The national whig., 1847-06-17
MUSIC .AT THE CapITOI.

II F
which We hope never to see discontinued 1--WE mean,
the custom Of having the music Of the Marine Band
once week at the Capitol, during the summer
months.
The marine Band must blow their Instruments
must practice 1t is their duty, and they might as
we'll perform in the presence Of the public atarge
to reserve their music for the Of few lazy
rnes in barracks Indeed il is better that they should
be compelled to play in public, for they have the
excitement Of public applause before them and they
will endeavor TO merit that applause. So that--this
music costs the nation nothing, which is more than
be said Of many other Of the Presidential pleas
ures. In this particular, Mr.. Tyler, while he did
pleasant and praiseworthy thing, deserves large
share Of public appreciation.
But while this music is afforded without er pense
to the Peoples Treasury, il is the occasion OF exert
ing most happy influence upon the public mind,
by bringing together, without respect to party, the
citizens Of The District and the citizens of the States
who may be sojournng in the District, at least once
week, and indeed twice week, for the band plays
in the grounds Of the Presidents House every Sauu-
day evening and in the Capitol grounds every We'd
nesday evening. All cassess meet on common
ground on these occasions. The only price of adj
mission to this musical and social FEAST is propriey
of behaviour and decent regard for the humanties
Of life. Accordingly, we find every man, from the
President to the honest day.laborer mingling with
his fellow man, and every woman, from the wife Of
the President to the wife Of the industrious day
worker moving in the crowd, recognizing their
friends and acquaintances and making the scene
redoent with the happy influences Of the gsnter
sex. Children too-happy and Innocent in their
purity-from the infant to the half grown boy or
girl press around the band whose music is 50 delight
iul to their tender ears and for the time being the
little prattlers awed into silence by the wilder
ness of sweet sounds.
We are rejoiced that Mr.. Polk has not suffered
this admirable custom to be broken up. We are
rejoiced that he continues it, f for no other reason
than that an opportunity is afforded for music to
have some harmonizing influence over himsef and
the softening Of their rude natures which music
effect, and which their intercourse with their
fellow-citizens on these occasions will tend to pro-
duce. They s,cial barbarans--allo Of them from
theP President down TO the least Of the men whom
advent to power has brought to Washington. II is
not their fault that thay are SO. It is their lot
With the exception of the President, and most of
his Cabinet, they exhibit good deal Of docty and
the good effects Of two summers music at the Capt.
tol and on the grounds of the Presidents House.
and Of intercourse with the world at large during
these delightful reunions are decidedly percep,ble
What the result Of the music Of the present and the
next win be upon them it is difficult to pre-
dict with exactness, hut is fair to hope that they
will all return to their homes in ls49, better kinder
mder, and less barbarous men.
But as FOR the President, music seems TO have no
effect upon his soul. It was not formed to be
touched by the influence Of sweet sounds. He is
very nearly allied to Of that class Of men so gra-
phcally described by the immortal bard as having no
music in his soul, and consequently being pre-emi-
nently
l,.s - fit for treason, stratagems and spoils.
In this particular he ia not far ahead Of Mr. ak
er, Mr.. Johnson, Mr.. Marcy, and Mr.. Buchanan.
He and they take more pleasure in plotting treason
against their country, by intriguing with its worst
enemy--in concoctng stratagems to destroy the
coon MAN who grapples with the hearts of his
countrymen, and whom they will make their next
President-and in dividing the spois Of Office, than
in listening to all the music that Mayerbeer or Do.
nizetti or Auber, could make in monster concert
We!l--though music has no power over these
servants Of the People, the music at the Capitol and
at the Presidents often brings them into the pres
ence Of their masters, and thus thousands see them
who would never see them, who would never take
the trouble TO call and wait their naughty lleasure
be invited into their presence "in the lofty cham
bers Of The great" The good people who come here
from the States may, on these occasions, get
glimpse (and that is enough) of the faces and per
sons of the men who are entrusted with their Exc
cutive power at the present time, and though there
is total want of that Republican ease and Repub.
iican familiarity which ought TO characterize the in
ercourse Of the delegate with his principal the sight
Of the President and his Cabinet has good effect.
for i teaches the people The necessity Of rebukng
in their delegates all haughtiness all official inso-
.ence and pride all c, ldness Of manner and speech
and all attempts at excusiveness, which we regre,
to say characterize, in an eminent degree, the con-
duct of M r. Polk and his Cabinet.
II is pity that Mr.. Polk does not make it point
he and his Cabinet-to be present on the occa
sions of music at the CAPITOL aud the Presidents
House, and mingle freely and familiarly with his
fellow citizens-but Mr.. Polk and his Cabinet are
not only music-less, but they ale society-less.
So much for tie present. We may resume the