Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-03-11
Washington Correspondence Of The Trib. &. fel

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and us sl0rgeBieat-St0tases land the
fine arts-Senators Seudrd, Hom-
mono, and Doolittle, and their speeches
] am once more in Washington after
an absence of five years. The city is
but little changed. The crowd however
at the hotels and boarding houses is u OF
quite as dense, but still there may be
seen quite q number of pilgrims among
the politicians and outsiders. stalking a.
long Pennsylvania Avenue. Each party
is backed up by very strong force and
you can depend upon it that the ques-
ton of the admission or rejection of
Kansas under the Lecompton Constitu-
tion is regarded by all political parties as
one of the most important that has been
before Congress, for the last quarter of
century. 1t is in fact the great hinge
upon which is to be now turned the bal
ance of power between the north and
the south. Neither of these will yield
the preponderance short of an intellec-
tual struggle upon both floors of Con-
gress worthy of the great principle in
volved.
The buildings of the Capitol with the
new extensions, will, when completed
make a'grand and imsposing appearance
buildings that will favorably compare
in design architecture and material with
capitols and Public Edifces in Countries
on the other hemisphere, whose Empires
date back more than thousand years.
The original buildings as designed by
Hallet and others, only covered about
one and half acres-but the present
buildings, with their extensions, design
ed by the government architect, 7. L.
Walter Esq, cover in extent almost four
and one quarter acres, or about two
thirds as much rs the great church " St.
Peters at Rome. The two wings now
in process of completion, are new SEN
ate chamber and Hall of Representatives.
Each are 23s feet in length l40 feet in
width. On account of the increase of
the dimensions of the Capitol, the old
dome was found to be disproportioned,
and it has been removed to give place
TO one of magnificent proportions. This
is now being erected under the supervis-
ion of MIR. Walter, the well known arch
itect, and will be 800 feet in height above
the level of the ground. Additional
grounds are to be added to the old capt.
toll park on the east and appropriately
laid of. In few years more, when this
country shall have got little more age
and cultivated taste for the fine arts.
Congress will no doubt yield TO the de
sire of the people and make liberal APP
preparations for monuments and other
works of art. While each year, enough
money is frittered away in hundreds Of
ways which can in no way benefit the
people, more than sufficient to complete
it, the monument of w ashington is sui.
fered to stand unfinished and untouch-
ed. The memory Of him who was
once " the first in war and the first
i'll peace and the first in the hearts
of his countrymen," seems to have no
claim upon the consideration of our CON
script fathers or else they would make
an appropriation at once to finish his
monument. | hope to sec the time when
they will find precedent to make liber
al appropriation in works of this kind.
and that not only Washington but all
American cities may adorn their public
parks and gardens with statues of their
great and faithful men. This would give
encouragement to our own talent and
employment of our own home capital, in
addition to the great moral effect as well
as qualification of the taste and refine
ment of our people. Upon the Pinceon
hill in Rome there is a garden embellish-
ed with everything that is beautiful On
either side of the walks amidst fountains
and favors stand the statues of Roman
senators, poets-and warriors, statesmen
and philosophers. Who will be the first
man that will come out among own ma
tional legislators, and shutting his eyes
against that great scaresrow precedent
and ask for an appropriation to finish
the monument of Washington, and for
the erection of at least dozen others in
the capitol grounds. The name and
memory of that member, / would say
should have high place upon the scroll
of fame.
But believe Congress has already
established precedent in the purchase
Of pictures and also colossal statue of
Washington by ..Greenough which dis
figures the park on the north side of the
Capitol. But have said enough upon
this subject and therefore leave it.
The weather here is very cold and un.
pleasant-something like the cold rough
winds which come from the north east
over our lakes in April. On Wednes-
day last made my way through the
crowds to the Senate Chamber at the
hour of twelve, which is the time that
both houses commence business. The
galleries of the Senate were very crowd
ed with ladies and gentlemen, and I soon
learned the cause; fit was to listen to the
speech of Dir. Seward of New York. on
the Kansas question.
While elbowingmy way along, having
cuite come fo tho conoIrv;o,, tI,o+ T .o,.t.5