The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-05
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
Senate.

SECOND SESSION.
Senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1859.
The Senate met at in the old hail. from which the
desks had been removed, but supply Of cane boOmed
chairs had been provided for their accommodation.
The galleries and floor were crowded. Notwithstanding
the falling snow having been understood that the Vice
President, Mr. Crittenden, and others, would speak
The proceedings usual opened with prayer and the
reading of the Journal after which Mr.. STUART, (adm
of Michigan moved that many ladies were unprovded
with seats the galleries. they be admitted on the floor
Mr. HAMiN (opp), of No., objected on the ground that
the admission of ladies would embarrass legislative bu-
-sness; consequently the ladies were not admitted.
Mr. DAVIS (adm) of Miss, submitted the report Of the
committee, stating that the new chamber ready.
Mr. CR1ENDEN opp) of KY moved the adoption Of the
report The parting from this chamber he thought
event of much solcmnity Many associatons-many Of
them pleasant and proud onesbnd us to this chamber
has been the scene OF great events. Questions of
the American constitutonquestiOns of great national
approximations Of peace and war-have been debated
in this chamber. Great men have been the actors.
Within these walls he had seen men whose name and fame
had surpassed in Greek Roman history. Here
he had seen Clay, Webster Calhoun, Lee, Wright and
others They seem to have lett on these very walls the
impress OF their fame This majestic dome yet
echo their voices There Others too, whom he would
designate for they had not yet fulfilled their political
services but whose in danger OF being for
gotten When Senators TO the chamber they
will carry with them the inspiration OF their lustrouS
predecessors. They will leave behind them no want of
patriotism attachment to the constitution. These
our household gods carried with US. The new hall
will be the scene of the past There they will ever re-
manthe Senate of the United Sates the great preserva
tive body of this great naon conserving he sovereignty
of the States and the integrity Of the Union.
The VICE PRESIDENT addressed the Senate giving hsori
cal sketches OF Congress at the various govern
nent until its location at Washington He then
the burning Of the Capitol by the British army, the
assembling thereafter of the Congress In Blodgett's
Post ONCE and finally the assembling in 1919 in the pre-
sent building He then went into an interesting COMPARE
Of the present character Of the Senate in the early
days Of the government and now. Then it was almost
wholly an executive body and much of its business was
transacted with closed doorshe President often took
part in the debates and il not for many years that
galleries provided for spectators He spoke of the
great mission the nation has fulfilled and is destined to
fulfill urged upon Senators due appreciation Of the
spOnsbes resting upon them, and reviewed tho senate
rial career OF the great dead, whose achievements and
services in that chamber illuminate our history.
After further remarks, which were listened to with
wrapt attention. the Senate proceeded in body to the
THE NEW HALL.
The general aspect Of the hall is light and graceful.
In shape and dimensions il is similar to the Hall of
Representatives. but to the eye appears more finely pro-
nortoned The style and character of decoration are
y the both houses except that in the Senate
che tome # color is much subdued. The Of the
oo n so foe, by As feet and Of the roof liz by so feet
tho difference beng occupied by continuous gallery
around the four sides Of the apartment and capable Of
coating 200 persons The inner root or ceing OF ron
is fiat with deep panels twenty OF winch are ntted
with ground glass; having in the cen'fe Oh eacn pane
coored medallion representing the Printing press steam
engine, cornuoopa, and other symbols q isogresss
and plenty. The light IL supplied wholly through
this window the roof and the elect good-a Hood VI
light falling the reverend sgners on the floor while the
galleries in half shadow. The gas apparatus is
placed above the ceiling, that the light dreaming
through the seem like soened ELECT OF sun
light The ceiling thirty five from the floor, but
an
ed with floral and other embellishments in high relief and
all Of iron. The floor of the chamber ID covered with
700 yards Of tapestry capetng having large pattern
of flow purple ground Its effect is not unpeasng
Had time permitted carpet would have been manuiac-
tured Of color and design To harmonze-as for instance
of red stars buff ground. The Vice Presidents desk
is modest table, of mahogany as unlike as possible to
the marble bar which the honorable Speaker pounds
The places of Senators arranged 10 three rows.
The spectators galleries upholstered IN drab damask
rather too blue in tone for good ELECT Ample accommo-
dation is supplied to the extent Of ladies' robng
room to the galleries obtained through doors
of maple, nlad with bronze The gallery set apart for
the press Is with desks for about twenty persons,
and il understood that will be permitted within
it unless specially accredited by the Vice President.
When the dust Of a few sessions shall have taken tho
gloss or It. and the genus loci had time to settle himself
there little doubt this chamber will be found
in every way more fitting than the old.
The wings Of the Capitol being of the Roman Cornthan
order Of architecture the interior fittings and decorations
are of course, harmony herewith The hall Itself is
approached by two grand starwayshe east OF Tonnes
see marble the west, entirely of white marble, OF
treme purity. Neither is yeticompleted, but enough is
shown by the broad marble steps, the massive balus-
trades of the material, ana the superb columns,
with their capitals heightened with BRONZE to indicate the
lnagnfcence of the design. Both sairwaysVare lighted
from the roof with SPECIAL adaptation to the walls beng
covered with historical paintings This situation is
sdered the most favorable in the building Tor the execu
ton of some Of recording the deeds of history
The Senator'S retiring room and ante chamber are the
most highly finished rooms in the Capitol Ihey are In
totally different styles The retiring room Is entirely OF
marble the supported by columns OF rare beauty
1t rs impossible to desire any elect more chaste than TINS
apartment presents, with the cold glitter of its walls and
IL r,aI uAn tho mi
inserted as panels in wall each of the dimensions
of 100 inches height by go inches wide. The anteroom
is excessive ornamentaon ana is yet unfinished The
walls divided by gded work IN ret'evo into spaces
for frcco paintings The dome ceiling OF the room Is
paneed each panel being filled with rosette OF bur
nished gold The four spandres and the centre Of the
dome have allegorca paintings executed in superior
manner, and forming contrast TO certain medaons in
another portion OF the building, where represents
celestial being with dsiocated hip and another the God
dess of Melancholy dancing the bolero.
The Presidents and Vice Presidents apartments and
the committee from the level Of the Senate
floor All are decorated. Some few are finished but the
greater number are incomplete, in consequence Of the
ton Of Congress In Withholding supplies. The corridors
and passages likewise in progress of embcllish
mcnt All are laid with encaustic tiles. The arched
roofs arc generally speaking, finished in geometrc de-
signs enclosing landscape and heradic devices The walls
covered with trells work Of flowers and foliage,
which cupds and native American Birds beasts and
creeping things, ascending and descending, with
or less resemblance to nature Some Of the flower and
fruit pieces are gems They might be cut from the
wall and framed originals
The heating and ventlaDg arrangements said 10 be
the largest IN the word-those of the English House of
Parliament not excepted Every portion OF Capitol
that mountainous Of marbles ventilated
and warmed by apparatus. Eight boilers convey
steam TO coils set in different places Of the ccaragc sup
plying any required degree Of heat, and at the time
motive power two fans in either wing One Of these
sends continual breezes medcated air through the smaller
apartments while the other performs the service for
the Senate chamber The air graduated according the
atmospheric temperature without and the political excite
mcnt withdrawing sectional debate to exceed 900
and ordinary occasions range between zoe and 70 .
Thirty thousand cubic feet Of air circulated through
the chamber per minute which quantity may be increased
to 80, 600 The apparatus s completely under control
Any proportion Of moisture may be impaired, from the
delicious freshness of morning TO the feeling that prelude
q thunder shower, till the atmosphere
@ Thaw and resolve itsof into a dew"
II may be prudent add that each furnished
with ucs and registers, Senators, the first symptoms
OF asphy xa, can protect themselves from the ndscrc
tlon of operators.
Aa the of the ed fec the around