Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-21
Correspondence.
LETTER FROM WASHINoT0N


LETTER FROM WAsHINGT0N
The citu-Resignation of Secretary BoussueN
President Grants Administrations
The Grant Sumner qndrrel-S Senators
SchurS and Drake-Indictmen Of Con-
gressmen-"Ihe Washington Chronicle
--Ne,c Democratic Daily-The Pacific
Railroads liable for the payment Of tn
tersst on o. s, Subsidy bonds.- =
wAsHrsoros, Dec, 17th 1870.
To the Editor Of the Journal
The CrrY. .a
Since last addressed you the national
Capitol has been transformed from apparent
inaction to the activity and whirl of politics
and fashion, which bring together daring
session of Congress thousands Of men and
women from all over the land, and make
Washington full Of life and gossip. Beside
Congressman and their families there are
the newspaper men (correspondents), the
lobbyists, and always an army of visitors.
Winter is here, but the weather has been
delightful thus far with the excep..on Of two
or three windy days. Ice has not formed In
the open air except during three or four nighte
and then very slightly. We have had no
snow and very little rain-altogether lovely
has the face Of nature appeared, smiling with
bright sunshine-the lawns are still green and
the roses are still blooming in the open air.
Not a week ago we had brilliant bouquet of
roses, clipped from bushes in garden here.
The city is improving SO rapidly in the num-
beNand character Of its dwellings and public
ediice sthat it occasions remark even among
those who are the most interested in its
progress-it is matter of wonder why
Washington, with no material prosperity such
as builds up other large cities, should nearly
double her population in the last ten years.
believe the real secret is the climate, with
which every one who has resided here for q
year or two becomes charmed.
For the last two days the city has been full
of rumors connected with
The RESIGNATION OF SEcRErARr BourwEEL.
The New York and Boston correspondents
telegraphedto retrospective papers Wednes-
day night that the Secretary had or was to
resign, to make way for Pennsylvanian
Gold went up one per cent in New York on
the strength of the rumor, and every body
was talking about it Thursday on the street,
on the floor of the Senate and House, and in
the Treasury ITSELF 1t really seemed Is
though there must be something in it this time,
though such a report had once o. twice before
been circulated without foundation. The
President and Secretary both emphatically
deny that there is any cause for the rumor,
and say they have never had any disagreement
or misunderstanding either publicly or private.
The thing is utterly absurd. For Gen. Grant
to drop Secretary Boutwell, would be equiva-
lent to taking from the Administration its
chief pillar of strength. Take away the
strength given by tn. success of the Secre-
tary's financial policy and you leave the Re-
publican party weak in this Transformation
period when there are really no live issues full
ly developed before the country. The Presi-
dent may have faults common to all humanity,
but we know that his sound common sense
will not allow him to deliberately tear away
from under him the rock to which his hopes of
future success are anchored. The Treasury
Department is the great all powerful machine
that holds the destinies of an Administration
within its power. With master at its head
the President is comparatively safe. During
times of peace the Treasury Department is
by far the most important of all the Govern
ment Departments, and it is freely admitted
that its successes gave great strength to the
party all over the country in the recent elec-
tions. Although the Secretary of State stands
nominally at the Head of the Cabinet officers,
his is not really the most important position,
for we are not like European nations con-
stantly liable to foreign complications. With
the broad Atlantic surging between us and
Europe on the East and the broader Pacific
separating us from Asia on the West,we have
nothing to fear from foreigners. They may
threaten and bluster as much as they please
but they dare not attack us. They envy the
Great Republic, but the Great Republic has
no need to envy them they are declining-ws
are advancing with sure and rapid strikes.
PRESIDENT GRANTS ADMINISTRATION
is the best the country has had for twenty
years. The laws are well executed, the
revenues are faithfully collected, and the
Public Debt is rapidly melting away. To-day
Gen. Grant stands far better before the coun-
try than President Lincoln did in the second
year of his administration. He has made
some mistakes-but none which the people
are unwilling to overlook, and were nomi-
nation to be made now for President he would
surely be the man, and as surely be .ri-
umphantly elected. II he lives he will be re-
nominated in '72; and Chief Justice Chase
now being out of the way lowing to the feeble
ness of his healthy the Democrats will not be
able to place candidate before the people
who will stand chance of successfully COM
peting with Grant. They viii probably NOM
mate Hancock, but even he will fail before
the great glory of greater General.
The GRASr-SUMNER QUARREL
is very unfortunate affair, butthe friends OF
both gentlemen are quietly bat earnestly try