Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-12
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, April 9Th, ls'


has given great satisfaction, and taken the
wind completely out Of Senator Summers
sails. Nothing could have been more timely
and appropriate, and it has put the Presidents
: friends in high glee. Upon the reception Of
the message by the Senate, Mr.. Sumner slid
down in his chair and assumed look which
he is wont to assume when very much dis
turbed Public opinion is rapidly turning in
favor of the President and against Mr.. Sum-
ner. The latter's hostility is very unreasona-
BILE, and his stigmatizing the President as the
leader of "Ku Klux" gang, and as guilty
Of even greater crimes than Andrew johnson,
was malignant in the highest degree. These
charges were expunged from the printed
speech, and were not in the manuscript as
written out before hand but the great Sena-
tor could not resist the temptation, when he
got warmed up with the subject, to say bitter
things. Even his own friends and sympathiz-
erswere terribly frightened at his remarks,
and Senator Wilson turned pale when the
President was charged with being greater
criminal than Andrew johnson. The cloven
hoof was clearly revealed by the demoniac
JOY which the sympathizers of Senator Sum-
ner showed at the result of the New Hamp-
shire election, and the expressions of regret
which they openly avowed because Connect
cut did not follow suit. The Washington
correspondent Of the New York Evening
Post" Ga paper which is behaving very badly
towards the Administrator told Cabinet
officer, in our hearing, that he was sorry
Connecticut did not go Democratic. At the
same time he claimed that he was as good a
Republican as ever and did not oppose the
party but the President, and that when a
change was made in the leader he would en-
dorse the Administration as fully as any one.
t If such sentiments are not treason to the
party we are very much mistaken.
| AS l have already said, public opinion is
, strongly setting against Sumner, who was re-
} garded at first as almost martyr; but now
that his real animus-rule or ruins unmis-
takably developed, sympathy is turned to
censure. Those who are best acquainted with
the private character of Gen. Grant, say that
it is impossible that he has been actuated by
any except the purest motives, and the report
5 OF the Commissioners fully bears this out.
8 What pity that such man as Charles Sum-
2 ner, who has done so much to build up O
= great party founded on moral principles,
# should now, like spoiled child, turn around
n in his anger, and attempt to demolsh its ma
J. jestic proportions, simply because he CANNOT
control the President. Many leading public
men believe that there is conspiracy on the
part of the dsaffected Republicans, the Free
Traders and a portion Of the Democracy to
form new party, out of the ruins of the Re-
> publican party, and the Free Traders among
the Democrats, with the motto of "Free Trade,
Free Soil and Free Men," and the movement
last Summer taken in connection with recent
events makes it appear probable.
, No sane man can object to the tone of the
} Presidents message. 1t shows that he is su-
perior to the Honorable Senator from Massa-
chusetts," in that he rises above personal ma
lignity, and is capable of looking at the SUBJ
ject calmly and in the light of reason. 1t is
really a remarkably able paper and will be re-
garded as model Of sound craftsmanship by
future generations.
| Congress will probably adjourn very speed
lily. There is really nothing to keep them
here now except the Ku-Klux Bill, which has
been occupying the attention of the House
since its organization. Gen. Butler delivered
a very strong speech last Tuesday on the SUBJ
ject. 1t seems to be the determination of q
large majority of the republican members to
pass bill which will give the President am
pie power to protect life and property. The
democrats will fillibuster and try to thus
defeat the bill; but if the republicans hold
together, their efforts will be of little avail.
Many believe that the President has power
enough without any special legislation to
suppress these murderous outrages but he
asks for such legislation so that he may ap-
pear not to act without sufficient authority,
and Congress will be open to just censure if it
adjourns without giving him the aid he re-
quests
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
the Income tax by his decisions, and it is
feared that his action may lead to an open
rupture between Secretary Boutwell, and him
,, self, in which case one or the other would
, probably leave. The Commissioner thinks
the tax should not be levied, and consequent
ly he has demoralized the assessors so that
but small proportion will be collected.
} Whether the President will endorse this course
remains to be seen.
The Joint High Commission are holding
daily secret sessions at the State Department :
, and very little if anything is known outside Of
5 their deliberations. The English Members OF
, the Commission are living in finely fur
nished house, which they rented upon their
arrival. They have dined at the Presidents,
, and with many of the leading men here; in
fact they have been dining all around, and the
wonder is how they are able to do any impor-
tant business properly. 1t is to be hoped they
are not inclined to dyspepsia, for if they are