Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-07

rrcss. Both houses met in "a brick building
known Il. Blodgct- Hotel. which occupied Il
part Of the square now covered by the General
Post Office But the accommodations in that
house being quite insufficient, number oi
public-spiritcd citizens erected a more com
modous building on Capitol Hill, and ten
dcred it to Congress: the offer was accepted,
and both houses continued To occupylt nntll
the wings of the new Capitol were completed.
This building vet stands on the street opp",
site to the northeastern corner OF the Capitol
square. and has since been occasionally occu-
pin by persons employed in different branch
cs of the public service.
On the 9TH of December, 1919. the Senate
assembled for the first time in this chamber,
which has been the theatre of their deIlbera-
tons for more than thirty-nine years, and,
now the -tritcS and uncertainties OF the past
are finished. we see around Us on every side
the proofs of stability and Improvement; this
Capitol is worthy of the republic: noble pub
lie buildings meet the view on every hand:
treasures of science and the arts begin to accu-
mulate. As this flourishing city enlarges, 1t
testifcs to the wisdom and forecast that dicta-
ted the plan of it. Future generations will
not be disturbed with questions concerning
the centre of population, or ct territory,
since the steamboat, the railroad, and the tel
egraph have made communication almost IN
stantaneous The spot is sacred by thou
sand memories. which are so many pledges
that the city of Washington. founded by him
and bearing his revercd name with Its beau
tiful site, bounded by picturesque cmnenceS,
and the broad Potomac. and lying within
view of his home and his tomb. shall remain
forever the political capital Of the United
States.
II would be interesting to note the gradual
changes which have occurred in the practical
working of the government since the adop-
ton Of the constitution: and it may be appro-
pirate to this occasion TO remark one OF the
most striking of them.
At the origin of the government, the Sc
nate seemed to be regarded chiefly a an exc
cut!vr council The President often visited
the chamber and conferred personally with
this body: most of its business was transar-
ted with closed doors, and it took compara-
lively little part in the Legislative Debates
| The rising and vi gorous ntellectS OF the
country sought the arena OF the House OF
Representatives rs the appropriate theatre Tor
the display Of their powers. Mr.. Madison
observed. on some occasion, that being
Young man, and desiring to increase his repu
tation. he could not afford TO enter the Senate:
and it will be remembered, that 50 late "a
1912. the great debates which preceded the
war and aroused the country 10 the assertion
of its rights. took place in the other branch
of Congress. To such an extent was the idea
of seclusion carried, that, when this cham
! Der was completed, no seats were prepared for
the accommodation of the public: and 1t was
not until many years afterwards that the
Semi-rirrular gallery was erected which adj
mitS the people to be- witnesses "t Your pro-
| ccclinrS. But now. the Senate. besides Its
peculiar relations t. the executive depart
! ment of the government. assumes its full share
of duty rs Il coequal branch of the legislature:
! indeed. from the limited number of it,
members, and for other obvious reasons. the
mostimportant questions. especially OF foreign
policy. are apt to pass first under discussion
! in this body. and to be member of it is Just
| " regarded as one of the highest honors which
! can be conferred on an American statesman.
! 1t is scarcely necessary to point out the
causes of the change. or to say that 1t Is Il
! concession both to the Importance and the
individuality of the States, and to the Tree
and open character OF the government.
| In connection with this easy but thorough
| transition. it is worthy Of remark that 1t has
! been effected without Il charge from amy
quarter that the Senate has transcribed It's
constitutional sphcre-a tribute IT once to
! the moderation of the Senate, and another
| proof to thoughtful men of the comprchen-
Siye wisdom with which the trainers OF the
constitution secured essential principles with
out inconvcnientlv embarrassing the action
| of the government.
The progress of this popular movement, in
one aspect of it. has been steady and marked.
At the origin of the government no arrange
ments in the Senate We're made Tor specta-
tors: in this chamber about one third OF the
space is allotted To the public: and in the new
apartment the galleries cover one-third OF Ms
area In all free countries the admission OF
the people to witness legislative proceedings
is an essential element of pubic confidence:
and it is not to be anticipated that this
wholesome principle will will ever be abused
by the substitution of partial and interested
demonstrations for the expression of a matur-
ed and enlightened public opinion, Yet it
should never be forgotten that not France, but
, tIlt ''''i'' ''hN''
and controlled the French assembly. With
this lesson and lis consequence brtor" liz. the
time will never come when the deliberations
of the Senate shall be swaycd by the blan-
di>hmcntS or tine thunderS of the galleries.
1t i impossible to disconnect from an oc-
ca~ion like this, II crowd of reflections on our
past history. and of SprculationS on the tu-
turc. The most mcagrc account Of the Sen
ate involves summary Of the progress OF
our country. From year to year You have
seen your representation enlarge: time and
again You have proudly welcomed new
sister into the cuntodaracy: and the occur
roncos of this day are Il material and impress
sivr proof of the growth and prosperity OF the
United States. Three periods i'll the history
of the Senate mark in striking contrast,
three cpochS in the history of the Union.
On the Sd of March. 1850. when the gov
crnmcnt was organized under the consttu-
ton ,hc Senate wa. composed of the repre-
scntativcS of eleven States. containing three
million people
On the 9th Of December. 1919. when the
Senate met for the first time III this room, it
was composed Of the representatives OF twep-
ty-one States. containing nine million people.
To-day it is composed of the representa-
tives Of thirty-two States, containing more
than twenty-cight million people, prosperous,
o,I It'll Io,,.,l D., FL