Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-29
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. "a, 1860.

WASHINGTON CRY, Feb "a, 1860.
On Wednesday last the equestrian statue of Geo.
Washington was inauguratcd with imposing cere
monies. The day was ushered in with ringing of
bells and booming of cannon, accompanied by a
fierce storm of wind and rain. Towards noon, how
ever. the clouds dispersed, giving promise of a
bright close to day so stormily begun The incle |
ment weather and seeming Indifference of our peo
pie in regard TO the celebration Of the day, untithc
very last moment kept numbers away who iinagin-
ed that the display would be poor and unworthy of
such an occasion. And, to some extent, such
supposton correct; for but for the presence Of
that patriotic body of men, the 7th Regiment of
New York, the procession would have been dead
failure. The $50 welldiscplined, veteran soldiers
constituting this "crack regiment" alone gave i'm
portance to the pageant, and commanded the de-
served notice of spectators; and to our shame be it
spoken that these gentlemen came at a moments
notce-at our invitation, but were asked to pay
their own expenses
The managers of this celebration should receive
leather medal for never was any affair Of such
consequence so wretchedly managed in all its details.
Even before the rather scant procession moved from
the City Hail. difficulty arose between the fire de-
partment and some schoochildren-who ought to
have been at home out of the ran-as to precedence
in the line. The managers and controlling commit
tee of celebration affairs being quietly seated at the
Presidents, thinking the procession would form
"somehow" and "come out all right" could not be
reached referees this disputed point, and con-
sequently the pretty ornamented red shirts and
fancy hats left the procession and proceeded to
Georgetown.
At about three o'clock the line began to move
from the City Hall to the Avenue and thence to the
Presidents. Thousands of people the
streets, and every window and available standpoint
on the route was occupied by fair ladies' Banners,
with patriotic inscriptions, spanned the avenue at
various places and flags and streamers 1oated from
every prominent point along the route. Arriving at
the Executive mansion, the procession halted and
received the President when it again started on to-
wards the "Crce." Long before the arrival of the
cortege every desirable point of observation had
been appropriated and none but the privileged few
| were enabled to get near enough to see and hear
| The statue was yelled in an immense canvass cover
ing, and which effectuay concealed it from the gaze
of the people; circular fence belted the base of
the marble pedestal prevent too close an approach
! during the Masonic ceremonies The stand where
| Orator, President, Artist and Committee sat,
decorated with the various flags Of other nations,
which strealned out the beautiful stars and
! stripes. The grafton of Mr. Bocock was we'll re-
ceived by the vast concourse, and frequently ap-
pauded, while the stirring speech of Mr.. Buchanan
created urore OF enthusiasm but when the signal
given, and the covering fell from the statue dis
closing the revered Washington on his charger the
shout that burst from thousands of patriotic hearts
was deafening. After the applause had somewhat
subsided and the artillery had concluded the firing
of salute, the Artist Clarks Mills, ESQ, yielded to
| the vociferous calls made upon him for speech.
Mr.. Mills acquitted himself very handsomely in a
few modest and well-chosen words 1t was general
ly regretted that the appropriation by Congress
insufficient to carry out the original design Of Mr..
Mills. The statue is not elevated to the height de-
signed, and its large proportions when brought so
close to the eve have an unpleasant effect The de-
clio Of Tho rti tn IF cprf
feet the marble pedestal to be divided into three
stories, each representing respectively the three
great epochs in countrys history the first story
to represent our country as it appeared when first
discovered; the second to exhibit the dawn of civil
ization and the third story to show the revolutona
ry epoch 1t was intended to have all life size the
whole surmounted by the equestrian statue of the
Father of his country as he is supposed to have ap
peared at the battle Of Princeton, when after var
Gus attempts to rally his disheartened troops, he
spurrcd his horse forward and dashed up to the
mouth of the enemys cannon. The frightened horse
recoils while the balls plough the earth beneath his
feet; with forefoot up-fted and distended nos
trils and glaring eyes, he is striking picture of
terror, while calm and unmoved like god upon his
throne sits the hero and patriot unharmed and fear
less 1t is certainly work of exceeding great
merit and think superior in many respects to the
statue of General jackson. When Congress shall
have appropriated the means necessary to carry out
the Artists original design it will appear to still
greater advantage Large numbers of ladies' who
were prevented by the storm and muddy condition
of the streets from being present on the 3d. visited
the statue on the following day, and the streets
alive with pedestrians and vehicles of all descrip-
tons. On the 23d the New York regiment had a
grand dress parade and received by the Presi-
dent. After the review and music by the band of
forty performers, Mr. Buchanan addressed them in
neat appropriate speech thanking them for their
-
dierly look and gentlemanly bearing. Nine hearty
cheers were given for the President. and coming
from the threats of some 700 men who felt what
Il they were doing; the effect electrical and the
thousands in the streets gave back an earnest re-
Spouse. The Hon. John Cochrane, of N Y, who
has no superior and but few equals at impromptu
speechfying, delivered brief and eloquent address,
which was greeted with several rounds of applause.
At the conclusion Of his remarks, the Colonel of the
Regiment gave signal, and nine cheers were given
for the Union. After going through the manual
and performing sundry military evolutions, which
ELECTED applause from the spectators the whole body
proceeded to their quarters and soon after left in
L the afternoon train for their homes
There is nothing of general interest transpring in
Congress 1t will De seen by reference to the forti-
6caton breported to the House that $40 OG0 is pro-
J. vided for Fort Macon. | am informed that when
the Navy Bill comes up it is intended to reduce that
$1,000 600 less than asked for by the Secretary on
the ground that last year they got along very WE'LL
and can do so again. These statesmen are ignorant
y of the fact that there were surplus funds in the
Treasury to the credit of the different Navy Yards
and but for this the work at all would have been
stopped. In consequence of the small amount ap.
proprated last year, and the ncessant drain on this
fund the Department is even now comparatively
without means
,sE J. s. Wilson, Esq, formerly Chief Clerk of the
Land Office, has been appointed Commissioner Of
the same Bureau This il con ;it1ered a canitol m
pointment so far as fitness is concerned but his
Democracy is not Of type to please the old fashion
ed Democrats Col. Pickett, Of Ky, has been ap-
pointed Consul to Vera Cruz, and J. $, Hutton, oi
} Ga, Consul to Hanover - 90 .s 3.
No Public Printer elected and the session hall
gone 1t has been regular hard fight for the spoils
and difficulty in arranging how they are to be par