Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-13
HORACE GREELEY ON AFFAIRS IN
WAsHINGTON.

The following description of the boiling
cauldron of politics in Washington, and por-
traitures of those two Kansas gentlemen, the
one the real, the other the sham, delegate
from the new Territory to Congress, is from
the pen of no less parsonage than Horace
Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, who
is now in Washington. Mr.. Greeley is super
intending and directing his party with refer
ence to the organization of Congress, and fills
up his leisure moments by writing letters to
his paper.
Than Horace Greeley there is no greater
curiosity in Washington. There are many
eminent men here in both houses Of Congress,
many learned judges, many great lawyers ;
many naval and army heroes, and some of
those daring adventures who have won proud
names in border warfare, but we doubt If any
of these attract more attention than that hu-
man anomaly-Horace Greeley. He is con.
stantly pointed out and gazed at as curios-
ity-a curiosity in person, in mind, in char
acter. He is not looked upon to be admired
and approved, but TO be surprised at and con.
demned.
Mr.. Greeley thus writes:
Editorial Correspondence ofihe n. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1855.
The National Hotel is the political exchange
Of the Federal City, and there are several hours
of meeting in the course Of the day; but /
think may designate p. m. as high Change
hour at present. The House has (for the day)
stopped trying to elect Speaker and adjourn.
ed about ; since then, dinner has been dis
cussed and moistened; and now the many
boarders at this great hotel have been Joined
by as many more who lodge elsewhere, and an
assemblage, often amounting to hundreds, fills
all the halls and public rooms on the ground
floor, perpetually forming clusters Of from
three TO half dozen persons facing inward for
a moments earnest converse on the events OF
the day and the chances Of the morrow; then
dissolying to form new clusters, with endless
lamentations, as individuals drop of to their
rooms, their meetings or their evening calls,
and others drop in to ill their places. Sena-
tors, Representatives, candidates their name
is legion) for underclerkships, and all manner
of waiting and tending upon the House, are
here mixed up with borers, editors teegraphers,
letter writer's, and gentlemen who happen 10 be
passing through Washington, or have come
here on purpose 10 see how laws are made and
nations governed. The general rule, however,
is, that all you meet bere-members Of Con.
gress and placemen excepted, are after some
thing from the candidate for the Clerkship to
the letter writer in hot pursuit Of an item. In
the midst Of this moving. shifting, jostling
crowd, two figures naturally attract a large share
Of notice among the number who might well
reward moments attention.
That tall, youngishlooking, welLdressed,
strongly made, rather progressing man Of
some FIVE and thirty years, is John w. Whit
field chosen Delegate for Kansas by the Mis-
souriaus who went over into that Territory for
the purpose, on the day Of election appointed
by the Legislature they chose in the same way
last spring. And that 6rmly-knit, plainly
dressed, middle-sized, farmer looking, grave
hammered person Of fifty, with low-crowned
hat, and hair and mustache beginning TO wear
the silver tnge Of life's autumn, is Andrew II.
Reeder, the delegate chosen at an election ap.
pointed by themselves by the Free-State set
stlers Of Kansas, comprising more than two
thirds Of the actual residents Of that Territory.
Around these two personagcs how much of the
interest Of the session necessarily concentrates
How vitality must the struggle Of '56 and the
future character and destiny Of our country be
Influenced by their conflicting fortunes