The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-01
Last Night of the Session. Disso living
Sccnes.p

| Last Night OF the Session Dissolvins
| Scenes"
The Italians look not forward to the carnival,
nor the Partisan to those national anniversaries
which throw open to him the gorgeous palaces
and gardens of departed royalty, with more in
terest than the citizens and strangers in Wash
ing,on regard the 60 last night of the session"
For some years past the excitement of the oc-
casion has resulted in scenes dscredltable to the
actors, Notifying to those who deem that Con-
gress should afford not unlavorable exposition
of our national character for good sense, sobri-
ETY., and social courtesy, whilst they afford
amusement to the thoughtless lover of the
ludicrous. On this night all who can obtain
Hobbies. Members, with gracious and pa
tronzing expression of countenance, lead in
timid looking provincas, adrolt employees of
the House ring in" friends as "members of
the Legislatures" of Iowa Wisconsin.
| The unfortunate excluded, who have no such
excuses for admittance, throng around the green
baze doors upon somewhat the same principle
that "crowd ilatten their noses against the
front windows of drug store to witness an
operation going on in the back parlor." The
rotunda is filled with people who circulate slow
| ly around like chips in an eddy. They in
spect with great interest the pictorial represen-
tations of national prowess which adorn the
walls. A constant current and counter current
is setting between the Senate and House of
Representatives.
| Within, the scene is really theatrical. The
House is in session, with the usual coniu-
sion which attends the unceremonous inter
course of body of gentlemen who have asso-
ciated together for ten months Those who
feel an interest in pending subject endeavor TO
hear, or to make themselves heard. The mass OF
the House is engaged in conversation or bust
ness. Some are writing; some bundle up their
papers; some introduce travelling constituents to
their first view of national Legislation. They
point out to the wondering provincial the pollt-
ical celebrities in the Chamber, and show, by
the familiar manner in which they speak, that
they are hand and glove with them all.
The aisles are crowded; pages are fitting
to and fro through the Hall. call for
division sets the whole House TO pass
i ing through tellers like the supernumera-
ries in theatre marching round side scene,
or the passengers on a New Jersey steamboat
showing their tickets. The magnificent chan
deler pours its rich and brilliant light from
the DOME the marble pillars rear their maJes-
tic proportions around, whilst the galleries are
thronged with a closely packed auditory. The
ladies' gallery resembles the floral department
Of horticultural fair. The fast huttering fans
are not unlike the wings Of lowering butterflies
fitting over them. The contrasts Of bright
colors. the rich costumes, glittering jewels,
bright smiles, and animated gestures divert the
dull gaze from the absorbing objects which sur
round, and we look with admiration upon the pu-
rity and beauty that suryeys-perhaps redeems-
the turbid scene that spreads bel0w them. Yet
the beautiful creatures have assembled Tor the
! purpose of witnessing the annual "scene." "
I They look upon the area below with the inter
est which inspires sehOras and sehoritas OF
Madrid or Seville, at a bull-hghl, chastened,
. it is true, by humanity, and refined by ntelli-
gence. They sit with great patience waiting
for the anticipated disturbances Some listen
10 the confusion Of tongues with that intense
gravity which we have sometimes seen them
manifest at lecture upon Researches in Ra-
diant Heat" "a discourse upon Infnitesirnal
Proportions" OF "the Integral and Differ
entail Calcul." To the fair spectators the
proceedings are about as ineligible as the
debates Of Menominee council.
Behold, very small gentleman rises under
great excitement; his voice is Of that style cha
b,yt IL. 81
derness," for no man seems to regard him-ye,
it is a voice Of lamentaion. So far as we can
translate his very earnest pantomime, he protest,
against the injustice Of the House. Speaker
evidently sympathzes and endeavors TO procure
him hearing-appeals to the House - i'm.
Observation-Disclosures to "call Names" his
uniformly placid temper is becoming somewhat
frayed at the edges; knock knock knock
The Rochester damsels are utterly outdone-
the Speaker works with his malet like a
trunk -maker-confusion somewhat less; small
gentleman rectes at the top Of his voice-punc-
tuatcd with strokes of the malct--an extremely
hard case--poor woman and family Of siaall
children seeking relief-grandfather seems to
have been fool enough TO advance money during
the revOluuOn-mOtOn TO suspend the rule
ayes consist Of that Of the patron, very much
expanded and prolonged; with few others
very faint, perhaps with sympathy. A war
Of noes follows like the roar Of Niagara, or
any thing you like in Ossan. Poor woman
goes down ditto; small children, small gentle
man very indignant apparently, consoled by
the still small voice Of fat gentleman in
rather a thin suit Of hair and summer clothing.
The locomotive Of Legislation tears along;
other gentlemen telegraph the Speaker; a
bevy Of most respectable widow ladies in
weeds Of woe appeal, like the distressed
danes Of chivalry, 10 the justice and gener-
osity Of the House. Motion to suspend. The
patron knights Of these ladies gesticulate most
calamity in their behalf; they illustrate all
those rhetorical diagrams which we see in
Il Scptt's I essons of DratOry Clerk is seen