Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-08-11
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter. from Washington.


Cabinet meeting. bm little done at it
The Republican Financial Commit
tee, and the one per cent tar on The
derks to help defruy the expenses Of
the approaching acknowledgements
holding Government cierkships, max
ing srords for the rebels and nor
using gull for Uncle Som-Census
Bmeou-The Segar-Lincoln diff
cuity-&c.
"All quiet on the Potomac" Wash
ington on its banks with a population
of over one hundred thousand. cover
ing about ten square miles, is wonder
fully sober and inohensive just now.
To he sure. we have Cabinet meeting
occasionally-one yesterday some
little interest is always manifested by
the reporters and correspondents to
learn at the earliest possible moment
the result of its deliberations, especial
~ at the present time when the dis
patches from the seat of War in Europe
is thick with matters of the most vital
| interest to our Government. Stimuli
taneous with official notification to our
Government from France and Prussia.
respectively. of a dcclaratiye and ac-
ceptance of War between them. Motif
cations from other European Govern
mcnis OF neutrality have been receiy
ed. and one would suppose in conse-
quence that the ability Of our high
officials would be overtaxed in detcrm-
ming what shall be the correct attitude
on our part TO assume.
The Cabinet meeting Yesterday was
| attended by Secretaries Cox and Rot
inson. Postmaster General Creswell,
| Attorney General Alderman. aud acting
Secretaric, Davis of State DepartmeI {
and Richardson of the Treasury. The
only question of Importance acted at
the meeting. was that of the proprietv
| of calling an extra Session of Congress
! Only two of the members favored its
Immediate necessity. The existing
War in Europe has caused MANY here
10 prophe-y that the Alabama claims
would come up in the meeting, and
acting Secretary Davis be called on 10
| give his opinion relative to the i'm.
| probablitie, of a settlement with En-
| gland of the matter.
/ The action Of the Republican finance
Committee assessing the Department
clerks one per cent IS receiving the
/ severest censurc from the press and
the people generally here am quite
sure the committee has been honest in
| the matter, and did what il deemed
the most practical. Your correspond
cnt, individually. opposes prescription
IN whatever form; but since prescrip-
\ ton IS accepted As just hy both parties
when IN power, resulting from tuc
assumed principle that Ito the victor
belongs the apoil,' then the most
| equitable way, such as was determined
upon by the present committee. i, far
! preferable he thinks. To any other.
he accustomed tunes gone by To raise
money from the Department for carry
Ing on political campaign was simply
To dii0r each clerk To contribut as
much or as little a. hc chose. under
standing full well that the clerh,
generally knew that unless they sub
scrIbed Literally they were al any mo-
mcnt liable 10 see on their desk a
yellow kiser," that is a yellow en-
vclope containing their dismissal
| Tn. r.e,,l, h.a al.1.<.- 49,. vI.-- the
.V"rr ciassed clerks. although the least
able 10 contribute. fearing uf being
! deprived entirely Of a sustenancc for
their tanlics, were persuaded - make
up the bulk of III" Department CON
tribution. and those whose salaries
were higher and whose positions,
though the best of influence. were
permanent. often scoiied at the idea OF
even giving one cent
\ query-Ilow do some of these
clerks IN the Departments, who are ex-
rebels and Democrats, and opposers
oil The Republican party and its nomi-
necs until after General Grant was
elected, feel when called upon b. the
committee for money. There are too
many Of this class holding lucrative
positions under the Government TO the
exclusion of worthy ex-union soldiers
VIII name two Instances nov in nv
mind: One, single man with no one,
as lar as know, to support but him
sell, who during Grant-Seymour
campaign two years ago, held a promi-
nent position on q leading Democratic
daily here IN this city, using his utmost
efforts to defeat the election Of Grant.
ms man. "A time server, is now serv-
ing Uncle Sam in the capacity of Il
clerk in the Treasury Department.
The other, is man from Fredericks-
burg, Va, who during the rebellion
made swords for the Confederacy until
after the evacuation of that town by
the Rebels. when he came to Washing
ton. doubtless under the guse of a
refugee, sought and obtained employ
ment under COOL pay in the Treasury
Department. His salary is now.
believe, eighteen hundred per annun
His case has been reported TO Secretary
Boutwell, but on the plea of having u
family 10 support-his family consist
ing of only himself and wfe-that he
was compelled to work in the interest
OF the Confederacy, the Secretary al
lows hun to remain.
Official information received from the
Census inarshals at the South, tends 10
illustrate the extreme difficulty found in
collecting correct statistical information
i'll regard to the schools of that section
In some cases the school officers seem
so ignorant as not to know the proper
way OF filling up the blanks furnished
them by the Government for that pur
pose. For instance, one return from
Georgia gives ''One-sixth" of a female
teacher! Many high schools and gra m
mer schools are renorfed from thn-na