Year: 1869

w ~ HSEsnIVO OIVs


WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1859.
General Grants Specch-Thc Feeling IN Wash


ington-ChnGrin Of Radical senators.


The address delivered yesterday by General Grant
the longest and most noteworthy he has ever yet
ventured upon-in response 20 the joint committee
OF the two Houses OF Congress that called upon him
to present mis- certificate OF election has been the
main staple Of conversation to-day In all circles OF
Washington society. 1t is easy 10 understand why
every expression that fell yesterday from the
lips OF the President elect should possess an mpor-
tance for the three thousand actual and twice AZ
many prospective ofceholders here. General Grant,
with degree OF c0mmunicatiyeness not exactly an
ticpated from one La his position. told his policy in
regard to removals with terse cearness that left
nothing further TO be desired on that head. The in
terest manifested especially by government officials,
to ascertain his views was expressed in the extraor-
dinary demand for the evening papers containing
his speech so far did the curiosity OF certain high
functonaries Of the departments extend that steno
graphers sent incognito to dot down in an
unobserved manner the words OF the President elect
certain secretary was engaged about noon yester-
day in his department reading over letters and
documents when OF his assistant secretaries en-
tered and exclaimed: ~ have Grants speech"
1.-THE devil you have l&Let hear it.n the hur
ried and emphatic response OF the other. The
speech was pulled out and recited, while several
Congressmen who happened TO be present crowded
eagerly around TO hear its contents. "Thats darned
plain talk" cried one. ''Yes; think see squall
ahead,n observed another. "Grant means it,n
emphasized third. 1t win be rough
time for some," remarked fourth, and
so on with fifty similar commonplace commentaries,
which amounted to nothing save to indicate that
nobody felt his corns tr0d upon, but thought his
neighbor's must be seriously endangered. 1t Is un
derst0od that President Johnson also shared in the
general interest to hear what Grant had to say.


Senators and Representatives OF the House kept
the members Of the joint committee that waited on
Grant busy the whole afternoon retailing what they
had listened to at army headquarters; yet
in the early part or the day little IN
terest was felt in the event. for the
reason that Grant was supposed to make one OF his
customary short speeches. merely thanking the COM
mtttee and then Withdrawing. The fact however,
that he departed from his characteristic reticence
and had actually laid down the policy Of his admin.
stration spread over the town rapidly and reached
those interested at both ends of the avenue In an in
crediby brief space OF time. The general effect OF
the address might be called tranuuilizing. Every
who wants an Office believes, with the inevitable
vanity OF human nature, that he was some peculiar
quality which win recommend him TO Grant
which his fellows fail to possess. Grant may re-
move anybody else, but he can hold on. The only
class Of politicians In Washington tonight to whom
the speech has not brought hope and comfort is the
extreme wing of the radical party and the Senate OF
the United States. Not word about the man and
brother at the South the reconstruction OF the
States thereof is grievous omission in the eyes
or Charles Sumner; but the whole Ssnate is
included-except perhaps the handful Of Indifferent
democrats who don't seem to care how the ship OF
state sails since they Abandoned the hem-in the
feeling of disappointed vanity at not being called
into the confidence of the President elect In the mo-
mentus task OF constructing Cabinet In conse-
quence of this IT is assumed tonight that the Tenure
OF ONCE Act viii stand poor chance OF being modi-
fed, Judging from the dissatisfied mood that has
suddenly come over the amable disposition OF the
Senate.


The joint committee appointed to wait on Grant
and Colfax and notify them of their election to the
Presidency and Vice Presidency win make their re-
port to both Houses tomorrow.


Tne Dinner Of Speaker C0lfux.


Speaker Colfax entertained at dinner agt evening
quite distinguished party. General and Mrs. Grant
were present. together with Representatives Blaine,
Dawes j. f. Wilson and Boutwell, and several lGdies.
The little party is represented 10 have been very
pleasant. and the ruests remained some time after
dinner conversng upon the prominent topics OF the
day, excluding politics.


General Cusbiug's Darlen Ship CanaI Treaty.


General Cushing arrived here late last night with
the treaty which he negotiated between the United
States and the South American republic OF the
United States OF Colombia with reference to rhe
Darien ship canal. He had long interview with
Secretary Seward to-day, when he handed him the
treaty and gave an interesting account OF his trip.
Gen era CushinP's mission has been In every respect
o success, and he was warmly congratulated by Mr..
Seward upon Its results. IT is expected mat the
treaty will be sent to the Senate this week. and an
effort will be made TO secure action upon It before
the close OF the session.


The Internal Reveuue Bill.


The Committee OF Ways and Means, though deter
mined TO push the Internal Revenue bill through the
House, do not have any hope OF its passing the
Senate at this session. II has not received fair
consideration In the Committee OF the Whole, for
there has not been quorum present at any OF the
night sessions, and on many points where differ
ence OF opinion arose they were passed over rather
than break up the committee by dividing. When
IL Is reported TO the House, however, many amend
ments made IN committee win give rise TO discus
sion, and the bill itself may fail In that body for
want OF time.


Prospects OF Brisk Business io Congress-.


As there remains but ten days, excluding the two
Sundays intervening, OF the present Congress after
Saturday next, all bills likely TO meet the disapprova
OF the President Will have 20 be passed and in hiJ
hands by noon OF that day in order 70 give him a
chance 60 consider and return them vetoed within
the time specified in the constitution. The present
week will therefore be devoted TO pushing through
such measures az the suffrage amendment TO the
constitution, the Air Line Railroad bill to New York.
and whatever may come up OF a character likely
to excite the opposition Of the Executive.


Tho Proposed Redistribution Of the National
Bani Currency.


The great diversity OF opinion developed In the
debate on the bill providing for redistribution OF
the national bank currency shows that there little
chance OF its for the present. The western