New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-23
A FLYING TRIP TO WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of The N. y. r1banc.

Nioc rdBge oi eIlOtiOu are concerned 1910 y
very short space of time. The pulse Of the nation
il throbbiDg at feyor-heat, prelusise tosthe sp-
preaching criis which shall result 10 either death
or renoyptei strength. This moment returned
from Washington. the Incidents of the day,I spent
there remain so forcibly in my mind, that feel
justified in repeating them as contribution 10
your daily chronicles.
left New-York on Wednesday evening jus.
after several obnoyons newspapers had been
compelled to raise the American fag The iesl.
ing of the crowd was Gas judged from tho re-
marks oycIheard), "All who are not heartily
"whb US are against us"-wbich is ernphaticajy
true. On the train 70 Philadelphia, the same
feeling prevailed. Strangers conyersed without
reserve the usual consentonaties were forgot
ten: the newy-aroused sentiment of patriotism
answered as general introduction. II any sym.
pathizers with treason were aboard, they kept
discreetly silent.
At Philadelphia, there was crowd 10 the
Camden depot at the foot Of Prime street, and
all along the route through the city. They vera
apparently gathered in expectation oil seeing the
first nstalment Of volunteer troops pass through.
A few persons recognized the colossal figure Of
Col. May among cur passengers, but be was not
in uniform, and therefore unnoticei by the
crowd. / heard one rough-looking fellow eay.
gth many oaths: 81 voted fer Breck, but
g Lincoln is President, and he represents the
" country and I'm a-goin' to stand by him -
@hereto several responded, "That's SOL" Once
comfortably extended in the sleeping-car, knew
nothing more until somebody pounded on the
door, and yelled, "Its o'clock" We were
quietly lying at the Baltimore and Ohio Rail.
road depot, in Baltimore, which we had reached
TOO late to connect with the first traia to Wash
mgton. A defective locomotive, believe, wH
the cause.
The next train did not leave until $40, 80 I
went to Barnum's for breakfast. Baltimore was
peaceful enough, at that early hour. The Plug
Ugcs were still in their dens, and could have
chanted 90, say can you see BY the dawn's
early light" as the sunrise disclosed speck Of
rcd, white, and blue over Fort McHeDry, with.
out fear and without reprca,h. The clouds sahk
again, and the day was lowering as we took our
seats for Washington. / fell in with o 'stancb
u-rion mau from ST. Louis, Who gave good
report from that city. la the excited discussion
Of the prevailing topic. the red, exhausted fields
passed By, the pcach-trecs changed from bud to
blossom, and, as began 10 realize that we lad
gone far enough south TO meet the Spring. the
huge unfinished dome of tie Capitol came IN
sight
l had not seen Washington since 1885, aud
was therefore an entire stranger to the later in.
proyements. In the imposing extent and superb
natural elevaOn Of the Capitol, one forgets ito
minor architectural incOngruities: the general
effect is very grand. But, as from Pennsylvania
Avenue L saw tho double cOlonnade of the new
dome still awaiting its browning hemisphere, only
tie central mast and skeleton stairway rising
markedly against the sky, and then turned to the
Washington Monument with the huge crane
hanging over its unfinished pile, these two OBJ
jects struck ne az fit representations Of the
American Republic. That, also, is unfinished.
The Easements are laid broadly and spleniidly;
massive, proud and majestic, the edifce towers
aloit but the crown is still wanting. External
(oes--storms from without--haye beaten upon it,
but the strength of its foundations is yet to be
tested by exploding forces ffom within. Wash.
iDgton's true monument is his Republic, and, un.
til the destructive doctrine of the Right of Scccs.
sion is buried too deep to DO ever unearthed
again, that monument VIII DO incomplete.
These were symbols either of saducss or hope.
according TO ones temperament For me- thank
God and the People there was no depression IN
the sight. Everywhere around me the flag OF
the Union was waving; troops were patroliIns
the streets, and yonder the watchful MsrshaI
LamOn was galcping, on the second horse IL
lad tired out since morning. Everybody seeGee
to be widc-awake, alert and active.
On reaching Wizards Hotel the scene changed.
The passages were so crammed that had some
difficulty in reaching the office. To my surprise
half the faces were Southcrn-especlally Virgin
ian-and the conversation was carried on IL
whispers. Presently l was hailed by several
Northern friends, and heard their loud, out
spoken expressions of attachment to tie Union.
The whisperers near US became silent, ana rs
tened attentive'y. / was earnestly questioned ~
to whether the delay of the mails was occasloneo
by rails being torn mp or bridges destroyed
Every one seemed Ia suspect that treasonapi
demonstration had taken place in or near BaItl'
more. The most exciting rumors were ahoat.
Harper's Ferry was taken-Virginia had secretly
seceded-Wise was marching on Washington
ALWAYS winding up with the impatient questions
-. Why don't the troops come oni' 1t is mpoe
sble to escape the infection Of such an excite
ment, and was obliged TO look more than one'
at the sunny street and the budding trees q