The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-25
Cur Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 81, 1869.
Editor of the Press:
TO Ute EUtIUT OF UB TTISS.
THE GEORGIA MIDDLE,

To the Editor of the Press:
THE GEORGIA MIDDLE.
This is near solution. The passage of the
bill by the House to-day, completes the duty
of Congress in the premises. Only the Pres
ident's signature is required to make it law.
There can be no doubt that this will be given
tomorrow. A great effort was made to get
to the White House in time for return of
the bill to-day, but it was unsuccessful.
The close of the debate was made quite
lively by speech from Judge Bingham in op-
position, and a subsequent tilt between him
and Butler, who had the bill in charge. The
Ohio orator has all through this reconstruc-
ton work tended more and more every sess-
ion to the grounds practically occupied by
such Democrats as Gen. Slocum of N. Y. He
is quite noted for knowing more of the opin-
ions of the Executive or Others whose views
might have some influence on debate, and an
Illustration OF this weakness, gave Gen. Butler
an opportunity of administering to him Bing-
ham, good"spanking" fguratively speaking
Bingham declared there was a line in the
message the President never intended should
be there, and he kneto it. General Butler had
his opponent, and the manner in which he
denies this attempt to use the Executives
name, without authority(?) of course, was
worth listening to. have never before seen
any one on the floor of the House capable of
filling the place occupied by the sardonic and
satirical side of Thaddeus Stevens. Butler
filled the bill completely. He even had some
thing of the "Great Commoner" in manner
and expression.
Gov. Bullock leaves for Georgia on Thurs
uay morning l understand that his procla-
ilialion has already been forwarded, conven-
l Ing tne legislature for the 18th of January.
Inc hepublican majority when it is recon-
structed will be about fifteen On ioint haIlot
AS soon as the seats made vacant by tbe Kn.
KluX aSsaSslnatl0ns are filed. there will he
nearly thirty majority. Twelve or fiftaen
members are known to have been murderoJ
or are now missing.
The Senatorial question is one which bids
fair to create renewed feud in Republican
ranks there. AT least fear so. Joshua Hill
and DR.. Miller are the. present claimants. The
first is moderate Unionist. the second was
moderate rebel. 1t is thought they will
strive to be retained. Miller is expected to
sustain the Congressional policy in an open
letter, and on that there is an attempt to be
made to reorganize the Republican party and
embrace in it such persons rs Milley. OF course
the animus OF this is personal to Gov. Bullock
against whom there is considerable feeling
among some Unionists there. But here the
work has been well done.
DURING THE RECESS
Which begins to morrow the committees
are going to work, and it is quite certain that
no time will be lost 1t is evident that Con-
gress is in an industrial mood, and prepared
10 meet the questions before it. There is al
ready expressed confident expectation of
pelmg aole to adjourn by the LIST OF June.
Inc principal committees,-Ways and
Means, Appropriations, Banking and Curren-
cy, aud the special committee of which Mr.
Lynch is Chairman, will be in session during
most of the holidays. The special committee
on Navigation Interests is coming forward in