New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-02
Iron Letter to the Philadelphia Inqurerl
THE Congressional Burial Ground.

dav to a visit to the Congressional Burial Ground,
which is one of the objects of interest to strangers in
Washington. The disposition to visit cemeteries and
other resting places of the dead is universal and is
in itself an internal evidence of our own immortality,
or at least OF our convictions of future existence,
It is not the mere indulgence in romantic notions or
the effects of mawkish sensibty that impels us to
visit these cities of the dead 1t is perhaps natural
enough that each individual should cherish the spot
where reposes all that was mortal Of his loved and
lost ones but we must look beyond this and far be-
yond the mere gratifying Of morbid curiosity, to-
nsensiby led to wander among the habitations Of the
departed pau nu,,u, cronra At w,shinoto,
does not compare with the cemeteries OF note IN varl
Gus parts of the country. 1t lies near the Eastern
Branch of the Potomac, rather more than mile east
of the Capitol, and containing about ten acres OF
ground. It dates back to the year 1907 Its surface
is conveniently arranged for burial purposes but it
presents none of that diversity Of hill and dale and
variegated scenery which render Mount Auburn and
Greenwood attractive. Its chief merit is its Sc
qnestered location, rendering any future disturbance
of its sleeping tenants improbable.
The first objects that attract the eye OF visitor are
the small plain cenotaphs erected in memory Of those
members of Congress who have died at Washington.
These are arranged in double rows and number one
hundred and twentyeight in all. In some instances
the graves beneath them tenantless in the case
of Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and Others, but
most of them have not been disturbed since the re-
mains of the great men of the nation were deposited
there. The inscriptions on these ccnotaphs are uni
form and give simply the names of the dead, the
States from which they came and the date OF their
death.
shall have space to notice few of the most inter-
esting and striking monuments to be found here and
must do that briefly.
The remains of Henry Stephens Fox nephew of
| the celebrated Charles James Fox, and for many
years British Minister to this Government are enclos
ed in plain massive marble sarcophagus, to the
Congressional cenotaphs.
The monument erected to the memory of Major
n
marble shaft, with appropriate military emblems sur
| mounted by helmet with the Vizor down. The cpl
taph is from the General Orders of the War Depart
ment and is most expressive 1t runs as follows 1t
were but small tribute to his memory TO say that in
youth and manhood he served his country in the pro-
fession in which he died during period Of more than
forty years. without stain or blemsh upon his escutch
eon.'
A plain but graceful granite shaft marks the resting
place of Abel Parker Upshur formerly Secretary Of
the Navy, and afterwards of State and also of Capt
Beverly Kenuon, Of the Navy, who were killed on the
2Sth of February 1874, by the bursting of the great
cannon on board the Princeton They were warm
friends in life, and were buried together
Major General Jacob Brown, who died in 1928, lies
under massive broken marble column erected by or
der Of Congress
One of the finest, perhaps the most attractive monu
ments here is the erected to William Writ 1t is
constructed Of white marble and has door of en-
trance in the massive base, with graceful shaft above
it. There is very little ornament work about it and
but few inscriptions.
Commodore Charles W. Chauncey, who died in
Mexico in l846, has light and graceful marble shaft,
with appropriate emblems and inscriptions.
One Of tho handsomest in the grounds is tall spire
of white marble, slender and taperng, like Cleoparas
needle, rising over the grave of the late John W.
Maury, of this District, who died only about year
ago. The inscription which is said to be well merited
is as follows: His character was blended with all
that elevate Or adorn, and his life bright
example of the nobility and power Of virtue
One of the prettiest designs is inverted cannon,
marble standing three halls MAJ
be,) erected to the memory of Lieut.. John T. Nc.
Laughlin. late of the U. s. Navy; another to the
memory of Lieut.. George Milin Bache, of the coast
survey, and officers and crew who persisted with him
in the brig Washington, which lost in the Gulf
Stream in 1916, represents the broken mast of yes
sell and the sculptor has beautifully initiated the spin
ter of the timber.
Capt. Geo. W. Taylor, the inventor of the subsna-
rine armor reposes under little plain marble slab,
not more than three feet long by eighteen inches
wide laid carelessly on pile of unsightly bricks,
few inches above the ground.
The most elaborate monument is that of the family
of Jacob Gideon beneath which deposited the re-
mains Of his deceased wife, To my wife," and be-
low is large daguerreotype set in marble. The effect
is very pretty and the design appropriate.
Elbridge Gerry, formerly Vice President, who died
in lSl4 at the age of seventy, while his way to
the Capitol, to take his seat President of the Sen
ate, has a richly ornamented monument in the old
style, which was erected by order of Congress. He
realized his own memorable words which constitute
eepitaph engraved on his tomb, and were as follows
1t is the duty of every citizen, though he may have
but one day to live to devote that day to the good of
his country
Near by is another erected to the memory of Geo.
Clinton also Vice President. 1t consists of a
massive granite pedestal and obelisk, surmounted by
an iron torch holder the taste displayed in which is
to be doubted.
Push-ma.t a-ha, a Choctaw Chief, who died at Wash,
ington In 1924 has plain granite cenotaph, erected
by his brother chiefs.
The celebrated eccentric Lorenzo Dow is said to
have been buried here, but was unable to find any
clue to his resting place.
Some of the eptaphs inscriptions are exceeding
ly pretty and suggestive. can give but q few One
stone contains only the following sentence: Peace
to the spirit of J--S-" Another, know that;
he shall rise again. third, His sun went down
while it was yet day.. On the monument to n Russian
lady, She lived to see troubles she died to conpre-
bend God and eternity Another reads as follows:
My husband! thy memory is to me what the dew is
to the rose.'
But have reserved for the last what to me was the
most interesting and affecting of all the scenes on
which accidentally came during the half day spent
in this holy ground In a retired spot small space
is entirely surrounded by high brick wall much d.
lapidaed, and showing that care had been bestow-
ed upon it for years. There is no mound inside and
few rose bushes have been suffered to grow wild and
untrimned in either corner Just against one side of
square slab of marble, the upper portion of which
isengrayed in capital letters, the single word Gentle
Beneath this are the following lines:
The cup of life Just to his lips he pressed,
This is certainly strange and weird record but of
wat, and whom! could have unused for hours be-
ide this singular sepuchre, and fancy would have re-
created many a romantic history but speculations
were in vain, and the shades of evening warned me
that must leave the quiet and peaceful habtations
OF the dead land retrace my steps to the abodes of
the living to mngle again in the passions and duties
of those who might become better and wiser if they
would do as have done pass an occasional half day
in the Congressional Cemetery at Washington.
JOHNNY BULL GRUNTs.-The London Star, speak
ing OF the effects of the upon the people, says:
The effect of the expenses of the war upon the
people was remarkably illustrated few days ago in
the parish of St Marylebonc. For three four years
past there has been in that borough ourshng free
library greatly resorted to by the working classes as
well as by others of superior condition. Sir Benjamin
Hall is President of the institution, and it has been
fostered by the most liberal inhabitants of the Dor
ough; yet, when it was proposed the other night
to bring this institution under Mr. Ewarts free libra
res' act the people of Maryebone at once rejected
the proposal, without even waiting to hear it dis
cussed
The fact is that at the present time the people
have to bear such serious taxation that even another
tarthing in the pound is serious consideration. And
| this ought to be considered by a Government which
is squandefng thousands upon thousands in reviews
and in fireworks. Whilst they are recklessy wasting
heavy sums in gunpowder, here are body of rate
payers refusing even farthng rate to maintain an
institution of which they themselves so largely take
advantage.