Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-21
A HAsTY TRIP TO TWO CAPITALS.

bare EARTH under the warm sun shine gave speedy pro-
mise of bursting buds and sproutng bulbs.
The wellcleared fields of York county, and the sub
stauta stonebarns betoken thrift and good farming
while the numerous lime-kns and the ever recurring
evidence Of its application show the secret OF the fruti
of the soil. At Baltimore the traveller may take his
ease in his inn by stopping at BARNUMs City Hotel
As paid my bill, (and was not deadhead) am at
liberty to say that BAKNuMs is the best kept hotel in
all its appointments have ever met with The founder
of the house, originally from Northern Pennsyva-
nia and of the present proprietors took his first
| lessons in keeping hotel" in Towanda.
From Baltimore to Washington the most striking fea
ture is the barrenness of the soil The land seems worn
and worthless Stunted pines and scrub oaks, strug
gle for puny and precarous existence. Slavery has
cursed the soil with its blasting presence and what was
once fertile and rich country, now lies almost useless
and worthless. Occasionally, however, occurs farm,
which shows evidence of skillful cultivation The land
has been reclaimed at large expense by virtue of in
dustry and white labor. But oftener are barren
fields with barns and buildings tumbling down, and
fitting accessory and illustration, few lazy looking
negroes whose chief occupation to watch the passing
trains.
As we draw near Washington the hills begin to show
that the Capital is In every eligible spot neat
dwellings are situated occupied by citizens of Washing
ton who reside there during the months The
railroad runs through Badensburg, celebrated the
Congressional dueng ground and after passing through
low marshy country and by struggling dwellings, ENDS
the Capitol buildings. The first impression upon
the visitor is the unfinished state of everything he
The Capitol is not halffnshed and is surrounded by
piles of rubbish and innumerable blocks of marble,
while the dome is surmounted by huge derrick. 1t
will take ten years to finish the Capitol at the rate
which the work has progressed within my recollection
and the expenditure of millions of money. As of the
Capitol of the other public buildings The prevailing
idea apparently is that Uncle Sam has unlimited amount
Of cash and should be spending it at Washington and
to do this is necessary to tear down and build up con-
stantly. should like to Washington city finished
but that gratifying sight is several generations in the
future.
Just now the display of bunting at Washington pro-
dgious The Sarspangled banner floats in the breeze
at every STEP Hotel keepers and merchants testify their
devotion to the Union by the National flag At every
step it stirs the blood of the friend of the Union, and
appropriate notices of The Union Now and Forever"
&c, show the feeling of the citizens. The fact that
ninctenths of them live directly indirectly upon the
treasury might depreciate their patriotism with some
And learn that decided change has taken place in the
sentiments of the people there since it has become ev
dent that the National Capital was not to be allowed to
90 into the hands of the secessiOnists.
were the two Congresses-the National and the Peace,
or cold GentlemGns it has been rreverenty called
The latter meets at WLARDs dancing hail. and was not
in session while was in Washington, having adjourned
to allow its Committee to report. Judge WRIGHT of
Ohio dying Wednesday, also delayed the business OF
the Peacemakers. This Congress sits with closed DOORS
so that l could not have attended the deliberat tons-
Judge WuMoT is in attendance, stopping at WnLARD's
and his friends will be glad to learn much improved in
health.
NV business was with the National Congress. In COM
pany with my fellow travellers had come down to see
! OLD ABE counted in. The ceremony of counting the
electoral votes and declaring the President elected oc
Cured by law on Wednesday, 18th. There had been
mors that this not to be allowed that violence was
to prevent and if that was not tried that techncay
was to be reported to- to prevent LINCOLN from being de-
clared the President On the day previous rumor pre-
vailed in Washington that portion of the Electoral
! turns had been stolen.
We however, had full faith that OH ABE was to be
declared elected and to witness the ceremony seated
ourselves in the gallery in eligible spot at 10 o'clock
two hours before the convenng of Congress. For two
mortal hours we sat there watching the entry of the
members below and the filling up of the spacious CALLER
les The latter packed long before the hour arrived
and hundreds went away, unable to get in seeing posi-
ton. For this occasion an extra chair had been placed
beside Speaker PENStSGToS for the Vice President and
arm chairs in the vacant space in front of the desks for
the grave and reverend Senators. About onehaf the
galleries are reserved for the ladies. They filled to
overaowing have not to date upon the attract
yeness of the scene because wish to keep this letter
within due limits Many of the foreign ministers were
present with their families informed but as have
not the honor of personal acquaintance, can't speak
! positively upon that point.
At precisely L NJ. Speaker PENSISGToN ascended the
Clerks desk and called the house to order He was ac
! companied by Rev. Mr. STOCKTON, who addressed the
throne of Grace eloquent prayer The white locks
and pad face of the Reverend gentleman made the IN
vocation still more impressive. Taking his seat, the
Speaker decided all business to be out of order except
ing the counting of votes So after informing the Senate
that the House ready pause was made, until the
Senate was announced when the members Of that body
entered preceded by Vice President BRECKENRIDGE and
their Secretary DICKENS who carried the small box con-
tanning the returns Following the Senators, who
took the vacant chairs in the The president
briefly announced the business of the joint meeting
He then proceeded to break the seal of of the pack
ages before him. which he handed to the teller, saying
was The returns from the State of Maine The tel
Ter read the certificate of the Electoral college, that the
members thereof had met at the proper time and in the
proper cast the votes of that State for ABRAHAM
LINCOLN of Illinois, for President and similar certf-
cate giving the vote of that State for HANNIBAL HAMLN
of Maine for VicePresidcnt Another teller then read
the tally he kept it, The same ceremony was gone
through with the returns of all the States. When South
Carolina handed to the teller suppressed litter ran
round the hall 1t manifestation of the udicrous
inconsistency of the vote, considering the position OF
that seeding State The returns from every State were
read and the total given to the YcePresident, who de-
clared ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois, elected President
of the United States for four years from the Fourth OF
March next, and HANNIBAL HAMLIN, elected VicePres
dent The Senate having transacted the business for
which it came the members took their way back to their