The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-06-04
NO. Is.
The National Metropolis.

o'Piy VI INDUSTRY ABOUT Tie pubilc build
ings rs at the present time. So extensive
were the appropriations Of the late Con-
gress, out OF full treasury, that employ.
lnent Is given to hundreds upon hundreds
OF men, many OF whom are happy thus to
be able 10 support their families.
AT the Department Of the Interior--gen-
orally called the Patent Office, because
there the first deposit was Of y,atents-ws
hnd nearly completed marble building of
perfect Grecian beatty. 1t is Of magnificent
proportions, covering whole square. On
three sides are beautiful porticoes with Do.
ric columns, the effect of which is indeed
most impressive. liza man could pass with
telegraphic speed, on some lovely morning.
from the ruins Of Athens or Rome 10 the
squares and triangles of Washington, where
the ancient forms of architecture are repro
duced with such a freshness and beauty, he
would obtain vivid idea of the rising glo-
ries OF our Western Republic, not to be OBJ.
scured, we trust, by the dark spirit of disun-
ion. Indeed, the materials going into the
construction of these buildings, spread about
over acres Of ground. being OF The most du-
rable quality, suggest, like SO many SYM
6ols, the perpetuity Of the Union. Who
has made any proposal to stop the progress
OF these erections, as if they would not be
wanted here for nm indefinite future? Not
one. am more and more convinced that
all this clamor about dissolving the Union
is for political effect. While Congress was
appropriating millions for improving this
Federal city and its viciaity, why did no
one rise and objectl Because there is gen.
eral expectation that this is to continue
"forever" to be the metropolis Of united
country One long gallery in the above.
mentioned building is appropriated rs
repository for curiosities collected from all
quarters ofthe world; among them the frnits
of Tie exploring expeditions ordered BY the
Government. Some few relics Of Washing
ton and Franklin arc here preserved. The
Sword Of Washington and the cane Of
Franklin the veritable, visible realities,
grasped by those stupendous right hands,
are gazed on by thousands with an enthu.
siasm of yeneration almost idolatrous. Well,
there's Franklin's press, too, very different
thing, l assure you, from "Hoe's last fast"
but mighty engine, for all that. These
sights do awaken a world of thought, for
those men, under God, changed the face of
the world.
A thousand men are at work on the Capi
tol alone. That will be. wonder when
completed. II is unsightly now, for the old
dome is broken off. and they are just now
laying the foundations of the new and more
splendid dome. Seventy two iron brackets,
weighing between two and three tons each.
have been ifted TO the summit of the build
ing 10y the aid Of steam power, and are to
constitute the framework Of the base. Tho
huted columns, large and long, now lying
on the ground, will soon be raised to their
places. and the proportions Of the magni6.
cent superstructure will begin to appear by
the time the travellers go by for the White
Sulphur Springs Of Virginia. Walter, the
architect, is ambitious TO erect for himself
monument at the same time. on the princi-
pie of Sir Christopher Wrens Cfrcumspice.
Latrobe's old dome had its day Of admira-
ton and viluperalion, as has Greenough'a
sitting statue Of Washington in the eastern
park of the Capitol; but it has disappeared.
Raudolph's sarcasms will endure RS long a.
the statues and paintings at which they are
leveiled, and the memory Of the originals
longer than either. Nothing can exceed
the beauty Of Crawford's works, most OF
which are in shops adjacent 10 the Capitol.
some IN an unfinished state the Italians be.
ing at work upon them from the plaster
models. Among them are the Genius Of
America, robed in a starry mantle, the Co.
MUS of War, Of Peace. Of Industry. of
knowledge, dc. All these works are des.
tined TO adon some portion of the Capitol
Extension, while the interior rooms are
growing beautiful under the skill Of the pic
torial artists. Indeed this building will, Of
Itself, be II vast museum open TO the gratuit-
Gus inspection Of the people of the United
States and Of the world, without money and
without price. The rustic Representative
from the far interior, where arts and ci,iea
are unknown, will open his eyes and mouth
IN wonder rs he looks upon the gorgeous
works Of art destined to decorate the Capi-
tol. In truth, such is the profusion Of sym
boIIcal ornament the Italian painters are
putting ON the walls of the committee rooms.
that most persons viii require an interpre.
ter 10 bring them within the understanding.
All this seems hardly compatible with the
simplicity Of our Institutions; but what shall
the Government do with its superintendent
money!
Not Tar from tiIe Patent Office building
Is soon to be erected a Roman Catholic
church, Of the Gothic order, in the place Of
an old structure that has stood fifty years.
A meeting of the leaders Of the congrega-
lion was held this week, lsyman called to
the chair, the priest being present and al.
vising. Ii was resolved ito erect church
becoming the perpetual historic grandeur
of our holy faith, its steady dignitied pro.
gress in this free country, and while at the
same time it will be in keeping with the
we-suslained efforts of the whole country
to adorn our Federal Metropolis" The in.
tention is TO build spacious church, capa.
bIe OF seating 5000 people; length Of The
nave to be Oil feet, width So transep, ia
feet, and sS wide; extreme altitude Of the
front elevation Sl2 feet. The space Of
ground coycyed hy fhe edihce will La "a