Year: 1870

lnlru anu last session OF tne rOrly
Congress opened to-day. The day was
a magnificent one, the air being as
warm and balmy as day in June. Al
an early hour the avenue was thronged
with people vending their way to the
Capitol. and long before either House
was called to order every available seat
in the galleries was occupied. The
large number of colored people present,
especially in the lower house, where the
first representative of their race was to
be sworn into Office, was a marked fea-
ture Of the occasion. But in this the
colored people were disappointed, as the
successor of Whittemore did not make
his appearance during the day. The
diplomatic gallery was well filled, the
most prominent in that quarter and oc-
cupying front seats being Ministers
Thornton, Trellhard, Gerolt and their
ladies. The roll call in the House
showed l73 members present, while in
the Senate but few members were alb
sent.


The Message and Its Reception.


The reading Of the Presidents mes
sage occupied an hour, and was listened
to with marked attention. The effect
was better in the House than in the
Senate. In the latter body the general
dissatisfaction was very evident. The
only part Of the message which appear
ed to put everybody in a good humor
was that concluding portion relating to
preserving the purity of elections--that
every man entitled to vote can vote just
once at each election. At this little::al-
lusion there was a broad smile on
the faces Of every member. The
passages referring to revenue re-
form were not well received,
and were not considered in the best of
taste So far as protection is concerned
the protectionists are in very good spir-
its over the Presidents statement Of
their position. The eagerness to catch
all that was advanced with regard TO
the Alabama claims was very great.
When that portion of the message was
reached, the members looked earnestly
toward the clerk, while the representa-
tives in the diplomatic gallery leaned
forward with their their hands to their
ears as if anxious not to lose word.
The portion relating to the fishery ques-
ton took everybody by surprise, and it
was the general remark that the author
ship thereof was too much Of the Butler
style not to be easily recognizable.


The general comment to-right on the
message is that it is more of an cleo
tioneering document than State paper,
and that where it does not make a
plausible statement it succeeds in evad-
ing issues most ingeniously. The mass
OF glittering generalities contained in
the document, it is said, will make it a
strong paper with the people, and if it
is not any more logical than stump
speech, it will prove equally as convinc-
ing The document is generally summed
up as adroit in its statements, skillful in
its arrangements, and forcible, if not
logical, in its arguments. The only
portions which have given any general
surprise are those relating to the fishery
question. 1t is thought that here a
very strong case indeed is made out
against the provinces.


Letter from Minister washburne.


WASHINGTON, December 6.-Repre-
sentative Washburne. of Wisconsin,
has received letter from his brother,
Minister to France, in which he says,
the people of Paris have provisions
enough to hold out until the first OF jan
uary.


A Personal Explanation.


Representative Roderick R. Butler,
of Tennessee, is here but did not an
swer to his name yesterday. His
friends say he will appear in the House
to-day and make an explanation, during
which he will refer to the damaging
charges which have been made against
him in connection with the pension
frauds, and demand an investigation by
Congress into the whole subject.


Logan TO Succeed Yates In the Sen.


ate.


The election of General Logan to the
United States Senate from Illinois, in
place of Yates, is regarded as certain.
Of one hundred and twenty-five Repub.
lican members of the Illinois Legis,
lature, eighty are claimed by Logan
friends as pledged to him. The re
mainder are divided between Governor
Palmer, General Oglesby and General
Romer


Senator Summers Bill.
Senator Sumner states that the OBJ
ject of his bill, introduced yesterday
but upon which he could not claim &C
ton, is to stop the presses in the Treasury
Department and prevent future printing
of United States currency in the place
of worn out notes. He believes this
course will gradually contract currency
and bring about specie payments. The
bill also provides for amending the
funding law by increasing five per cent
bonds from two hundred million to five
hundred million dollars. The Senator
does not believe that bonds bearing
lower rates Of interest can be negotiated
under the present condition OF finances
A Bill TO Abolish the ONCE OF Ad
miral.


General Logan will introduce, as soor
as possible, resolution abolishing th'
ohce Of Admiral of the Navy at once
and the office Of Vice Admiral as soor
as a vacancy occurs. This will relieve
the navy to an equality Of rank will
the army grades OF General and Lieu
tenant General, in which are, by viz
tue Of the army reduction in October O