Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-04-12

Washington in the Session.-We take
the following from lively, spirited sketch
with this title, by Mr.. N. p. Willis:
Aside from society, the only amusement
in Washington is frequenting the capital.
If one has a great deal of patience and
nothing better to do, this is very well; and
it is very well at any rate ill one becomes
acquainted with the hands Of the celebra-
ted men in both the chambers, with the
noble architecture of the building and the
routine of business. This done, it is time
YEARLY spent for spectator. The finer
orators seldom speak, or seldom speak
warmly, the floor is oftenest occupied by
pressing and very sensible gentlemen whose
excellent ideas enter the mind more agree
ably by the eye than tn ear, or, in other
words are better delivered by the newspa.
pers, and there is a great deal of formula
etiquetica sparring which is not even enter
tanning to the members, and which con.
sumes time "consumedly." Now and
then the Senate adjourns when some one
of the great orators has taken the floor,
and you are sure of great effort the next
morning. If you are there in time, and
can sit, like Atlas with world on your
back, you may enjoy front sea: and hear
oratory, unsurpassed, in my opinion, in the
world.
The society in Washington, take it all in
all, is by many degrees the best in the U. 5.
One is prepared, though cannot conceive
why, for the contrary. We read in books
of travels; and we are told by every body,
that the society here promiscuous, rongh
ineegant, and even barbarous. This is an
untrue representation, or it has very much
changed.
There is no city, probably no village in
America, where the female society is moi
refined, cultivated and elegant. With OIL
without regular advantages, women attain
the refnements and the tact necessary tc
polite intercourse. No traveller everven
tured to complain of this part of American
society. The great deficiency is that o
agreeable, highly cultivated men, whose
pursuits have been elevated, and whose
minds are pliable to the grace and changing
spirit of conversation. every man of tai
ents possesses these qualities naturally, ant
hence the great advantage which Wash
iugton enjoys over every other city in ou
country. None but shallow observer, Of
a malicious book maker, would ever sneel
at the exterors or talk Of the i'll breeding
of such men as form, in great numbers, the
agreeable society Of this place-for mar
of grea: talents never could be vulgar, anc
there is superiority about most of these
which raises them above the petty standard
which regulates the outside of a coxcomb,
Even compared with the dress and address
of men Of similar positions aud pursuits In
Europe, however, (members of the House
of Commons for example, or of the Cham
bers of Deputies in France,) it is positively
the fact that the Senators and Representa-
tives of the United States have decided
advantage. 1t is all very well for Mr.
Hamilton and other scribblers whose books
must be spiced, to 60 down., to ridicule
Washington Soiree for English readers
but if the observation of one who has seer
assemblies of legislators and diplomatist'
in all the countries of Europe may b.
fairly placed against his and Mrs. Troll
lope's, may assert upon my own authority
that they will not ind' out oc May Fair in
England, so well dressed aud dignified ,
body of men. II have seen as yet, no spe
cimen Of the rough animal, described By
them and others as the "western member,
and ifDavid Crockett, (whom was never
so fortunate as to see,) was of that descrip
ton, the race must have died with him.
is thing l have learned since have beer
in Washington, to feel wish that foreign
ers should see Congress in session.