Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-02-29
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.

WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. "a, 1860.
On Wednesday last the equestrian statue of Geo.
Washington was inaugurated with imposing cere-
monies. The day was ushered in with ringing of
| bells and booming of cannon, accompanied by
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 inclc
ment weather and seeming indifference of peo-
pie in regard to the celebration of the day, until the
very last moment kept numbers away who imagin-
ed that the display would be poor and unworthy of
such an occasion. And, to extent such a
Supposition was correct for but for the presence Of
that patriotic body of men, the 18th Regiment of
| New York, the procession would have been a dead
failure The $50 well-dsciplined, veteran soldiers
constituting this "crack regiment" alone gave i'm
| portance to the pageant, and commanded the de-
served notice Of spectators and to shame be it
| spoken that these gentlemen came at a moments
notice-at our invitation, but were asked to pay
their own expenses.
The managers of this celebration should receive
leather medal, for never any affair of such
consequence wretchedly managed in all its details
Even before the rather scant procession moved from
the City Hail. difficulty between the fire de-
partment and some school-children-who ought to
have been at home out of the rain-as 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 as referees on this puted point and con-
sequently the prettily 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 were on the
streets, and every window and available stand point
on the route was occupied by fair ladies. Banners,
with patriotic inscriptions spanned the avenue at
various places and flags and streamers foated 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 Circle" 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 and hear.
! The statue was yelled in an immense canvass
ing, and which efectually concealed it from the gaze
| of the people; circular fence belted the base of
the marble pedestal to prevent too close approach
| during the Masonic ceremonies. The stand where
| Orator, President, Artist and Committee sat,
decorated with the various flags Of other nations
| which streamed out the beautiful stars and
! stripes. The grafton of Mr. Bocock was well re-
! ceivcd by the vast concOurse, and frequently ap
pauded while the stirring speech of Mr.. Buchanan
created turOre OF enthusiasm but when the signal
given, and the covering fell from the statue dis
closing the revered Washington on his charger, the
shOutthat burst from thousands of patriotic hearts
deafening. After the applause had somewhat
subsidized and the artillery had concluded the firing
of salute, the Artist Clarks Mills, Esq, yielded to
! Mr.. Mills acquitted himself very handsomely in a
| few modest and well-chosen words 1t was general
ly regretted that the appropriation by Congress was
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 eye have unpleasant effect The de-
sign of the Artist to give it elevation of forty
feet the marble pedestal to be divided into three
stories, each representing respectively the three
great epochs in our countys history; the first story
to represent 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 intended to have all life size the
whole surmounted by the equestrian statue of the
Father of his country he is supposed to have APP
peared at the battle of Princeton, when, after var
! Gus attempts to rally his dishcarencd troops, he
! spurred his horse forward and dashed up to the
mouth of the enemys cannon. The frightened horse
rccoiS while the balls plough the earth beneath his
feet with one foreOOt upiifted and dStended nos
trs and glaring eyes, he is striking picture of
terror, while calm and unmoved, like god upon his
throne sits the hero and patriot unframed and fear
less. 1t is certainly a work of exceeding great
merit and, think, superior in many respects to the
statue of General Jackson. When Congress shall
have appropriated the 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 the 22d, visited
the statue the following day. and the streets
| alive with pedestrians and vehicles of all dcscrp-
tons. On the 23d the New York regiment had
grand dress parade and were received by the Presi
dent After the review and music by the band of
forty performers, Mr.. Buchanan addressed them in
a neat appropriate speech thanking them for their
| presence and complimenting them upon their SOL
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
they were doing; the effect was electrical and the
thousands in the streets gave back an earnest re-
sponse The Hon. John Cochrane, of n. Y, who
| has no superior and but few equals at impromptu
speechifyng, 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
the afternoon train for their homes.
There is nothing of general interest transporting in
Congress. 1t will De by reference to the fort
ficaton breported to the House that so OOOs pro-
| vided for Fort Macon. l am informed that when
the Navy Bill 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 WELL
and can do so again. These statesmen are ignorant
! 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
j. S. Wilson, ESQ.,, formerly Chief Clerk of the
Land Office has been appointed Commissioner Of
| the same Bureau. This is considered capital ap-
pointnent 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. S. Hutton, of
Ga, Consul to Hanover.
No Public Printer elected and the session half
gone 1t has been regular hard fight for the spoils,
and difficulty in arranging how they are to be par
celled out has prevented an election. The name of
Mr. Defrees has been withdrawn, and Mr.. Ball
nominated presume, shoul Ball be elected, that