Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-02-24
Congress and the President,

The following is from an interesting letter
by the Washington correspondent of the ~
Y. Post:
Sitting IN the Senate gallery, and looking
down upon the scene below, one is appalled, to
see how the nnbodies have taken possession Of
it, Once it was held sacred to wisdom, ex-
perience and ability-the place where tho ma
tons mighty men were gathered in council
to hold high debate on the public good. Now
it is consecrated to pretentious littlencss. to
petty ambition, or to uses worse than these.
Take out, at most, Il dozen men, who remain
Us noble mementoes Of the greatness of other
days, and the rest Of the sixty-tWo would
scarcely be men of mark In New England
town meeting They come here, not AS free
agents, but az convenient blades to handles
that are held by managers at home. The
leader Of the Senate is Douglas of Illinois !!
That fact tells its story.
In the HOUSE,. the peoportion OF ability ~
much greater, although the modern doctrine
Of availability, upon which Mr.. Webster was
so justly sarcastic, ia gradually driving out the
men of positive character, and substituting
smooth pebbles IN their stead. Still, day
in the House leave. ynu with but q sma II rem
napt Of reverence for any of its qualities, and
its principal superiority over the owl.lika as-
semblage at the other end of the Capitol, con-
SistS in not affecting dignity it docs not
possess.
After looking at both Houses, could not
help calling 70 4.ind 4 remark once made by
the Hon. Andrew Traay, nov In the llnnse
from Vermont, in regard TO the Senate of that
state, lie aid it was all asylum for neglected
merit, for tbs men y hn composed it had never
been elected 10 the HOUSE, nor heen heard Of
h..ss p.I IA tal We
Senate has a great many of these misnsed in
nocerts
According to custom. | called with lady
friend, on the President. II was reception
day. We walked in unhrraded, and saon
found ourselves in the reception room, where
NJ Pierre. was talking with hevy OF ladies.
Imraadiatsly gu svaina M hr approached, re-
ceiyed us very politely, and Introduced ua %
Mrs. Pierce. The President Impressed ms
better than had expected, and better than
mort Of his pictures. He had whitened out t.
the true com p!eIion Of II parlor knight-palo
anil soft looking. IhGAlh not what should
call elegant, his manners are easy and Agree
able. lie is more meek in appearance" thai.
! he ~ usually represented, rs might he exp'c-
| ted Of NAN who has submitted to he driven
into the position If tail to Senator's Doug
las kite.
Alter snort staY, we parscu INTO the ~
nous Fast Room, saw the gliding and the
curtains, and the new carpet, and then went
AZ we came, " on our own hook" The Pres
ident evidently feels the Presidency thrilling
every nerve, and coursing every vein. lie il
% delighted with it. that he is palpably fall
Ing into the dclusiqn Of Suggesting hiWself I
possible successor to himself Could hnr
self-coDcsjt 20 furthcr' Setting aside the in
hsFcpt impqssibility Of the thing, on accoun
of the inevitable discQyeries which his cleya
ton has involved his mad and wicked gahe
sion to the Nebraska pcridy viii settle hi
chances, as it will of all the rest, giants
or pigmies, who touch it.