Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-31
Letter from Washington.

HOpOO1 14OAA W
WASHINGTON, d. C. Aug. 2S, 1869.
r-Politics-Coored People OF Washing
ton Currency Printing Bureau.
One day follows another, and no
signs of rain, save that it is little
cloudy occasionally. The side walks
beneath our feet, and the brick and
marble on either side of US are burn
ing hot, with the mercury ranging
from 80 to over 100 in the shade.
At $50 p. m, on Saturday, the Mer-
curry was up to .1O2. Such weather l
have never experienced in Washing
ton before. So great was the heat on
Saturday that the rails of the Wash
ington and Georgetown Railroad, were
in some parts Of the city drawn from
the sleepers to which they were strong
ly spiked.
The Dent Mississippi movement has
kept the Anti Grant men here in anx-
ious suspense for weeks, and so many
were the prophcsics among the "know-
ing ones that persons acquainted
with their history and motives, would
have thought that they were sincere in
their protested loyalty to the plat
forms on which Walker aud Seutcr
have been elected.
The Presidents open refusal to
cOuntcnancc the Dent movement, has
had the effect to draw them out, and
lay bare their base, and wclI.laid
scheme for stealing the march upon
the Republican party by the nomina-
ton of the Presidents Brothcr-in-law
for Governor Of Mississippi.
MOI all opposed to General Grant
in Washington, are Democrats. The
strapped Office seekers, better known
as the cant get away club curse
him and are ready to ally with any
party that will promise them Office.
General Dent is expected to leave
here in a day or two for Mississippi
to look after his nomination.
A large proportion of the popula.
ton of this city is composed ofcolored
people. They are Of all shades of
color, from black to white, and of all
the various shades of development
between the ignorant savage and the
enlightened citizen. Most Of them
are refugees from the States lately in
rebellion, who found their way here
during or since the close of the war.
Flying for protection from the rebel
slave driver, they have in few short
years in the course of events found
themselves acknowledged citizens Of
the District and entitled to a vote il
its elections, and represented in the
city Government by men Of their col
or. In regard to their worth as mem
berS of the community, there is a;
great a difference Of opinion here az
elsewhere throughout the country
Some of our citizens, mostly copper
heads from the North, detest th,
sight and smell OF these people a
much as ever, while the Southcrner
among whom they were cducatcd,vcr,
naturally find themselves better adj,
: to carry out the role OF fellow cit
zen so popular about election time
The truth is, that some of these PEG
pie are worthy and some arc not
:
just as it is among white people. Whel
hungry they will steal or beg if the
cannot get work, and as there are
. great many more here than there
t work for, it is natural that Their
t should be some complaint agains
them. The freedman's bureau her,
has provided very large number c
these unfortunate people both me
a and women with houses and employ
o ment in the North. Still there ar
thousands of them in all quarters c
: the city, living in the utmost deStitI
g ton with nothing to do, and almos
: nothing to eat, and no possibility {
getting away where there is emplo,
: ment for them. Many of them live o
i the " Island as it is called, that pal
K of the city which is cut off from til
d other by the canal. Thousands lis
in the suburbs of the city in lit
IS novels, fit only for pigs to run il
1t About five hundred live on Capit'
d hill in the Lincoln buildings" Pas
; ing by that block any day one ma
see men and women able bodied an
strong in appearance sitting aroun
'r basking in the sun in squalor rags an
l, no doubt hungry. Probably most
- them would work if they could G
is employment. One OF them who hi
Up charge of the mails received from Il
Mt carrier for the Lincoln Buildings,
" very intelligent mulatto, in speakil
10 of the dark prospect before him al
n his friends, said that many of tue
of were most anxious to emigrate to t
w west, where they could find emplo
"a ment. 1t is harder for the color
We men to find work than the womt
in Most women, who are able or willir
ne can find washing and ironing to {
and many whole families are suppo
asst ed entirely by the labor of the wife
he the tub, while the husband and fail
* lounges around. You never sec b
AUG put his hands in the suds He is
man and uoter. A few days age
IS was talking with an old colored !
to mon xubo in slavary had horna q n