The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-09-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 8, 49,

WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept. 8, 1876.
Just on the edge of the glorious In
dian Summer, here the haze in the at
mosphere (no pun on the haze, because
the wheeler is onlitted) brings the sky
so near to earth that paradise does not
seem SO very far off after all.
Last night in the full glory OF the
harvest, I strolled up Pennsylvania ave-
nue. past the White House and War De-
partment under the seadow of the mag
nificent old trees. My thoughts went
back to the April night in 1866, when
about half past ten o'clock, in company
with two gentlemen from Kentucky, we
hearing the news of the assassination at
the Metropolitan Hotel, went full Epeed
in a hack to the White House to learn
it's truth. The moon was struggling
through cloud as we stopped at the
doOr-no sentry, no usher, no servant
barred the way, and it was not until we
had penetrated to the very attic, where
the officers were then located, and arous-
ed q sleepy clerk, who appeared to be
the only animate object on the premises
so far as we could see. About fYe min
utes after the Presidents own carriage
came up, the horses on run and little
Tad the Presidents son, came out from
below the stairs weeping and crying out
to be carried to his dear father.
Nobody ever could tell where the
crowd came from, but in from five to
seven minutes after, the space in front
of the White House was packed by the
multitude. AS we turned to leave,
horseman on foaming steed asked in
an excited tone, if anyone could tell
where Surgeon General Barnes could be
found that Secretary Seward had been
assaulted in his bed, and his throat cut,
and they feared he was dying. We then
looked each other in the face. What
could this mean? Was this rebel OF
copperhead work We walked down
toward the Treasury, and talked in low
sad tones about the tragedy, and all at
once Mr.. b., one of the party said =
candy would stand a poor chance if
anybody welt for hint tried to trans
act some business with him tonight and
he was drunk as fiddler. They didn't
want to kill Andy Johnson, they knew
where to STOP" said tall long haired,
bilious looking man by the Kirkwood
House, as we paused for a moment on
our way down in town.
VIII the secret ever be divulged. It
has lowered lii the all, its murmur faint
and scarcely distinguishable it has al
most taken shape sufficient to give -
graspful substance, yet never quite cross
ed the verge on whose footstool falls the
pail of mystery.
For venture I will suggest that GER
tain person now gone hence (who was
as all powerful in Tammany as is the
Captain General of the Jesuit order in
throw some light upon this matter. His
upon his soul crushed out his life.
Thoughts still-as I passed the War
Department the memory of the old days
when Stanton sat like fate and held the
destiny of America in his grasp, came
full upon me. There used to be the
stump of tree standing upon the plat
form on the North front of the War De-
partment it was about eighteen inches
in diameter at the base, and about fonr
feet high, and from half its height taper
ed to point like ? lead pencil, sharpen
ed by school girl, (unevenly,) it was a
souvenir from the front of Fort He'll on
the Rappahannock, and, it was cut in
the shape it bore, by bullets fired from
the lines on either side. Warm work
there you would say [ believe you my
boy the name of the fort would show
it, and, as I leaned over the fence and
looked at the grim old building where
our War Chief used to sit, I wondered
if the people of this country were SO
anxious to try it over that they were
willing to elect Tilden. and Hendricks
Right here before forget it, must
tell you little circumstance of the close
of the war.
A Colonel of New York regiment,
who was at Appomattox at the surren-
der, was moving down with his regiment
to guard portion of Lees captured
wagon train, and was asked by rebel
officer q think a Colonel from South
Carolina) to be allowed to ride in his
company for safety against any preda-
tory band which might be met. The
permission was cheerfully accorded, and
the two gentlemen fell into conversation
and insensibly while discussing the war,
got upon the question of their various
parties. The South Carolinian became
very incensed at the New York Colonel,
and at last refused to further avail him
self of the escort and rode away. Just
prior to parting he turned in his saddle
and spoke these words, s'Col. Morgan,
this is your turn now we have appeal
ed to the arbitrament of arms and have
been defeated, but, sir, we will win by
superior craftsmanship what we have
failed to gain upon the field. Did the
mantle of prophecy rest upon that cool
rebel soldiers form, on that bright spring
morning amid those Virginia glades? L
must confess it looks vastly like it.
The rebels are in Congress to the exclu-
sion of all else in the South, and the
columns of the papers daily show that
where they cannot defeat us in any other
way, the shot gun and hired assassin
furnish ready means.
Just now, here in Washington, we are
feeling lively over the contraction of
force, and much speculation over the
grand result is INDUCED in. The Post
master General in his Department, has
| commenced by relieving his rolls of the
friends of Lamar, Randall, Cox & Co.
and that ilk, SO that he will be able to
keep his Republicans, nearly all of whom
are soldiers and soldiers widows, which
| will come nearer to the spirit of a CRATE
full country, than the policy of concilia-
ting our enemies which has heretofore
been practiced.
/ had a few other matters which might