Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-10-28

The house was always entered by one door in
the other end Of the chamber there
was a door leading into the State House yard
and when the weather was temperate and pleas
ant, and dull speaker was on the floor, a large
proportion Of the members passed through this
door into the yard, and there talked and walked,
till they were either tired the tedious orator had
finished his speech.
The Senate chamber was directly over that Of
the House Of Representatives; the stair way,
commencing in the vcstIbule of the building, led
70 the door Of this chamber, which but little
more than half as large that of the ether house;
the part (nearly one halo towards Chestnut street,
being partitioned of, and divided into committee
rooms, for the use Of the members of both Houses,
and one room for their clerks. The chair Of the
Vice President was located on the south side of
tho chamber, near the wal, and midway between
the eastern and western sides. The arrange
mcnts were the same as in the other chamber,
cept that there were but two tiers Of seats. both
without any elevation, and in place cffour stoves
the room had but two. The furniture indeed in
this chamber, was i'll general, little more snowy
than In the other; but its great ornament consist
ed in the full length portraits Of the King and
Queen Of France. Louis XIV. and Marie Aatoi-
nettee, under whose reign our treaty Of alliance
with France, during our revolutionary war,
formed. These pictures were royal presents
made TO the Old Congress, and were Of the most
splendid kind. 1t was said that the lkcnesses Of
the King and Queen were remarkably exact
but however this might be, the paintings to the
design, coloring and finishing, were the most per
feet that had ever been seen in this country
perhaps than any that have since been with
the exception Of the browning of Napoleon -
Both the king and queen appearing in their robes
or state Dress and nothing could exceed the exquis
lite tints and finish of the drapery. But the
framing OF the pictures was, In ITS kind, as SIN
guarly splendid as that which it enclosed. The
frames of both, which were perhaps Il foot and
half in width, were carved in mastery manner,
exhibiting the arms Of France, and other signs
Of royalty, and covered with thick gliding, that
had much the appearance of solid gold. The
pictures hung on the opposite wall to that
which the Vice Presidents chair placed, and
fronting that chair. In the height Of the French
revolution there some talk of removing
covering these pictures; but they remained I'll,
. the transfer of Congress to Washington, and
were never covered. What has become of them
Is unknown to the Reminiscent; he thinks he has
heard of them once since their removal 70 Wash
iDgton, but that was long since. He hopes they
were not destroyed in the conha grafton of the
public buildings at Washington by the British
If not, they ought surely to be carefully preser-
we'd, not only memorials Of the donors, but as
specimens Of the art of painting in France at the
time they we're taken.
1t was in the Senate chamber, and in the pres
eDcc Of both Houses of Congress that Warrington
delivered his speeches-ior he did not send them
by his secretary, in the form of a message. This
was practice introduced by Mr.. Jefferson, and
.'r,' .s--' -; ~in.:e BIT Mashb3gtq" B,d,e his
I. communications Al cvery opening of Congress
+ person. When informed that the houses were
r, session and ready to receive his communication
,r he replied to the committee that waited on hir
k that he would meet Congress. the next day at
?, o'clock. And his punctuality was such, that
never varied one minute from the time that /
o named. He generally entered the outward do
e of tho building while the town clock was s.riklr
st twelve.
- When he came into the Senate chamber. II
I'd members all rose, and bowling to them, gracefi
nj w, no took his seat, aud at the time q
e. members resumed theirs. He commonly sat
I'd bout three or four minutes, during which tin
e. he took his spectaclcs from the side pocket OF
re coat, and his speech from another pocket. a
r. placed both his knee. casting his eyes Il
e, audience He then put on his spcctaclcs. took
Mi speech in his left hand, rose, and Immediately
Nv gan to read; the members remained seated
at read his speech audiby, distinctly, and wiiho
,h hesitation; he was not what would be called
IS, accomplished reader He occasional!y,in an
1g tcrcsting part of his speech, enforced what
a said, by a motion with his right hand-the ge
* ure was not violent, even what is called DO!
,r but it indicated earnestncss, and was graceful
tx made. When he had finished his speech, he bow
DIS to tho Congress, and the members rose while
kc retired