The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-21
The City Of WashinUton.
[ Correspondence Of The ~. Y. Journal Of Commsree
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Correspondence Of Me ~. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
WAsHINoros, Nov Is, 1880
Not the least Of the improvements recently pre-
dicabe of the Federal city is that the railway
station at the terminus OF the Baltimore and Wash
ington Railroad, which will open into street be-
| sdes having ample room for the accommodation of
the thousands who will flock TO this city. There is
said to be In old Berkshire little lake that serves
| as a-hrmonletr-I was about TO say, but rather az
batomet, to measure the depth of the wells in the
circumjacent region So the condition of this city
ID kind OF measure, III an humble way, of the con-
dition OF the country. The pulse of its wide
prosperity is felt here at the political heart and al
though ito beatings are less mighty than those of
your great commercial heart and marts, yet the
growing prosperity of the little metropolis is mani
fest on every side. With the enlargement of the
country, il becomes naturally enlarged. The i'm
pulses to human activity in the regions of the Pa
chic, recently subject to SO wonderful accelera-
ton, will all be felt here the borders of the
Atlantic, and communications becoming 30
swift and certain that the reoteness Of the federal
capital from the State of California and the State
OF Oregon will be only in name. The mensura-
ton by miles threatens to become obsolete. Stran-
gers visiting the city wonder why it should look
30 new, why there should be 30 many new build
ings, and such manifest augmentation of its re-
sources, without particle of commerce. and
with few manufactures. But, truly, the immen-
sity OF the business of this country accounts for
it all. Her vast territory, the economy Of her
public lands, the collection of the customs, the null
tipled Indian interests, the enormous labors of the
Census, the vast extension of the army and navy
the sessions OF Congress-, calling hundreds of thou
sands from various parts of the land the profuse
expenditures on the public buildings and public
grounds advantages for speculation in real estate
which think never rose by initiation to fictitious
vaue-the gradual accumulation of men of fortune
and ease to a city where various tastes may be
grat6ed, those of the fashionable, the intelec-
tual, the political, the social and even to some
measure the literary, while the mechanical and
industrial may revel among works of genius and
invention of useful stamp To their hearts content.
All these are sources of prosperity and with pros
perity comes population. The spirit of a people
is stimulated and kept vigorous, and every thing
advances. When northern city ia reported as
having increased to 80, 40, $4,000, it is for the
most part to be understood of whites; but
when Washington is set down at 10000, it must
be remembered that 10000 of these negroes
serious drawback-since many Of them are
worthless. There worthless whites too, but not
large proportion. If you would see how many
and how respectable colored people to be found
here, you must go to the churches 1t ia on that
consecrated ground that they to rise to the
highest apparent dignity and felicity on earth.
Many examples of devoted piety may be found
among them, but the religion of many is rather
social than spiritual, rather imaginative than
practical, and among the Methodists rather turbu-
liant than profound. Sunday is with them day of
visiting, not of religious contemplation and study;
a season ofJoviaty, not OF calm joy. They are ia
for attending funerals Nothing ia more graft
flying to their taste than the privilege of attendng
funeral on the Sabbath witnessed one of their fu-
nerals a few Sundays ago in Virginia semi mu-
ldttO young man nau died. Inc attendance
mcnse. The colors were various those of an au-
tunnal forest. There were many white complex
ions among them What struck me with great force
the fact OF another funeral of respectable white
person meeting this its return from the Gem
ctery, with hut single one-h horse carriage in the
train, while the colored people were installed in a
long train of hacks hired for the occasion Poor
''down-trodden race" thought j, while wished
pitiful Abolitionist might have been present
to witness how much humbug is manufactured and
swallowed about that people, for whose cake ultra
copspirators are plotting and striving to dissolve
this Union. All, the Union This city may we'll
desire its perpetuity With the dissolution of the
compact between the two great portions, would be
the flight of her prosperity-the extinction of her
hopes. little State like South Carolina, might
secode, and the great deep of the Union would be
but slightly rutfled. small minority of States
might withdraw, and leave the grand system not
ously disturbed; but if, from Virginia TO the
South and Southwest, there should be unanimous
action (Which there cannot be under present cir
cumstances) the breach would be terrific Wise
counsels will, / think, prevail.