Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-05
A VIEW OF CONGRESS.
FROM THE NEW roRx JOURNAL or cox,v,

! FROM THE NEW YORK JOURNAL COMMENCE.
| That the annexed letter may be properly appre.
lated, we take the liberty to say that il is from the
pen OF distinguished French gentleman, who has
been brought to this country by desire to study
the character OF our institutions and people, as well
as in furtherance of certain scientific enterprises
which he is prosecuting with great zeal, and with
encouraging prospects of success. On his return
to France it is his intentions we believe to publish
the results of his observations in volume or vol
umes, in which case we may expect work of great
interest and value
"WAsaINGTos, DECEMBER, ls49.
"Here am in the American capital. Washington is the
head of empire larger than that of the Romans who filled
the world with their renown The moderns hasten to visit
the remains Of the great republics of antiquity they 20
among the ruins Of palaces of columns, of umpha arches
and mediate the instability Of human grandeur. Such
meditaons rather medations death than fe The
torch Of civilization has left the Roman world civilization has
crossed the Atlantic it is the American shores that the
true philosopher must to study the life and the growth
of the largest empire existing.
Sin old world nations employed many centuries to attain
grandeur and civilization the American empire has become
great and civilized in less than century. Washing
ton brings to mind Rome. Not that the seven hills are to
be but because in this few houses are scat
tered here and there But while the vods in Rome result
from the ravages Of time, and covered with ruins the
volds In Washington those Of virgin soil and willis
every day increases the remains of Rome every day fills
pace marked by the foresight of the founder Washington
IIue is, St. Peters is larger than the American Capitol
but ST. Peters the last elliott Of the Roman power dwin
ding into the hands of a Pope.
"The institutions that made Rome great could alone keep il
AS long those institutions were supported on the
large basis the people the Roman empire stood but it va
ciated and fell when the republican institutions became cor
ruPted, when power passed into tyrant's hands,
In all new countries nearly of equal strength
They have similar wants. they have similar passions nsi-
uions do not destroy strength, wants. and passions but de-
'eoP and regulate them So long America remains faith
full to her institutions SO long will she prosper. aa
"At the opening Of session was anxious to OBJ
serve the workings of these institutions do not know, nor
to know, what has been written from Washington by
various correspondents belonging different parties but that
during twenty days of Reorganization auch order should
have egned although the lower Chamber presided
only by Clerk is to subject Of admiration The de-
beraions steady and comparatively calm considering
the great questions that agated Speaker becoming
candidate in night obtaining hundred and twelve
votes and falling suddenly to the ground we'll
angry words spoken in the heat Of debate, es
when compared to what passes in another republic the
other side of the Atlantic. ~. u.~" ,..'.a. .s.
'sAmercans evidently made for self government and
the last twenty days passed in abnormal support this
opinion Yet admired the foresight of the trainers of the
constitution, who placed the seat OF the empire far from the
operation of mob. Had the Congress been held in New
York, Paris, London it would have been impossible to
prevent the mob from assembling around the building, and
the deliberations would have been influenced by the pressure
from without .....
Indeed the members went to Congress to ascientifc
meetings they stoicay bore the edousnes Of sxyfour bal
oJoJ NV ~
diced mind the calm and perfect quetness of all the citizens
Of the Union during that little struggle, shows the marked
difference between the United States and European Govern
ments The President waited patiently the organization of
the House, and the country did the certain the
Americans that they masters Of themselves and that the
noble and gigantic structure Of the vessel of Stats be
wrecked on grain of sand" ....~ -.a..