Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-08

AokE ROAD-OPEHIHG0 OF C0NGRESS-PR0S-
PEcT OF ORGANIZATION, SO.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. 8, 1850.
Leaving Wheeling yesterday at five
minutes past twelve, we reached here this
morning at quarter to ten, including a
stop of two hours at the Relay House,
which, for run of 40 miles, especially
when you consider the weather We have
been having for the last couple of days,
(sleet and rain, was quite quick trip.
Nothing occurred particularly to vary the
usual monotony of the trip, if indeed, a
ride, made ever so often, through the wild
and imposing scenery of the B. & o. R. r.,
can properly be called monotonous. It
fbeing Sunday, the passengers were COM
peratively few, and they all seemed taci-
turnly inclined, preferring to read or doze,
or look through their windows, to making
much effort at general, or even individ-
ual conversation. Towards evening, how
ever, some inquiries began to be made as
to the probable time at which we would
reach Harper's Ferry, which indicated an
exciting interest to get view of that
tragic locality. Several of them mani
Tested and expressed considerable disap-
pointment when told that it would be one
or two o'clock in the night before we got
there.
AT Martinsburg every body in our car
Strengthened up to look out the windows
and see whatever was to be seen, of the
patrol system and general citizen-soldiery
tactics late in vogue there. Nothing was
to be seen, however, bnt dozen or fifteen
men, with grey overcoats on their backs
and muskets ON their shoulders, with
their caps drawn down over their eyes to
keep out the beating sleet, and looking as
if they had been lately signing heavily for
their beds or Is warm fire. at Harper's
Ferry we saw but the same thing on a
smaller scale. There was but light here
and there, and in two or three of the Ar
mory buildings. All around there was the
dark shadow of the bleak mountain specrs,
and no sound save the wind and the rush
of the rivers.
AT six and half o'clock we reached tho
Relay, where we got good cup of coffee
and breakfast that helped amazingly to
restore the worn out feeling of the night.
At half past eight we TOOK tho cars for
Washington, and, as said, at quarter to
ton were sitting here in the Reporters GAL
lery of the House of Representatives.
This is the third opening of Congress
sional sessions which your correspondent
has attended, although only the first OPEN
ing of n new Congress. At this writing
(lO3 O'clock) the floor of the House is alive
with members, ex-members, and those who
never were members. 1t is one profound
Babel. They are shaking. hands, giving
and receiving introductions, cracking
jokes, reading documents to each other,
hallOing each other, here and there, and
in every possible way making an immense
noise and confusion. am sitting direct
~ opposite tho dividing line between the
Democratic and Opposition sides of the
House-for you must know that here, as
elsewhere, the world over, birds of feather
sit together. On my right sit the entire
Southern Delegation, together with quite a
number of Administration and Anti-Le-
compton Democrats from the Free States,
including our friend Bill Montgomery, who
votes now with the Administration. On
the left side the entire Republican brigade,
numbering lib members, together with
about 20 Americans and other Opposition
lists. Although it lacks yet more than an
hour of twelve, yet the immense gallery,
holding at least IL thousand people, is al
most filled. The side opposite the Report
ers's Gallery is appropriated to the use of
gentlemen without ladies; the South end
to gentlemen and ladies; the North end
principally to the Diplomatic corps, while
the spaces at each end of the Reporters
Gallery, are mostly filled with those hay
ing children in their company. Take it
oil round, as one looks from our very eligi-
bic and comfortable seats here, it is rather
u moving scene. The Hall itself is sight
. IN hn L.,
be seen, because it is n most gorgeous af-
fair. When was here last winter, gave
you n pretty complete description of it, and
in addition, as much of the history of the
Old Hall as was able to pick up from in
qulryt reading, and former remembrance.
have loitered along talking to a re-
porter beside me-, until I see that they arc
getting ready for organization. In the
mean time Greeley, of the Tribune. and
Erastus Brooks, of the n Y. Express, have
come into the gallery and taken seats lust
down below our tier. Greeley has his
white lit is mud colorcd) coat on-the one
he has been wearing all his life, las the
papers will have it.) Helooks as fresh and
rudy us ever, and none the worse for his
rough overland trip to California. =
His toilet arrangements, rs usual, APP
pear to be in state of dishabille-
particularly his hair (thin and sparsc)
which flakes over his bald pate as if ii
hadn't been brushed or otherwise adjusted
since his return home. 1 observe that his
eravat is also beau-sidewise and ANYTHING
but a fashionable tic" at that. 1t may be
necessary tor philosopher to dress thus
oddly and even shabbily, but can't see
why. Just now | observe that Greeley
has drawn copy of the Tribune out, with
which to improve the few yet Intervening
moments before organization. 1t looks
dirty and dusty enough to be that identi-
cal number that had the article about
Kansas in it. But let Greeley pass. He
Is good man in his way, whatever people
may say of him, and by simple dint of lis
bruins and cnerGv. has risar, Co. 49,.