Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-06
Latter from Washington.

Correspondence Of the Aierondr'o 6dse"e'
WASHINGTON, January. 81 went to the
Capitol Yesterday morning, in hopes OF hear
ing the address Of Vice President BrecKin-
ridge to the Senate. on the solemn occasion OF
their last meetingin the old Hall, the theatre
of so many brilliant orators and statesmen OF
the Republic and where so many vast ana
momen,ous questions have been decided; but
at an early period, the very small galleries
were SO crowded, that many hundreds were
shut ont, So took the next best chance, and
went into the gallery of the new Senate
Chamber to see the opening there This Is
q very fine IIall-good for speaking and
hearing. The desks are arranged as usual,
in the form of Il horseshoe, and occupy SO
little space on the floor, that the Senate look
ed 10 me like family just moved into a new
house in advance Of their furniture. There
are six rows of seats, two more than in the
Representatives Hall. The arrangements
are not vet all made, but so far, the ladies
appear to have the east and part OF the south
galleries. The reporters desks are Just above
the Nice-Presidents Chair, which is on the
north side of the Chamber, and do not seem
as convenient for seeing and hearing as those
in the House-but aS | was not on that side,
perhaps am in error The first thing men,
toned. was building ten war-steamers. Gov.
johnson. of Tennessee, then introduced re-
,n.n1ntinn in accordance with
the second annual message Of the President,
a passage from which, recommending re-
trenchment was read-this gave rise to u de-
bate lasting some time, an account OF which
YOU have already had in your report. In
the course of his remarks, Governor johnson
made an extraordinary statement, which l
hope some of your learned readers Will exam
inc and let us know if correct. The Govern
or said That IL the year l'9O, the p0pula-
ton of the United States was short OF four
millions, and the expenses OF the Govern
ment were two millions now, the population
of the country is twenty-eight millions, and
the expenses of Government, are seventy-hve
or cighty-fve millions. That the population
of the United States has doubled screen times"
this last assertion of doubling, he repeated;
perhaps the Governor meant to say that the
population is seven times az much as 1t was
IN 100 but it seems to me that if the popu-
lution had dOu6ied seven times it would he
some five hundred millions, in which case,
the expense of the last year or two would be
very moderate indeed. did not see Judge
Douglas on the floor of the Senate.
The Vicc-President's address is very high
" spoken of. and regret that was not so
fortunate as to hear it, and also the fine speech
coming SO appropriately from Mr.. Crittenden,
the oldest member of the body, and one OF
the most eloquent men now living, reminding
one 40 forcibly of the best days of the Republic.
The Vice President called Governor Fitz-
patrick to the chair, which he filled with
great dignity and very ably. This gentle
man is "A worthy successor OF the lamented
King. If there is IN honest statesman Ill the
land, it's Governor Ben, and the Charleston
Convention am in hopes will not forget him.
| met Mr.. Letcher. the nominee ot the Pc
tersburg Convention, he looks well, and able
to encounter q host Of opponents. BY the
bye the course of those opposed to HIM IN
the Petersburg Convention only served to
show his extraordinary strength with the peo-
pie Ii reminded one of the surges OF the
Atlantic rebounding from the rock ofGibral-
tar--he has been faithful in all his public
seryice-he has opposed the waste OF revenue
and land Of the country. and public plumber
of all descriptions, and this the people re-
membercd. Yours W.