Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-01

ady, recently of this village, now residing ut
he Seat of Government.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1855.
The first object Of interest which attracts the
,ye of a stranger on arriving at Washington, is
the Capitol, it being in full view from the depot
The Capitol proper, is certainly magnificent
and beautiful structure, but | am disposed to
think that the Wings of the same. which are
in progress of construction, will tend to injure
the symmetrical appearance of the main struc-
ture. However, it is simply carrying out the
plan of tho artist who designed the original
model. The walls of the two Wings have al
ready attained the height of those of the main
ediice, and the said Wings are rapidly approach
ing to completion.
Of the internal arrangements and decorations
of the Capitol, it will he useless to say much,
as numerous descriptions OF them have been
given. and most Of your renders, if not all, have
already better idea of them than could hope
to convey The paintings in the rotnnda, en-
blematical of our Country's history, will ever
continue to attract the attention and elicit the
admiration of visitors.
The statuary in and about the Capitol, is by
our first artists, and that by Greenough isprom-
incnt The Congressional Library is not what
it was before the distraction of the many Vol.
umes by fire. I have visited the House of Rep
resentatives several times while Congress was in
session. had expected 10 find dignliled body
in the House of Representatives, but was dis
appointed And am bound to say, that
have seen more dignity and comparatively more
real ability in the Legislature, at Montpelier,
thun can be found in the present House. While
was present, member from some obscure dis
trict in Alabama, was attempting to address the
House, but with very Indifferent success Two
or three members appeared to be listening to
his remarks, hut the greater portion, were busy
walking about, talking and laughing, some were
lolling listlcssly in their STATS reading and some
were apparently sleeping. tbs Il notorious fact
here, that there are not even h~lf dozen mem
bcrs who can secure the undivided attention Of
the House for the short period Of sixty consecu-
tive seconds During may whole stay, | was
unable to ascertain what the legitimate business
before the House really was, 1t was to me /" Con-
fusion worse Confundcd'
The Senate came nearer to my notion OF what
deliberate assembly shonld he. Unlike the
House, business is transacted in the Senate with
out noss and t,proar 70 each member alike,
is respectful attention paid while spanking, and
''order reigns supreme over all y There are
many no',le-looking men i'll the Senate, but Mr..
Foot is regarded by all tie ladies who are in the
habit of occupying seats in the gall 'rirs as ny
far the handsomest man in that body. And
while his personal appearance receives the praise
Of the fair sex, it is bat simple justice to say
that his superior ability his soond Judgment,
and his solid requirements have gained for him
the respect Of leading men here. His capacity
for labor, renders his services on committees Of
infinite value He speaks but seldom, but always
to the point. His remarks on the bill known liz
the 80 Old Soldiers Bill, which has for its OBJ
ject the granting of Bornty Lands to those Off
GERS und soldiers who served in the war Of 1912.
will, doubtless. produce the desired effect, to
1.-THE inclusion within the provisions Of
the bill of the Plattshurgh Volunteers. He
claimed that it would be but an act of manifest
justice to extend the benefits Of the bill to those
- Green Mountain Boys" who. In the hour Of
danger, turned oat upon the first sound of alarm,
and aided in driving back an invading army,
thus saving the regular troops from Il disastrous
defeat. 1t is believed that those " sharp shoot
ers who thus distinguished themselves. on the
ever memorable llth of September. will have
even and exact justice metcd out to them. None
are more deserving of the gratitude of their
country; none displayed more gallantry in its
defence, and none ever received Il more deserving
substantial and beautiful tribute to their brave.
ry, than the Plattsburgh Volunteers rcceiv at
the hands of Mr.. Foot, in the Senate y
| have been presented to his Excelency, the
President Of the United States, and have ;ltten-
ded one of his levees. The President, with the
exception of being a little pale and care-wo
appears to he in good health. His amiable lady
docs the honors," at the weekly assemblies
at the Presidential mansion. The President
takes his position in the g Green Room" and
the Marshal of the District stands by his side
and introduces those who desire it, to the Chief
Magistrate. 1"
|
The White House is superbly furnished and
the great " East Room, which, in Mrs. Madi.
r son s time. was used to dry clothes and keer
chickens in, is now fitted up in style of mag
nificence and srlendor only equallcd by the st
r Nichols, and other world-rcnowned palaces. in
; New York. Everybody goes to the levess, and
many take their children along. One of thu
most noticeable features of these gatherings, i,
> the extravaganza display of Dry Goods The
ladies appear in the most gaudy and brilliant
colors, and fashion " holds illimitable dominion
over all - ut the Metropolis. They are not sat.
islsta, however, with simply displaying tbei,
calico, and bedeeking themselves in ribbons o.
gay colers, but, by cutting their dresses 50 low
in the neck as to do away, in a great measure
with the nee ssity Of providing waist, they
display more Of their person than is allowable in
New England society. And by whitewashinp
and painting their faces, they show their true
colors, and meke no effort 30 conceal them. Tho
lectures at the Smithsonian Institute, have been
unusually attractive this winter, and the cana.
cious lecture room has Invariably BEEN fill d to
its utmost capacity. p.w.p,
} ROMAN CATHOLIC INTRIGUEs In 1852.
At the Ellicovie American Celebration
on the 22nd of Novemb r, u r Ii. Shank
laud now Of III Otsego Examiner and formerly