Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-08-23
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Patriot.

On returning to the seat of Government,
my first visit was to the Capitol and l was
glad to find tho work Of restoring tho mag
nifcent Hall Of Representatives, to its an
cient form and appearance, rapidly in pro.
grcss. II is proposed, ] understand, 10 make
it as nearly what it was as possible, except
that the passages will be more narrow, and
there will be no platform on the Northern
side Of the Hall. The Speakers chair will
be placed wherc it formerly stood and the
desks and seats of tho members arranged
exactly as originally designed, and facing
The ladies' gallery--so that the fair visters
to that part of the building, will no longer be
obliged to rest content with view of the
shack front" Of those whom they come to lis
ten To and admire but may sec the beams
of feeling from the eyes, aud the fash of pas
sion on the checks ofther lavorite orators and
rhctoricians. The main entrance will be by
the great door opposite the Speakers chair,
and opening from tho handsome lobby be-
tween the rOtunda and the Hall.
1t is TO be hoped that under the now mr.
rangenent, some better accommodation will
be provided for the editorial and reporting
corps, than they have lately enjoyed since
the Hall was changed from ltI original form.
To accommodate certain gentlemen who
complaincd that they comi not make them
Seircs he0rd but who seemed 10 be unaware
that the House momd not listen 10 them, it has
been almost impossible for the reporters to
sec or hear distinctly one third of the men,
bcrs. The best position in which they could
he placed would be between the pillars, i'm
mcdiately below the ladies' gallery. There,
if The seats were elevated, they would have
q view of the whole body of the House, and
could both see and hear the members better
than in any other quarter of the Hall.
And here, by the way, must notice an
act of the Senate on the last day of the ses-
sion. which, if carried into effect, will operate
very njuriously to the interests OF the lead
ing papers in the large cities, and deprive
their readers of important advantages they
have hitherto enjoyed. A resolution was a
doptcd for regulating admission to the floor
of The Senate. 1t is ola general character
but one particular effect of it will be to cX.
cudc from tho desks OH the floor, without
the bar, provided for stenographcrs, the re-
porters of all papers not published in the city
Of Washington! This resolution was re.
ported by select committee some time
about the middle of the session and il was
understood that the worthy and highly re-
spccted chairman Of the committee, in origi-
nally moving the matter, only intended to
keep the privileged seats in the chamber from
being infested by persons who had no right
10 them whatever, but who were nevertheless
in the habit Of occupying them, to the cAclu-
sion ot those who were entitled to them un-
der the rules of the Senate. Some Of the
.oco- locos of the body, however, caused the
provision to be inserted regulating the admis-
sion Of reporters, and limiting the privilege
of the seats TO those engaged for the Wash.
ington journals.
This Injustice against the whole prcss out
of the city was brought under the notice OF
several distinguished Senators, both favorable
and opposed TO the Administration sorie OF
whom strongly demonstrated with the authors
of the proposition. The resolution was nl.
lowed to sleep and believe no one but
those authors ever expected it to be called
up, but on the very last day-during the last
half hour of the session. when there was
scarcely quorum in the Senate, aud when
it was almost impossible to call the attention
Of those present 10 any thing, the resolution
was suddenly called up, md without cxaln.
nation or discussion pressed through, as a
measure Of n general character regulating
admissions to the floor of the Senate. am
satisfied from whai know of the sentiments
of the most respectable Senators that, had
the body been full, and attention been drawn
TO the subject, this most partial. unjust, and
injurious measure-inlurious not less to the
public than TO the newspapers at which il
was aimcd-would have been promptly and
dccisvcIy rejected. trust that among tho
first acts of the Senate, at the next session,
will be to rescind it.