The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-07

called. the loco-lnco party He wasat that tluse
living on his farm or kinderhook; the house
was modest aud extremely we'll ordered, and
/ nothing could exceed the courtesy and fslness
of conversation. He was full Of anecdotes OF
all the public men of his country In his dining
room were pictures Of Jefferson and General
Jackson, the great suhjects OF hs polite Il deyo-
ton. On my return through Albany, had an
interview with Mr.. Seward, then for the second
time Governor OF the State of New York l
fnd that noted ut the time that he was the first
person had met who did not speak slightingIy
Of AboIitionistx he thought they were gradually
gaining ground. He had already acted spirit
ed part on points connected with slavery, espe-
cially in contest with the Legislature Of Vir-
ginia concerning the delivery of fugitive slaves.
approached the city Of New York by the
Hudson. The whole course Of that river from
Albany, as seen from the decks Of the count
less steamers that ply along it, is singulary
beautiful; especially where 1t forces passage
through the barrier OF the Highlands, which,
however afford no features of rugged grandeur
like our friends in Scotlapd; but though the
forms are steep and we'll defined their rich green
outlines OF waving wood, inclosing in smooth,
many-curved reaches, the sail-covered bosom Of
the stately river, present nothing but soft and
smiling hinges. then took up my winter
quarters at New York. | thou ,ht this, the com
lnercial and fashionable, though not the poIti-
cal capital OF the Union, very brilliant city.
to give the best idea Of it, should describe it
rs something of fusion between Liverpool and
Pars--crowded qdays, long perspectivss of
vessels and masts, bustling streets, gay shops,
| tall white house, and clear sky overhead
| There IL an absence Of soIidity in the general
appearance; but in some Of the new bu ldings
they are successfully availing themselves Of their
ample resources in white marble and grahits.-'
At the point OF the battery where the long
thoroughfare Of Broadway, extending some miles,
pushes it's green fringe into the wide harbor of
New York, with its glancing waters and graceful
shipping, and the long raking masts which look
90 different from our own, and the soft swellinc
outline Of the receding shores, it has special
character and beauty Of its own I spent about
month here very pleasantly; the society mp
pearcd to me, on the whole, to have Iess solid
and really refined character than that Of Boston,
but there is more Of animation, gaiety, and
sparkle, in the daily life. In point of hospitality
neither could excel the other. Keeping to nv
rule Of only mentioning names which alreauy
belong to fame, | may thus distinguish the late
Chancellor Kent whose commentaries are well
known to professional renders; he had been
obliged by what think the very unwise law Of
the State of New York, to retire from his high
legal office at the premature age of sixty, aud
there found him at seventy, full of boysh an.
imation and ygor, which combined with great
simplicity, made his conversation most ayr .eabe
Washington Irving, a we'll known name both
to American and English ears, whose nature ap-
pears as gentle and kindly as his works. can
not well give higher praise-Mr Bryant, in high
repute as poet and Others
| had the pleasure of making acquaintance
with many OF the families of those who had been
the formost men OF their country-Hamiitons
jays and Livingstons. I lodged at the Astor
House, large hotel conducted upon a splendid
scae; and / cannot refrain from one, fear
rather sensual ausion to the oyster cellars of
New York; in no part Of the world have ever
seen places of refreshment rs attractive; every
one seems to eat oysters all day long. What
signifies more, the public institutions and schools
are there also extremely well conducted. The
churches of the different denominations are very
numerous and well filed. 1t is my wish to
touch very lightly upon any point which among
u.s. among even some of us now here, may be
matter of present dispute and controversy l.,
however, honestly think That the experience of
the United States does not, rs yet, enable them
to decide on either side the argument, between
the established and voluntary systems in reli-
gion. Take the towns by themselves, and ]
think the voluntary principle appears fully ade-
quate to satisfy all religious exigencies Then,
it must be remembered, that the class which
makes the main difficulty elsewhere, scarcely, If
at all, exists in America. 1t is the blessed pr-
yilege of the United States, and it is one which
goes far to countcrbalance many drawbacks at
which may have to hint, that they really have
not as class, any poor among them. A real
6eggar Is what you never see. On the other
hand, over their immense tracts of territory, the
| voluntary system has not sufficed to produce
sufflcientreligious accommodation; it may, how.
ever, be truly questioned whether any establish
ment could be equal to that function This Is,
however, one among the many questions which
the republican experience of America has moi vet
solved. As matters stand at present, indifference
to religion cannot be fairly laid to her charge
Probably religious extremes are pushed further
then elsewhere. There certainly is breadth
and universally Of religious liberty, which do
not regard without some degree of envy.
| Upon my progress southwark, made com.
paratively short halt at Philadelphia This fair
| city has not the animation Of New York; but il
is eminently well built neat, and clean beyond
parallel. The streets are all at right angles
| with each other, and bear the names Of the diff
| ferent trees Of the country. The houses are OF
red brick, and mostly have white marble steps.
and silver knockers, all looking bright, and shin
i'iS uHocI G'ic ehtct VI cOptOuS ana perpetual
washing. II still seems like town constructed
by Quakers, who were its original founders, bu,
by Quakers who had become rather dandified
The water-works established here are deserved,
celebr tied; eich house can have rs much waite,
NJ it likes within and without Mt every moment
for about l8s. year. l hope our towns will b.
emuous OF this great advantage | think il
right to say, that in our general arrangements
for health and cleanliness, we appear to me yer,
much to excel the Americans, and eur people
look infinitely healthier, steuter, roster and io-
lier. The great proportion of Americans will
whom you converse, would be npt to tell You
they were dy+peptic; whether principally from
the dry quality Of their atmosphere, the com
paraiively little exercise which they take, or the
rapidity with which they accomplish their meals
| will not take upon myself to pronounce
There is enc point If advantage which they turn
to account, especially in all their new towns
which Is. that their immense command Of space
enables them to isolate every house, and thu
eccurp ambient utuosnhpra for venfilatior