The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-06
A Manly Letter from Porter
to the President.
Senator Drake to be Appointed Judge
Of the Court Of Claims.
Estimates for Treasury
Appropriations.
Arrest Of Members Of the Cherokee
National Council.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s, 1870.
ReasscmblinE OF Congress-Scenes In Both
Houses-EKrontery Of Lobby lists.
The third session Of the Forty Congress opened
to-day under the most auspiclous circumstances.
The members in the best OF humor; the weather
resembled May more than December everybody
seemed feel well disposed toward everybody else
and the occasion was more like RTE than the
assembling OF legislative body for serious busi-
ness. But this Is nothing unusual. Whatever may
be the result OF session. whether 1t is serene
or stormy it generally opens we'll The members,
coming fresh from their homes and from the people,
fun OF exuberant spirits and OF confidence In
the future. They have not been overworked ana
bored for weeks and months by impatient consitu-
ents and impccunious office seekers; their tempcrs
not soured by the disappontments and defeats
which follow In the train Of nearly every politician;
IN short they fresh and the OF place
weigh lightly upon them. The last OF
a Congress has more Of these CHARACTERISTICS in its
members than ITS predecessors. Members who are
ambitious OF remaining know their status for the
coming Congress Having been reelected, they
feel certain degree OF independence which they
have not known since their first election These
unquestionably among the feelings that In
nuenced the c0ndu OF Congressman to-day as they
stroIed lesurey through the marble halls OF the
Capitol AS usual such OCCASIONS, there was
great crowd or idle and Of interested spectators
but many OF those who to the opening OF
Congress come with much the same feelings they
would 20 to theatre or a circus. Instead Of the
actors ana Wild beasts The Senator's and memters
were the objects of interest. Occasionally some
Stranger, who had heard much or the Capitol hnf
had it, would stop to inspect the colossal
proportions Of the building, with ts magnificent
appointments; but these attractions were only incl
dental. Manlfestly what they wanted see most
or all was the men without whose living presence
this great temple OF the natten would be little
more than the ruins Of POnpeii or Hercuaneum.
Long before the hour for the assembling OF Con-
gres3 the masSes-the "sOyereign3," as they call
themselves---ostled each other in the rotunda and
through the broad passages aud lobbies with
much freedom and unconcern rs II they owned tho
Duiding. There were people from all parts OF the
country. except perhaps. Alaska, in every style or
costume, and representing every conceivable shade
OF opinion in politics and religion. Some OF
them were old s,agcrs men and women, too whose
faces are familiar to the hdbt,les OF the Capitol
| as those OF Senator Sumner or bold Ben Butler.
There could be dlcnlty in placing these charac-
ters they belong to the "third house'-tne lobby.
which seems certain 70 swarm around legislative
halls for vutures TO hover around dead carcass.
1t was a study note the movements OF this class
OF the soveregns. They we're more busy than
the tireless and ubiquitous reporters OF the
press. They made 1t point to shake
hands with evervbodoy-that IL, everybody In
Official postion-it did not seem to make much df-
ference whether 1t was member OF Congress or
Cabinet officer. These harpes seem to know them
all or rather affect TO know them. This all the
same to their poor dapes, whom they propose
neecing, and who looked on from distance with
much awe az the poor publican when he the
Prarisee go about hts elaborate devotlons
In SoCmOns temple. L. liz wonderful
what adopts these in their business.
saw . Lobbyist approach Senator to-
day with the customary fawning sslurations
and heard that Senator say. "Sr, don't want to
be seen speaking to you In public private
That man went away and few minutes alter
wards discoursng 10 a wondering crowd OF
needy ofce-seekers and claimants about his lntl-
macy and influence with the aforesaid Senator.
This Is an instance which might be multiplied by
the hundred.
The reassembling OF Congress to-day was not
marked with tho novelty and interest which
attaches to The opening OF a Congress. II was
more animated and hearty. BLENDERS knew each
| other from long association There was seem
ingly purporless wandering around such as you see
when new senators and members enter the Senate
| Chamber anu the hall or the House to begin their
| Congressional career. Every man knew his place,
! and feeling certain that he would find il when
he was ready to take it, he felt that he might safely
| spend the time III congratulaing hts fellow mem
| bers aud inquifing how 1t Jared with thom since
the close OF the last session Congratulations
the order OF the morning and indeed OF the day for
they did until both houses had adjourned.
| Even While the Presidents Message was being read
the process of Misunderstanding was going on 10 some
| extent. The Senate Chamber looked quite hand
some with It's new carpets and general renovation.
uar Ia Nf hp NJ tho
session, as at all other times, the dignity which
comes grave ana reverend seignors was severely
| obser we'd. The Inevitable and universal handshak-
ing was INDUCED in, but IL was less demonstrative
| than In the House. There was no slappng on the
shoulder. with the accompaniment OF "How are you,
old boy g' "Glad to see you Old fellow ~ But stil
| the Senators greeted each other cordially enough
| in their way. The good hum0r which prevailed was
| remarkable. one Senator said he had no objection
| to q dozen newspaper correspondents standing
| around his seat. provided they did not report HIM
| yerbattns when he felt like swearing q little.
, Sprague, OF Rhode Island, felt more disposed to
| talk Of the fine weather and the prospect of the
success or the proposed carnival on Pennsylvania
avenue than upon the more neavy subject OF the
latlOns of capital and labor. wilson, OF Massachu-
| setts was disposed to be generous. He wanted
| harmony In the party. He was willing to
receive Schurz the indulgen father received his
pr0dlgal son. Summers face was wreathed In
smiles. He shook hands with half dozen Senators
at once. and at the same time bowed with the ease
and grace OF polished courtler to as many more
congregated around him. AS for the rebellious
Schura, both parties seemed anxious to cultivate
him. and he doubtless felt like the SWAN who ex.
Claimed
How happy could be with either
t'other dear charmer away.
Morton. or Indiana, seemed to be the centre OF
attraction for all those who were eager to ascertain
the contents OF the Presidents Message. Known,
as ne Is, to be the right hand OF the President was
naturally supposed that he had read the Message
aud knew all about 1t. But he reticent TO each
and all Fenton held sort OF an amateur court.
| He seemed to know everybody, and shook hands
| with all corners. Cameron was discussing Pcnnsy