News is slow today after the Independence Day celebrations on Thursday. The festive atmosphere has spread to the troops as well: Most military actions with exception of those in western Virginia and Missouri have been suspended as the soldiers celebrate with salutes and singing. Spirits are high, although the usual fanfare is diminished somewhat by the absence of troops for parades in most cities.
Discussion of the President’s speech has occupied the majority of the House’s time since it convened on Thursday, but a good deal of time has also been spent on routine House business. The new House devoted considerable time in its first meeting on Thursday and Friday to elections for leadership positions. A number of men, including Congressmen Colfax and Blair, have put their names in the hat for the speakership. Colfax and Blair, however, withdrew their nominations following the nomination of Republican Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania, who has represented his state in Congress for ten years. Grow easily won the election because the Republican leadership wished to avoid a protracted battle. Grow is well regarded by his fellow party members, and he carries a reputation for strong opposition to slavery and secession. He is most notable for his staunch opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, as well as an incident earlier that year when he was attacked on the House floor by Rep. Keitt of South Carolina—an incident that precipitated a large brawl reminiscent of the chamber’s earliest days. Emerson Etheridge of Tennessee was elected to the Clerkship of the House of Representatives. Etheridge remains a strong opponent of his state’s secession and a firm supporter of the Union.
Following their crossing of the Potomac earlier this week, General Patterson’s forces are now encamped at Martinsburgh in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. General McClellan’s forces remain further to the northwest, perhaps three days from Patterson. Following a few small skirmishes with the forces of Confederate General Jackson, Patterson’s troops pushed further south, while a weakened Jackson has encamped about ten miles south, along the road to Winchester, where a significantly larger Confederate force is gathered.
Cyrus McCormick, inventor and patent-holder of the McCormick Reaper, has applied today for a renewal of his patent. The renewal application has been extremely controversial, as critics accuse McCormick of attempting to extend an “oppressive monopoly” to the detriment of American farmers.
In the News:
- The Philadelphia Inquirer has printed a recent report by Secretary of War Simon Cameron discussing the progress of the war.
- The New York Times has printed a transcript of Rep. Edward Everett’s recent speech at the New York Academy of Music.
- The Richmond Daily Dispatch has printed an account of the recent fighting in Martinsburgh, Virginia.
- The Columbia Spy reports on a recent skirmish near Cumberland, Maryland.
- The New York Times reviews the city’s Fourth of July celebrations, with a special feature on the fireworks display.
Commentary:
- The New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer take opposing views on the merits of President Lincoln’s recent speech before Congress.
- The Richmond Daily Dispatch discusses the growing importance of balloons for military scouting operations.
- The Quincy Whig Republican argues that the lack of Northern trade will force the South to shift much of their land to growing corn rather than cotton to avoid starvation.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that nearly all battles thus far have ended in a retreat by the Confederates, but draws a distinction between real and feigned retreats.
- The Quincy Daily Herald is extremely critical of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher’s abolitionist Fourth of July sermon.
- The Richmond Daily Dispatch accuses the Lincoln Administration of abrogating the right to petition due to a recent incident in New York.
- The Sacramento Daily Union describes the Southern rebellion as “a revolution without cause and without the least provocation from the Federal government.”
Accidents:
- The New York Times reports on a number of accidents involving young boys and firearms.
