The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-10

The following paragraph is "going the rounds
from the Boston Mercantile Journal:
WASHINGTON CirY.-M Mr.. Buckingham, the travel
Ter, gives revolving description of the moral amos-
phere at Washington According TO his account, it
| Is exceedingly noisome and corrupt He says that at
Washington, the Capital of this Republic, the total
absence of all restraint upon the actions of men, either
legal or moral, occasions such open and unhlushing
displays of recklessness and profigacy would hard
be credited, if mentioned in detail Unhapply, too
the influence of this is less felt in the de,erio
rated characters of almost all persons who often
to w ashington or live for long period there Gen
tlemen from the Northern and Eastern States, who,
before they eft their homes, accounted moral,
and even pous men, undergo such change at w lash
ington by removal of all restraint, that they often
come back very altered characters and while they
at w ashngton, contract habits the very mention of
which, quite revolving TO chaste and unpoluted
| This is fine account of this Metropolis to be
circulated throughout Europe and America
And by whom A British traveller, who paid
the expenses Of his sojourn among US out of the
pockets of the people he calumnates. He was
broken down English politician, once in Par
lament, and afterwards an adventurer in the
Eastin search Of geographical, historical and sta
tistica wares to pedde over the world for 25 cents
a hearing. And he came to Washington He
was treated with civiity, and pauonised more
literally than his inflated and often inaccurate
lectures deserved. He stad long enough to OBJ
serve the surface of society--that is lis scum,
composed of persons, who like himself, came TO
Washington from transitory motive of pleasure,
curiosity or profit. Such persons formed proba-
bly, the principal circle of his acquaintance, or
were pointed out as specimens of the .detero-
rated characters" produced by the " atmosphere
of Washington" With the permanent resident
| population Of Washington he could not have be
come acquainted If he had he would have
found moral atmosphere" which would have
slamed either his evil associations or his propensl-
ty for scandal. He would have found among those
who have lived long period" here, as much
of morality and religion, as he would have found
in any city on The globe. 1t is true, there are
here, elsewhere, gaming houses, brothels,
and other places of immortality and dissipation.
Those who frequent them are doubtless as
"reckless and proaigateh as the frequenters Of
such places always are. They are more open,
than in other cities, from the openness of the
town, and we have doubt that those who
come here TO visit such places, (" remove all re-
straint,n and contract revolving habits as they
do elsewhere. But in nine cases out of ten,
these persons come here with no fixed moral
principles with no restraint, and with the very
habits which this MIR. Buckingham would lay
altogether to the charge of Washington. These
"transient customers" and the houses support
ed by their patronage, have brought shame upon
the city, We have often been surprised that
the laws Of the corporation have not been exer-
cised more efficiently TO save us from the re-
proach they too often bring upon us-to save
! those who are vlrtuous from those who first poll
| lutte our atmosphere and then make us respon-
sible for their crimes.
Much Of the wckedness Of which this city =
accused appears and disappears with Congress.