The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13
For the National Era.
LETTERS FROM THE CAPITOL.
WASHINGTON, February II

WASHINGTON, february 10, 1851.
DsR W: have eat down to write to you
about-nothing in particular. hoped when
last wrote you that would have thing or two
TO tell by this time But | am tired Of waiting
for Wsshington-life to turn up something for my
bsnt6s or advertisement. ats no use n-non-
sense of the aimless and pointless kind is all that
Is left for me- But you, know, will have charity
d. :, esssSSs,e thss% wsz2d BE- rwise or wh<ss SsS
matter for wisdom or wit. You must lay the
bame on Congress, who will not get up any
f,rces or bate any bears for US poor snnraed let
ter.writers.
LISA blue day Without speak fguratively,
sr no small patch Of blue can be seen in the sky
above. The weather, of late 80 bright and genial,
is dull and drilling, and all nature seems to have
cone into the sulks. The hand organ has made
lis appearance, as usual, under my window, and
dispensed its music for the million, from psalm
tunes to polkas. 1t somehow sounds hoarse and
wheezy, as though it had taken cold. But per-
haps sort of instrumental asthma is chronic
malady with it-an organic disease.
had triAed thus far when some friends called
on me to accompany them to the Supreme Court,
where it was understood MIR. Webster was to
sneak. For the first half hour after our arrival,
we listened to Mr. George Wood of New York,
of "Silver-Grey notoriety-then Mr. Webster
took the floor in reply. understood nothing of
the merits of the case-the speech seemed made
up of Localities and technicalities, and could do
little else than look at the speaker. 1t is much to
SEE Mr.. Webster-there is titanic grandeur
about him still-the blind, aimless force Of great
star, fallen from its first high place, and wander
ing painless and darkened. 1t is something to
watch the old volcanic fire cleaning ftfully
up through the cloudy blackness of his deep-set
eyes and illuminating the gloomy sternness of his
face though you well know it has SO lately wasted
his life and scattered ashes on the grandest struc-
lures Of his genius.
Mr.. Webster had in his manner far more of
life and earnestness than Mr. Wood, and yet, to
the uninitiated, was most solemnly dull. There
is an awful dignity about that Supreme Court
room which Expresses one. II those dreadful
Judges wore wigs, it would be quite too much to
bear; such formal, classical and etiquettical
place as it is noticed that Mr. Webster, after
quoting a phrase -" the ancient ways of the
lawD-hastened to translate it into antiques pias
bgis, as though he had been guilty Of an indie
cOrum
The Judges are an imposing and dignifed look
ing set Of men, Judge Mclean of Ohio most
impressed me by his manly and noble appearance.
Ind 10. G,,a Coo al hao I,,l-
Nelson of New York. fancy isthe very ideal of
Chief Justice; looking cold, emotionless, unsus-
ceptible-a bundle of precedents-an epitome Of
authorities. 1t hardly seems that such 8 man
from whose life the Unsuitable sponge of the Law
has absorbed the natural juices, need to suffer
decay, and be buried, like other people, at last.
Such an existence is in itself preserving and
mummy-making process-and it would almost
seem that he has only to grow more musty and
dry like some old parchment, until Death rolls
nun up ties him with red tape, and lays him away
IN some dusty pigeon-hole.
Inc Court room was crowded with the friends
Of Mr. Webster, and with strangers, many of
whom we're listening to him for the first time
Lieutenant Jagello was there, and it was amusing
10 watch the attentive expression Of her earnest
face She understood nothing-though there we
had not so much the advantage Of her as she sup
posed She regarded Mr.. Webster as the friend
Of the Hungarians and had faith to believe that
bis words were wise and gracious.
In the Library, at the Capitol, | had the good
fortune day or two since, to be presented to
Mr. Goodrich, the real, live Peter Farley. |
had SO COMPOUNDED him with the venerable and
Once'ish character he has 80 successfully and de-
hshtfully assumed, that | must own to being
somewhat taken aback at fioding him slightly
made fne-looking person, far too young for the
s'O'Y and garrulous Peter. was much gratified
- meeting this writer, as | regard him as one Of
-s "uest oenefactors of the age. No writer has
W. mustered more, if as much, to the pleasure
SUI instruction Of children, and a generation are
ss.oN'ns up with grateful love of him in their
t. n@ Could the world have given him more
',u'i'ai and soul-satisfyiDg fame7
.ai ne nigh privilege, the honor of writing for
''Heo is but little understood. Is 1t not a
',D','ui thing to call out the first bloom, to in
., VI inc Immortal R0ul-
Is it not great thing to trace the first
Il. 80 On the soft, white tablets ofthe mind, where
Mi viii harden and remain forever7 Oh, those
~ '' teachings, how the soul treasures them,
~. ]'uS them dear and sacred through all the
ses and labors, disirscting cares, and more
ing pleasures of life The mind cannot
=, proud and strong enough to eIpel them, nor
d He neart harden and contract till it brushes
aN, have heard, somewhere, the story of
w.. steward Of a banished lord who cut into
a,r ree On the old estate, and hid under the
4, '0uie small, but precious jewels belong to
,,n."' Years went by, and the young exile
aeu' an old man. The steward was gone
W.. 'ord knew well the secret Of his deposite,
lrsn the young tree stood, nov lowered
T.. YAK with bark hardened and rou ghened
s..a Out well it had kept it's trust and its
a.n 'noOgh the tough wood had closed over
h. az, ana no eye could gusss their hiding place.
IN. was ielled, and in its very heart the
'Ss =, 'Ound-hot point broken--not ray
tyS,1 'Aey flashed up to the light the old
s ''' aud made glad the hear. Of the mas
.sa.. 70 safe an investment IL knowledge in the
%, d.. na Of child-truth there lodged life.
''s' Though that mind may tower and