Washington sentinel., 1854-03-12

spatched, in which case, as remarked BY dis
tinguished senator, this segregating the depart.
ments would give occasion for corps of mes
sengers larger than both houses of Congress,
and then very, very imperfectly supplying the
advantages of mutual proximity, as it is well
known that personal conference of Eve min
utes would settle a matter which through mes
sengers would take a month, and just as likely
to complicate as to adjust.
These are some Of the reasons for mutual
proximity. Ifthere be a solitary reason on the
other side, showing a greater facility for the
transaction of public business, for economy, or
to obtain architectural beauty it has not hitherto
been devised, or at any rate divulged.
The sites of the proposed buildings should
be so selected as to leave to Posterity no cause
for regret. In regard to these matters there
has been an universal error, alike by the ma
tional government by States and by cities, all
of which have had occasion bitterly to regret
having ceded or having encountered ground
which should have been kept sacred for the
public benefit. Already we have, in this city,
to deplore the unhappy policy which restricted
to pitiful limits, the capitol grounds Of coun-
try destined in o few years to number one hun
dred and fifty millions of people; and there
was one act Of General Jackson which has re-
commended itself to universal commentator,
to wit that of enlarging the capitol grounds.
Perhaps no public verdict would be more
unanimous than that the contemplated build
ings should not be erected on the Presidents
square" The space there is already so small
that to prevent intrusion upon buildings con-
nected with the presidential mansion, the Trea-
sury building was thrown forward some thirty
feet from the site intended, and thus excluding
the front steps originally intended, and so
marring the general aspect of the front, as to
render the entire architecture of the building
one of a very questionable character. Similar
results would flow from the erection of appro-
pirate buildings on the sites of those now oc-
cupied by the War and Navy Departments.
The evils would be aggravated by the addition
of two wings to the Treasury building and sur
rounding the Presidents mansion with Gordon
of unsavory odors. Besides which, it is per-
fectly manifest that very extensive additions
must be made to the White House, or an en-
tirely new and greatly enlarged structure must
be erected to meet the augmenting population
of the city, and of the number Of citizens from
every quarter of the Union visiting Washing
ton. Even now the rooms are crowded to suf.
focation-the very windows being converted
into doors of exit-and the number would be
greatly larger were the reception rooms sutfi-
ciently capacious for comfort.
The custom of having music in the Presi-
dents grounds may be considered as estab-
lished, and abundant room should be given,
and the grounds rendered accessible from the
avenue, as would be the case when the build
ings now dis6guring those beautiful grounds
shall have been removed. 1t is to be hoped
that this musical recreation, SO universally ac-
ceptable, and SO readily commanded by gov
ernment, will be continued. and with every pos
sible improvement. Government spends mil
lions in architectural ornaments, all Of aohich
united cannot compare ,cith the beauty Of these
grounds, lchen cleared from the Disagreement
Of the present buildings. Besides being orna
mental in an eminent degree these grounds
would be no less healthfu. If building be
erected without ornament, it would equally
well fulfil all purposes Of utility as would an
ornate one, and it could, at any time, be re-
placed BY one of any desired splendor, and if
that should be destroyed, another can be erected
on its site. A building at the moment of its
completion has reached its zenith, alike for
beauty as for use, it is no longer susceptible of
Improvement; it admits Of no varying beauties,
it is ever the same, except that the hand of
time is busy in increasingly Fastening it to
decay; its beauty is to the sense of sight alone.
While these grounds will outlast thousand
successive gorgeous edifces, and in all that
time, ever varying, ever changing, ever beauti-
ful; glorious to the eye in all the varied tints
of its green drapery, with all gardens choicest
flowers bespangling it. Thus the millions who
shall successfully thread the mazes of these
grounds, will find shelter and cool breezes will
have sight, scent, and hearing, delighted amid
the grove itself; and from beneath its foliage,
will view in silent satisfaction the gorgeous,
silent pile that fronts it with its beauty, as will
the contemplated buildings when reared visa
Wis to these grounds while buildings on these
grounds will hide more than half their beauties
and prove perpetual nuisance, the regret and
condemnation of posterty. .
What is the pride Of Boston? Every voice
responds, The common. Does any one regret
its extent? Is there one man in that whole
community would have it shorn of one foot Of
its dimensions? Were it practicable to make
it three hundred acres instead Of fifty, would
not its advantages and the qualification of all
its citizens be proportionably increased?
Is not the city of New York dissatisfied with
the paucity and extent of her public grounds,
numerous though they be; and she is now
robbing the waters Of domain to enlarge her
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