From Washington.
[special Correspondences of the Dispatch.] Washington, Jan. 2, 1861.
A bright, sunny day. Here in the House, the galleries are crowded, and the display of crinoline is copious.
Douglas has given the floor of the Senate to Baker, of Oregon--a flighty orator, born in England.
As he has lately visited Lincoln, his views are looked to with much interest.
No chance to get in, though.
It was observed yesterday at the reception at the White House that the President was looking very badly.
Poor old man!
his is a hard fate.
He has scarcely the confidence of a human being.
The order to reinforce Anderson from the troops at Fort Monroe was either not issued, or if issued, revoked.
I know that Messrs. Toombs, Wigfall, and other Southern gentlemen, fully believed it, and so telegraphed their friends.
General Scott has been grossly maligned.--His ideas were correct, viz: Before South Carolina's secession, to place such a force in the Charleston forts as to make a collision impossible; but as this was not done, to leave matters in statu quo. He is for peace by all honorable means, and never advocated the coercion of the Southern States.
How could he draw the sword Virginia presented him against her?
He is greatly distressed at the unhappy condition of the country.
I have this from an army officer, who saw General Scott yesterday.
Anderson is not a Kentuckian, but a native of Buckingham county, Virginia.
He married a lady of Georgia, and owns a large landed and slave property there.
Some say Seward is going to give up his peace propositions, for the present, at least. --The Republicans are playing a deep game.
First, to let the country get into the very jaws of war, and then to rescue it, and so claim great credit — thus saving their party by rallying the whole North to its support, whether the South accepts its proposals or not. Have they not held back until it is too late?
Meantime the Democrats are not without hope that they can save the Union, too. Nor has Mr. Crittenden abandoned his idea of submitting his amendment to a direct vote of the people.
The co-operation vote of Alabama excites considerable feeling.
The Republicans are elated.
I know that the Governor of that State telegraphed here two days ago that secession was certain.
Great filibustering is going on here in the House over a Medon of inquiry into the state of affairs in the forts at the South--a coercion move.
Day by day, almost hour by hour, we oscillate hither and thither.
Now it seems that war cannot be avoided, and again a streak of peace appears in the horizon.
No man can tell what a day will bring forth.
Zed. 