St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-03-21
WAsHISGToN, D.. c., March 4. 81.

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brisk time.
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. WASHINGTON, D. c., March 4, 81.
DEAR Mrs. SwlssHELM:-Here I am,
upon this eventful day, at the scat Of Gov
eminent and excitement. The streets swarm
with thousands Of human beings-one
brotherhood. They have stood on tip toe
to see President. They have beheld him
sitting by the side of the President elect,
attended by military companies with load
ed guns and dangling swords, marching to
the music of fife and drum. They have
seen the delegations, counted by the hum
dreds. from the Union-loving States and;
Mr. Lincoln with his suite of marshalls,-
dignitaries, ladies and distinguished yisi-
tors enter the area Of the Capitol. They.
have seen how President is n,ade.-; Chief
Justic. fancy administered che oath of Of
fee, and was led trembling and tot:cring
away on the arm Of friend. And never
did [ before so we'll understan how the
bred Scott Decision was made as when I
thought of the exceeding pressure his as
sociates and friends made upon feeble
broken old man 50 long past his prime
1t is the only excuse I know.
It would be difficult to describe t}le pre-
vailing sentiment in detail or minutiae, but
l think the general opinion is strongly
Union, modified however by almost as
many peculirrities as there are persons
The feeling that danger threatened Mr.
Lincoln or tie public at the time Of his In
auguration, filled the minds Of many with
apprehension and dread, and kept soma
away from the Capitol The day passed
however in quiet and peace, with: no: cs,su-
atty, unless I except the falling Of AL en-
terprisins Photographers machinery, just
at the time when all was ready to take the
whole scene, Mr., Linco|u's Inauguration
a sudden breeze dashed his pictures and
hopes in one heap on the groand
Since having been here have learned
the true state Of feeling better as it regards
both the danger that threatened, and the
secession movement. But every day mod
ites the public pulse, until now every one
almost, except office seekers; are waiting to
SIC what they shall see" Ihave seen strong
men weep at the thought of tie peril which
but few weeks ago the country was H.
And tell you after visiting that magni6~
cent structure the Capitol, and the Post
Office, Treasurer'sc Department, Patent Or
fee, &c, &C., built in white raarblc, in all
their splendor and grandeur, my blood
boiled at the thought that they should pass
into other hands, and we re-commence
again, an impoverished government.
That Mr.. Lincoln intends to execute,the
laws of the United States, I doubt not at
whatever consequence, aud this is most
cmphatieally right, I believe. And not
only I, but the heads and hearts of all good
and true citizens respond aye. The man
ner of doing it is the next question. At
present the city is full to OVERLOOKING Of
Office seekers, and it is really amusing to
see those now in Office cool down from day
to day. At first "thtre must be war
Maryland and Virginia wouldn't stand it,
The Inauguration address breathed civil
war in every line" Now as the different
officers take charge Of their respective de-
partments, those Dnder!ings are tanner and
Greatly they must say Gov. Chase is fine
looking man andi every way gentleman.
It can't be possible that we. shall all lose
our places, how will strangers know the
routine Of the business" &c. ~
Well have come to believe it is no dis
grace to be an Office seeker. never be-
fore appreciated the enormous amount of
berths to be filed in this great ship Of
State ...,: ...,..- g.. ., 'o|>
: But I'm going back to the Capitol. It
is the grandest structure in design and art
and finish thus far that my untutored mind
ever deemed possible. even after reading
Aladin's wonderful story: Its designer
and arti6cer is worthy e. noble monument,
and am proud that he is an American. /
cannot describe it, wish Iscould. i lex.
pect to visit the Smithsonian Institute and
the Patent Office tomorrow perhaps, when
/ may write again if not too much pressed, !,
*"i I|i =: 49, Yours as over, - +, .',s-
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