The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-12-31
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10Th, 1859.


DEAR EDlroR-I arrived here yesterday
night, and have since been very busy in
seeing the sights, and getting acquainted.
have called on the Hon. S. r. CURTIS and
lady, and on Senators GRIMES and HARLAN.
found them all well with the exception
Of Mr.. HARLAN, who has been suffering from
severe attack Of congestion Of the lungs.
am glad to say, however, that he is rapidly
recovering. The Senate, awaiting the or
ganization of the House, is doing little at
present. The disunion feeling in both
houses is very strong-nOt solitary Repub
lican sharing IN it. Several Of the southern
members are avowed disunionists, and de-
clare that the time of dissolution is simply
q question of expediency. The cha ces are
strongly in favor of,SuERMAN's election as
Speaker. At several ballots he has needed
but four votes to elect him. The Democrats
held caucus last Friday evening in the Hall
of Representatives, but effected nothing
The Democrats and Republicans each have
their own side Of the house, and, while the
latter maintain their seats in quiet dignity,
occasionally voting, the former are wasting
time and breath in making buncombe
speeches, which are every time but rehash
of the old thing, and are of no practical
benefit at all, except, perhaps, they may
benefit the Republicans by making the more
liberal members Of the Democracy ashamed
of their party. Washington is a great place
to acquire knowledge of men and things,
ani-to spend money. A private individual,
cut a swell, can live nearly a, cheap here as
in Council Bluffs. should think this city
is about as big rs it ought to be, for its size
must now certainly be fully equal to its sus-
tanning namely, the pockets of visi
tors. In another letter | will endcavor to
give you q descri pticn Of some Of the 'n-
stitutlons Of Washington, but have not time
to do so now. | have been through the
Capitol, Patent Office and Smithsonian
Institute, and into the building Of the Gene
raj Post Office, and the War Department.
The fur dress worn BY DR.. KANE in the
Arctic regions, is deposited in the Smith
sonian, and is a strange looking affair. The
National monument is well worth a visit,
even in it's unfinished state. Some other
line of policy must be adopted for the COM
pletion of the work, or fear our children's
children will not see it finished. 600 feet
is the contemplated height, and it is now
only lI5, while the colonnade to 60 around
it has not yet beeh commenced. The Bronze
equestrian statue of JACKSON, about which
you have read such severe criticisms, is, in
my opinion, magnificent work. You know
it is infinitely easier to criticise than to ere
ate. think, though, that the old statue Of
WAsHIScToS, on the Capitol grounds, is a
base libel on the father of his country. 10
sitting posture, half naked, with heather
drapery wrapped around him, with sandals
on his feet and short Roman sword in his
hand, he conveys no more idea to Young
America of the great warrior and patriot,
than the man in the moon. feel at liberty
to critlcise this, rs it is out of all conscience
and fully as bad in marble as Thackeray's
Washington is in ink. l had the pleasure
of making the acquaintance of Mayor
LAuMAS, of Burlington, and we took sight
seeing stroll together. lie had been here
in former days, but when We finished our
tramp, he said he knew much more Of
Washington than he ever did before. We
walked out to Georgetown and took Buss
back. Buss riding is cheap enough here,
only five cents to any part of city. Penn
sylvania Avenue is the Broadway of Wash
ington, and is certainly very fine street. 1t
is seldom SO throngsd as it's great prototype
of Gotham, but wealth, fashion and beauty
are out upon it on fine day in sufficient
volumes to suit the most diligent student of
the "fue arts" Independent Of it's partic-
ular institutions and attractions, Washing
ton has Few claims to the admiration of the
tourist or business man. It's situation is
generally too low, at least it seems so to me-;
but, l suppose Chicagoan would deny this,
point -blank. 1t has many fine private resi-.
deuces, but remove it's national oiiices, and
l car, point TO- many cities ecipsing it in
general appearance. will write a longer
letter next time. Yours, truly. T.. .,