From Washington.
[Special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Washington, Feb, 6, 1861,
When I lived in the country, a young "dominicker" rooster took a spite against me, and need to come every morning right under my window and crow as if he would split his throat.
I slept badly any way, owing to an evil conscience.
The loss of sleep I could bear, but the crowing of that rooster was more than I could stand.
So with regard to Virginia.
The defeat of the "immediate unconditional,"I can put up with; but the crowing of an evening paper in this city and the Republicans in the House, is too much for me.
The left-handed compliments of the Republican members were aimed yesterday specially at Dejarnette and Pryor, and there was danger at one time that they would carry their insulting flattery beyond the point of endurance.
Gov. Curtin's firing thirty-four guns "in honor of the result in Virginia," ought to make our Union men rather sick at the stomach.
There is very great danger, notwithstanding all protestations to the contrary, that the extreme Republicans will construe Virginia's action into a preference of the North to the South, compromise or no compromise, and thus tie the hands of moderate men who might otherwise have overmastered the Greeley coercion school.
That construction has certainly been placed upon it by the Tribune wing of the party, which is much stronger than the conciliation wing.
Mr. John M. Daniel, I understand, announces his determination to assume the editorial control of the Examiner. But it is more than probable that his services as a diplomatist will be called into requisition by the Southern Confederacy.
Impress it upon the minds of the Union members of the Convention that Virginia will have to bear the burthen of the new and exorbitant tariff, the Pacific and Homestead als, and many other like abominations.
Our Congressmen may have a vote, but it will be of no earthly value.
Patrick Henry foresaw the difficulty of amending the Constitution.
He said: ‘
The most unworthy characters may get into power and prevent the introduction of amendment. **Two-thirds of the Congress, or of the State Legislatures, are necessary even to propose amendments.
Is this an easy mode of securing the public liberty.
The honorable gentleman who presides, told us, that to prevent abuses in our government, we will assemble in Convention, recall our delegated powers. ***You will find all the strength of this country in the hands of your enemies — these garrisons will naturally be the strongest places in the country.
***Our situation will be deplorable indeed.
***Will the oppressor let go the oppressed?
***The application for amendments will therefore be fruitless. **The power of changing it is gone from you. This government has not the affection of the people at present.
Should be oppressive their affections will be totally estranged from it — and sir, you know that a government without their affections can neither be desirable our happy."
The twenty-five million coercion bill will have a rough passage through the Senate.
It is probable the bill suspending the postal laws in the Southern Confederacy will be passed.
Southern men will vote for it. The Peace Congress makes slow headway.
Albert Pike is here.
Dressed in a full suit of homespun; he walks the Avenue "like a thing of" Southern "life." Ex-President Tyler's son wears a succession cockade all the time, and attracts much attention.
Zed. ’ 