The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-06


no aliment to the hopes of the wings, from any dis
sens'ons in the bosom Of our own party. We APP
Prehend no serious difficulty from this source, il
our party acts with prudence, and keeps in view
only the interests Of the country and the union OF
its own ranks.
DEFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION Oh THE HALL OF
THE HOUSE or REPREsENTATIYEs-EYI RE-
suLTs-wHAr OUGHT TO BIZ DONE
The defective construction OF the hall at present
occupied by the House of Representatives, has long
formed The subject Of remark. We have now had
for ourselves practical denomination of the Justice
OF the complaints which have repeatedly been ut
tered on this subject and feel very deeply impress
ed with sense Of the great Importance Of giving
these complaints prompt, careful, and full stten-
ton. So far as aware, the subject has never
yet been regarded in some offs most important as
poets; and we now take it up with well-intenlioned
and earnest desire to attract to IT, in all its bearinss
the attention of our Legislators and the people.
The chamber Of Representatives appears 10 have
been constructed in sudious violation OF every prin-
| cipe Of acoustic science How those meritorious
public servants-the reporers--are able to give us
any connected or tolerably accurate record Of the
proceedings and debates, appears to US little short Of
being miraculous. From no position on the floor
can speaker, whatever the power of his lungs or
the exertion he makes, be distinctly heard through
out the hall. At points the lowest whisper in
distant part of the chamber will be heard with the
greatest dstinctness; whilst at many others, the
mightest Boanerges thunders in vain, making
to his auditors-luckless fortunate as the case
may be--merely "dumb show" Thus, often, the
richest streams Of eloquence, the most vigorous
bursts Of patriotic sentiment, the most profound the
cries Of government and legislation the most elabo-
rate dispositions political economy instead of
falling upon the delighted Of enlightened
representatives, and finding their way TO the
papers for the edifcaton of mankind, wander away
and lost forever in the fields Of space limited
by that dusky dome, wckedly seized upon by
the evil genii of thousand "nooks and crannies :"
that have been lying in watt year after year,
and still greedy for oratory and patrio-
tism There is really something most melancholy
in this view Of the case. Many "maiden speechnI
that had escaped fifty rehearsals in the authors
room-has thus been swallowed up in the very
moment of its birh--robbed of the immortality even
Of single day-not the poor qualification per-
mtted to the orator Of scolding the reporters for
their unpertinent corrections. The compositors
for their abominable punctuation! And them again,
with what malicious joy, it would appear, do the
evil influences of the place employ their powers of
mischief for the purpose Of producing confusion,
disorder and personal ASSAULT Mr. John Smith,
makes avery innocent remark, which, imperfecty
heard, sounds in the ears of Mr.. Thomas Smith as
direct personality. Up jumps the offended Smith,
and in an excited tone, asks the gentleman oppo-
Site "What he meansi'' The astonished Smith,
annoyed at the interruption, and fancyng insult,
plies with warmth. This provokes rejoinder,
and at it 60 the Smiths, beating the air on oppo-
site sides of the House. and shouting at each other
and the Speaker, till they get black in the face.
Twenty gentlemen start up exceedingly anxious to
know what it all means; and thus occurs what the
reporters call ian animated scene"-"sn exciting
debate"-which the poor Speaker attempts to ter
inmate; but, after screaming himself hoarse, gives
up in despair and sinks exhausted into his seat, like
a good man overwhelmed with the storms of
fate. ... #.. '".
The extreme difficulty Of hearing in the House
is not the only bad result Of its defective consruc-
ton. The chamber is badly lighted. A sort of
perpetual twilight prevails. In some of the dim re-
cesses Of the hail. the forms Of the members are on
ly indstincty seen, groping about like conspi
rators than the representatives of free people,
do their duty in the face of Heaven and all
Now, this is more serious defect--one
productive Of evil than we might at first sight
imagine It has been remarked by an ancient
philosopher, that all assemblages of men have
tendency to degenerate into mobs. There is
practical sagacty in that remark. Men, even
of the most digni6ed character, of the most
cultivated intellect Of the most extensive experi-
in the refnemen,s and conrtesiea of civ
ilized society, when they congregate together
for the discussion Of subjects which difference Of
opinion exists among them, or to deliberate on the
adoption of measures with regard to whose justice
expedency conflicting sentiments are entertained,
are very apt, as we all know, to approximate
occasionally to the character of confusion. A body
like the popular branch Of our national Legislature,
in which, as matter of course great differences of
opinion exist, and in which subjects are daily |
discussed with much, and perhaps unavoid !
able, warmth Of feeling, should, all viii surely |
agree be surrounded by as many wholesome re-
staints as would be consistent with tho freedom OF
its action. We want the light of heaven, with al J
its searching and salutary power 70 sh..e in upon
such body. we wish To bee every mans face lit
uPi 70 ihat the workings of the spirit within his
bosom may be clearly dscened in that mirror of
the soul If there be unworthy passon--f there
be unmanly emoton--if there be theuslightest
trace of feeling unworthy Of a repres of
the people exhibited in the countenanc5 Of any
man on that floor, we desire that it should
be seen Of all, as well as those noble and god