Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-03-29
FIRST VISIT TO THE CAPITOL,
From The NeW York Spectator

From The NtU York Spectator
Upon the whole | am disappointed
with Washington, moderht, MS yon know my
| expecl atious were ; The men are less great, and
affairs are less interesting than even had anti
ciatcd. Perhaps | am here atm unusually
uninlefesling season, but ! do scarcely imagine
that Washington al any time can long interest
an unemployed stranger.
The House of Representatives is the object
which most attracts stranger, and which
ceriUinly least answers his expectations This
is somewhat owing 10 The architectural qnnli-
ties of the room itself The room is indeed
hnndaomr though even III It's beauty | wa
disappointed. and perceived great expense IN its
building, without corresponding elegance but
the rules of the house condemn The unprlyllcged
spectator 10 the gallery, where he must have
good eyes and ears II lac can see or hear any
thing. II Is irniy. what n celebrated piece Of
architecture IN England has been called. " n
splendid nuisance. Tho aspect OF i" the
house, from the gallery Is not striking. The
members sit with their hats on which with the
dark curtain drawn over the windows and the
upper part OF the galleries, spreads dingy
hue over the whole Our honorable Iepresen.
ia,vcs are too thoroughly republican to attend
10 dress. Here and there you see one with "a
banded hat, and new coat, but in general
no town meeting is palmer in that respect.
The southern members, with few e1ceplio ions
are in The extreme of l-dress. MIR. -,
Of South Carolina, has a coat and Int which
- would never lhlnk OF wearing, aud this
/. n strong expression. The members are in
general Of good stature, but | have looked in
VAN for any extraordinary size IN those from
the west.
Nothing strikes mo more than the total want
~, ,nIaety n the oJbIuTg here On nnV sub.
lect, and ~ all times, when one speaker sits
dawn a half dozen members start TO Their legs
and ctaim the Speakers eye. and II II some
times rests on Barbour. or mCDulie. or Storrs,
II onencr designates some gentleman from
Tennessee or Kentucky" who mercilcssly
nrs,es aud roBfs I'LL the Gallery is empicd
ar the House adjpurns Ample retaliation is
taken then on the Kings English" for their
former attack on the capital assertions are
beloved out, contrary 10 the most limited
knowladge (; but the orator is nothing dauntsd
and utterly careless OF the inaiienlion Of his
audience The scene IL really udlcrous. You
see a man humping the tables, aud catch an
lntelligible expression by intervals 10 the gale
~. whie the whole OF the members are talking
and laughing, aud reading newspapers, folding
letters. mud thinking OF every thing but the
Iondest noise which claims their attention. >"
Thus fools rush III where angels fear TO
tread"
The life ola member of Congress appears
10 me 10 be one Of perfect Incidence. II IS sad
aud probably with ruth, that The chnirmen Of
committees are obliged 10 work hard but The
members at large are most rennedly lazy. The
House meets al II O'Clock the first hour il
consumed IN the consideration of resolutions
J. e. "A member rises aud presents resolution
that the committee on claims he instructed to
consider the night Of placing Thomas Nokcs
on the pension roll--aiier this is disposed of
with due gravity. another rises WIN another
resolution of similar import, aud thea another,
and yet another The Speaker then informs
the House that The hour for resolutions has er-
pired and the special orders the day are
called The house spends half hour ia the
selection aud considering the right OF priority
At last il picks out a question OF contested G.
Irctlon and about 2 o'clock the discussion be-
gins. The Honorable gentleman from TeuneF.
see Of VIII IN | have spoken, Thea lets The
darkness out on the subject, but conrteonsly
gives way to his honorable friend from Maine
TO move an adjournment Aud SIC de cgieris for
FIVE DAYS OF the week, when on Friday tired Of
its Iabors, the many headed body adjourns
over 10 Monday for repose. This Is really
scarcely a caricaiured narrative. The truth is
the object of most OF The members is TO pro.
| tract The session Who will blame them ,
They live in luxurious boarding houses, aud
| have just enough OF politics and intrigue. to
create gentle 2 Yciieneni and keep The course
| of life from stagnaiing into ennu.-here is
| wine for the courily-tohacco aud .whiskey
| for the acknowledgements furnish them with
newspapers. and is not the per diem allow
ance eight dollars 7 lie must have stern
/ yiewY of human nature who would upbraid
the homes. member for not rejecting such plea
sues.