Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-08
Correspondence of the Baltimore Pairiat.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %, 1851.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 90, 1851.
The House Of Representatives not
sitting Monday, the only day Of the
week on which the Rules of Order
can be suspended, so as TO do honor
10 Kossuth and his coming, is lost.
There is no disinclination to welcome
Kossuth, but there is great oppugna-
ton to giving him what some request,
the honors Of a sitting in either
House, so as to enable him to make
a speech. A majority OF Congress
do not wish TO connect the Govern
ment with him in any form. They
do not resist Individual action, and
individual compliments, but they do
not mean TO approve Or adopt bis
rule, that il is the duty Of this coun-
try, in case Europe engage in a
general fight, to look on among all
the nations, and say, slight i; out,
but fair play" The policy OF this
Government is fixed. as long as il is
its interest to refrain from iniermed-
ding in European affairs. This SEN
timent here is almost universal.
The Committee OF the Senate,
Messrs. Seward, Shields and others,
have engaged spacious apartments
at Browns Hotel for Kossuth and
his suite. There was no direct
authority on the part of the Senate
for this act, and there is no appro-
priation TO pay for expenses incurred,
but it is presumed the Senate will
pay through its contingent fund.
The House has as vet taken no step
at all, but It is highly probable that
the use OF the Hall of The House
will he voted 10 Kossuth when the
House is not in session, and the usual
compliment of admittance may be
given him, as other distinguished
men ale admitted.
Ii is thought by some, but | have
my doubts OF it. that the now again
proved to be peculiar condition of The
public records. public property, &c.
especially in The four Departments of
State, War. Navy. and Interior, will
lead to the early erection OF fire.
proof public buildings. There is
nothing safe in either of the Depart
menis. The precious revolutionary
treasures of our country, such as the
Declaration OF Independence, and
the trophies Of war. all may be lost
in a fire. No other people ever he
fore thus trihed with their sacred
mementoes and precious relic-,-bni
it is very doubtful whether the utter
ruin of the Library will open the
purse Of the Treasury wide enough
TO cause the erection of suitable fire
proof public buildings here. As it
is, there being no adequate room for
the constantly growing increase OF
public business, it is probable that
wan; will make itself felt before even
the loud and fearful CRY OF Sire"
Congress will soon be called upon
10 make large appropriations for the
two new wings of lhe Capitol. which |
are going to cost, | suppose, million
and a half or two millions Of dollars.
Only hundred thousand dollars
have vet been appropriated, and that
but lays the foundation. The need |
of new Library will hurry up,
without doubt, the work TO be done.
A pretty good anecdote is told Of
Chief Justice fancy and the Su-
preme Court on the day of the fire.
The Library was in flames, and |
clouds Of smoke were rolling out
and enveloping the Capitol. The !
Chief Justice, nevertheless, appeared |
in his seat at the usual hour. "May |
it please your Honor said some
one, twill the Court sit to-dayf"
The Chief looked up coollv and
significantly to ask. SIS the Court
Room really on firer' "Oh no, not
ye1." was the answer. "Then we'll
sit till it is" added the Chief. And
the Court did sit, and transacted
business as usual, amid all the confu-
sion abou; it.
Pennsylvania AVENUE.
COugrer~ional.
OOH Crnan IT, |