New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-12
FROM WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Tuesday March 9, 1853.
I dare say you may have noticed an unusually
long gap in my corIespondence-an interval which
| find by chronological calculation to be exactly
week, though Judging purely from sensation should
have supposed it to be half century at least Like
Mr.. Wolcott, have been the captive Of power not
Known to the constitution and the laws-a physi'
clan having sentenced me to close Imprisonment on
penalty Of death if sought to escape, simply be-
cause for a week past the wind has blown steadily
from the north bringing with it health, vigor, ami
nation to the healthy, but pain and disease to the
weak and to those who are wayering like myself
between health and sickness. A strong, steady
political breeze from the North would have pre-
csey the same effect. 1t would inygOrate the faith
full and resoute and kill or cure those who have lost
their stamina in the enervating atmosphere OF the
Federal District.
heavy fall of snow has tempered the cold and
abated the high wind, and to-day hope to be able
to 90 ont in time to send you some news BY tele-
graph Meantime, in the absence OF any lntOrma-
ton about LecOmptOn or anti-LecOmptOn, or any
other political topic, let me say few words about
the National Convention of Artists, which has been
called to meet at this city, on the 2Oth OF THIS
month. A call has been published, signed by a
Committee of the Washington Art Association, ask
ton. with view to consult together for the adop-
tion of means to facilitate the application OF the
highest artistic talent and taste to the decoration OF
the Capitol. | understand that the responses 10
this cali from artists and art institutions have so lar
been very satisfactory. Some OF the most distih,
puisbed of American artists have already signlfed
their intention to be present.
BThe Capitol Extension affords as me an oppor'
fupity as the country could desire or expect to be-
t;o nd ir,%.
encouragement to art. AT an immense cost, TWO
magnificent wings have been erected, SO constructed
as 10 absolutely require the aid OF painting ana
sculpture to render the architectural effect even
toerably complete. They will have to be decorated
by paintings and statues and the question simply Is
whether the decoration shall be well OF Ill done
whether the money OF the nation shall DC expended
for works of art or for daubs and m0nstroSliIe'.
There is the best possible disposition in Congress,
and among the authorities here to do what is rgh!
and proper with regard to art, if they could only
find out what IS right and proper. For that they
must look TO the artists themselves for guidance ana
instruction. The proposed Convention will be sort
Of conference between art and legislation WhIcn
may result in benefit to both.
That peculiar tendency to slusbble when Is 50
marked part Of the artist nature, has broken ouI
with good deal of yirulence in Washington durlns
| the Winter. do not understand the ground, nor
do want to-but allude 10 il merely to correct al
error into which it has led a correspondent oil Que
of your city journals who speaks of the Art Con
yentiOn as the project of al unworthy iaeiion'
| and as discountenanced by the resident artists
| here among whom he mentions Cranch and helhe'
| Now the fact is that the names of both these
artists are signed to the call for the Convention az
| published in the city papers. Mr.. HeIne' DC.
heye was one of the most Jealous promoters OF tne
project He has recently opened on Penn'y aul'
avenue an exhibition of some Of MS pictures con
ssting chiefly Of sketches made III various paris o
| the world during the Japan Expedition ne I've :
| principal pieces are companion pictlre- Vl my
excellence one, A Merning in the North. pelhg
| on the Coast of Maine: the other, A Morning II
the Tropics, an exquisite Bit Of river ana lors'
scenery in the Island Of Singapore almost urde'
the equator. There is a bill now petdlng oeiort
Congress to remunerate Mr.. Hene for MS SERVICES
as artist Of the Japan Expedition lot ~e me.
hitherto be has been paid only at the rate OF -,
| a month The proposed allow snce 10 hlm Is mod