Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-21


army. After the war the work was resumed with
fresh vigor, and was completed in 1925, having
cost the government the respectable sum OF near
" three millions of dollars In 1850, think, ap-
propriatons were made for the erection of two
new wings, North and South, each 124 by loZ
feet of pure white marble. The cornerstone OF
the east-wing extension was laid, you remember,
by President FILLMORE, on the 4th of July 1851,
when DANIEL WEBSTER delivered one OF his most
brilliant efforts. This work, half-completed as
yet, disturbs and detracts from the view OF the
Capitol, which has been further mutilatcd BY the
removal of the Dome, which has been taken down
preliminary to the erection of one of larger pro-
portions corresponding with the increased SIZE OF
the edfce. We must therefore be contented with
half picture, consoling ourselves with the knowl-
edge that when the work is complete our Nation
al Capitol, prescribing truly imposing front of
75O feet, with its noble position and its command
ing proportions, fashioned richly and elegantly
yet with republican simplicity and q severely
classical taste, will command admiration MS the
proudest monument of American genius, taste nnd
skill, the grandest achievement of American art,
the pride of free, liberal and mighty people, and
the unapproached wonder Of the world.
As we pass through the eastern grounds, we
are attracted near the ecentre by Greenoughs stat
ue Of Washington, which, on account perhaps of
position and an attire lily beftting represen-
tation of the ''Father of his Country" does not
command the!attenton which MS work Of art it
undoubtedly deserves. Approaching nearer, we
ascend long flight of steps to the grand portico,
1GO feet in extent elevated on o high basement
and adorned with double row of magnificent
Corinthian columns, surmounted by pediment or
tympan embellished with group Of statuary,
representing the Genius Of America, said to be the
gift and, not unlikely the production Of John
Quincy Adams. Upon cheek-blocks on each side
as we enter the portco, are placed PersicO's cee-
bratcd group of statuary, "Columbu, and the In
dian Girl" and group entitled "Cirlizntion," 1"
by Greenough, representing the fierce conflict be-
tween the Backwoodsman and the Indian. We
have not space to express adequately the impress
sions made by the contemplation Of these noble
productions; and, indeed, our untutored taste and
poverty stricken vocabulary make us unequal to
the task Columbus standing in majesty, strength,
power with world held forth in his outstretch-
ed hand; the crouching Indian maiden, a very i'm
personation of the savage character; the hardy
backwoodsman contcnding with and conquering
his savage foe, with the wife and child beautiful
in conception ms they are perfect in execution,
tremblngly awaiting the event-all are surely
worthy of the commentator to be bestowed upon
the perfection of art and the most celebrated of
modern artists. Further on, in two inches on ei-
thcr side of the door, arc two statues also by Per-
sico, symbolical of Peace and War; to both of
which much the same words of praise might just
ly be accorded.
Before entering the Rotunda, US let give place to
the reflections which every visitor must indulge
when first standing upon that spot. The eastern
portico has not inaptly been called "the vcstibule
to the great temple of The Union; here has been
enacted scenes, in the annals of our people, which
in true grandeur and singular greatness are not to
be compared with any known to the profanc his.
tory of the world. On the fourth Of March, of
each fourth year. new altar is erected to Liberty,
unu us rrarnes-afe rgnted up anew purntn still
rore brightly with incense offered up to Liberty
God from the grateful hearts Of assembled freemen.
Here. when the hour has come the ruler Of n
mighty people calmly lays aside the insignia and
willingly resigns the sceptrc Of his office while the
High Priest, ministerirg at the altar, annoins to
his great duty, and invites with the sceptre, him
who of all has been chosen by his peers to WELD
in his turn the destiny of the nation. A scene so
sublime in its touching beauty and simplicity, so
far removed from the pomp, and pride and display
of power, so severe in its Republican truthfulness
in vain demands parallel. Here, on the self
same spot, have stood and have been sworn to
their high duty, all the great men who have di-
rected the progress of the Republic savethe elder
Adams and the greatest of them all, Washington !:
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Polk, Taylor, and
Pierce and here, too, have stood Calhoun, Clny
and Webster, higher on the scroll of fame than oil
save one-Hamilton, Burr, Randolph, Wright,
McDufie, Writ and the host who have worshipped
in the temple, and gone to their crown of reward!
sacred spot indeed! would that the violence of
contendng factions might be stayed, that we might
hope never to see it buried beneath the crumbled
columns of that mighty Temple and broken, dis
ordered fragment of consecrated Book of the Al
tar--the glorious Constitution
But our pages have grown beneath our pen
alarmingly, and we must reserve the completion
of our letter for another sketch.
Yours, $. W.. NJ.
WASHINGTON CRY, August 13.
With the reluctance Of one who has much to
see and but limited time ut his command, and
with the hurry and confusion of one who has very
much to write and too circumscribed space in
which to write it, resume the task of sketching
for your readers my progress of exploration
through the Capitol. If remember Alright, my
career terminated suddenly, in the iast letter,
with some conglomerated, "high-falutin' stuff
about the 'svestibule"-ideas which never fail to