it is a curious place, politically
and socially, that far-off territory of ours with
its heterogeneous population of mixed Mexi.
cans end Indians, pure aborigine, Apache and
Navajo, wild and savage, interim ngled with a
few negroes and little larger proportion of
Americans; army officers and civilians as
ually, with a sprinkling of suffers and Jew
traders. Probably, long as it has been under
our control, the hatred of Los Gringos" is as
great as in the adjoining territory of Mexico
itself. But the instinct even ofthe "Greasers"
like that of the common people generally
was right whefe our rebellion begun They
knew without elaborate discussion, that the
war was the result ofslavery, and they at once
fell into the Union ranks. There is a grand
episode in the history of that Territory and of
the war for the Union, which few in the older
States know anything of, because it occurred
SO far off and SO lately in the war. refer to
the invasion of the Texan Rebels in 1862, and
their defeat by the Colorado volunteers. and
the Mexicans who enlisted. The delegate re-
ferred too, Mr.. Chaves was Lieutenant Colonel
of the Mexican Regiment which was command
ed by the famous Kit Carson. To those, who like
JOAl COikOopOAu0HUJ nave uV6u on LQo IrOn-
tiers and studied the politics and life there the
wonder at this devoted loyalty never ceases
New Mexico, ever since it had been annexed,
was the fattest sort of pasture ground for pro-
slavery politicians. Most of the army officers
stationed there Joined the rebellion; all the civ
ilians leaned that way openly;a considerable
body of Mexicans headed by others were
known to sympathize; all the gold and silver
was withdrawn from circulation; and in the
midst of this well appointed Texan force APP
peared. Had they been anything else than
Texans their fate might have been different
But they encountered an unfinching enemy,
in the persons of the First Colorado, a regi-
ment raised without orders by Gov Gilpin.
and by him equally without orders sent to
fight the invaders. The men were mostly old
Free State Kansans. The officers nearly all
were. Col. Samuel f. Tappan, late of the ln-
diana Peace Commission was its Lieutenant
Colonel
Politically affairs in New Mexico are mixed.
Here Clevers is reported as Democrat
though he subscribed to the Republican cam
paignRxpenses. Ia the territory many Be
publcans voted for him. Yet he is supported
the South and and its politics. The Chavers
family have been esteemed in the past the An
ti-American leaders. am inclined to believe
that was when clos Gringos" meant slavery
unjust war and conquest. At any rate Col.
Chavers is an educated American, graduate
of an Eastern College and soldier of the
Union army. Still parties there are pretty
much clannish and personal.
PEoNAGE.
One of the hardest things to get rid of there
is the system of peonage or servitude for debt,
and that OF Indian bondage, of slavery nv
conquest in war. Two years ago Congress
passed laws abolishing the system. But it
still exists. The poor Mexcans and Indians
are isolated and dependant, and when thew
state to the proper officers that they are held
in this way, they will swear openly to the con-
trary, owing to the fear of starvation which
comes after the United States officials have
left and they are again at the mercy of the
rich rancheman In this way it is still belev-
ed that some 5000 persons are held in virtual
bondage. The only way to break it up effec-
tually is the introduction of new enterprises
and free opportunities for labor
SPECTATOR.
A Remarkable and Interesting Confess
sion.
The New York World, in an account of the
confession OF the murderer of DIR. Burdell. 1.-THE
mystery OF IL years ago. states that the MUIR
derer is discovered, according to his own cir
cumstantlal confession, and all the probabili-
A. e AInA II