The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-04-04
Editorial CorrespOndence.
AVENUE HOUSE,

WASHINGTON CITY, March 30, 1861.
DEAR JOURNAL The crowd of office
seekers is diminishing as place after place is
given out, and the stock of +" the needful "
runs low in the pockets of aspirants. Eve
ry outgoing train takes off some, and the
incoming trains bring others, but not in
sufficient numbers to supply the vacant
places at the hotel and clearinghouse ia
bles. Landlords begin to fear lest their best
customers should all desert them. They
have been reaping rare harvest-together
with hackmen, boot-blacks, newsboys, and
others who flourish where strangers most
do congregate."
All of our newly-elected Republican Con-
gressmen have been here, but some have
left-Messrs. Colfax, Porter, and White
amongst them. presume the remainder
will go in two or three days. The Sen ate
| adjourned sine die--as has been announced
| by telegraph-on Thursday. A large num-
Der of appointments were confirmed before
adjournment.
A number of prominent men have been
boarding at this house-amongst them Cow
an, one of the new Pennsylvania Sena-
tors Helmick of Ohio and Covode of Penn
sylvania, Representatives, and d. K. Carter
of Cleveland, Ohio, the new Minister to Bo-
livia
1 have visited most of the points of in
! terest since have been here, and have seen
much to wonder at and admire. The Capt.
| toll is a noble, wonderful, and beautiful edi-
\ fee. The two immense wings which have
been added to the ancient main building,
I &Eo G.
touches-add vastly to the appearance of the
structure. They are of white marble, and
furnished throughout with the utmost ele-
gauce. Polished marble stairways and bal
ustrades, tesSelated marble floors, bronzed
iron and variegated marble columns and pi-
lasters, panels of rare woods highly polish
ed, large gilt mirrors, costly window hang
ings stained glass Sky-lights-all these lend
| an air of palatial elegance to the edilice
erected for the accommodation of the Ma
TONS lawgivers. The Senate Chamber is in
the North wing, the Hall of Representatives
in the South. The Supreme Court of the
United States meets in the old Senate Cham
Der, made famous by the genius of Webster,
Clay, Calhoun, Benton, Clayton, and host
of other statesmen. As l stood on IFS floor
and viewed its almost sacred walls and sur
roundings, | was awe-stricken with the as
sociations which hallowed the place. The
Supreme Court is not now sitting, and the
Chamber is vacant and silent; but vivid
Imagination readily peoples its precincts
with the ghOstly forms of the mighty dead
who once f1ourshed there. The old Hall of
Representatives-the scene of many a con-
test between intellectual giants-is now dis
mantled and deserted-used only as store
room for the statues, etc, designed to adorn
the reiuVeuated Capitol.
The dome, when finished, will be the
Crowning glory of the Capitol. There is
much work yet to be done on it. 1t has to
be raised many feet higher and crowned
with gigantic statue Of the Goddess of
Liberty | assembled TO the dome and OBJ
tanned grand view of the city and sur
rounding country. The interior of the
dome, or rotunda, will be when finished i'm
pFessive in the greatest degree by its vast
ness and elegance of adornment. Now, the
dome not reaching to its full height, and a
large amount of scaffolding obstructng the
view upward from the floor, the spectator
does not get just idea of the extent of this
rotunda But, nevertheless, it is magnifi-
4 cent, with its great height-near LAO feet to
the temporary roof-and its wall of wide
| sweeping circumference, ornamented by
large depressed panels ia which are scenes
of early American history in alto relieve
by its eight large paintings representing
similar scenes, and by portraits of EXPIRES
idents and other distinguished men.
The grounds surrounding the Capitol are
| beautiful and spacious. The East front of
the Capitol is the principal one and the
most elegant in architectural and artistic
design, but it is the West front that faces
Pennsylvania Avenue and the main part of
the city. Approaching the West front one
goes up gradual ascent through avenues
of trees until within thirty or forty yards
of the edi6ce, where wide stairways lead to
q broad terrace, in the center of which is a
large fountain, and basin containing gold
fish. Other flights of stairs lead to the en-
trance of the bRilding. On the East side
the ground is level-the Capitol being on the
crown of a ridge. A grand stairway
fianked by statues, leads to the main build
ing, and other stairways are in course of
erection in front of the two wings A large
park lies beyond the open space before this
front, well supplied with grass and trees, and
decorated with flowers and evergreens. In
this are two imposing statues-one of the
Goddess of Liberty, and the other of George
Washington. The latter is mounted on
blue granite pedestal. The figure faces
west with benignant aspect its right
hand points with extended forehnger to
heaven, its left is extended horizontally and
| holds sword, the hilt pointing outward
and blade resting on the arm, as if being
given up visited the Capitol and grounds
a few evenings ago. and approached while
the last rays of the setting sun fell with
beautiful effect on the splendid edihce.-
The impression l received, as I viewed the
vast pile surrounding its green activity,
clothed with traditionary glory, and en-
bodying the idea of American nationality,
was such as | shall never forget
have passed considerable time in the
Senate Chamber, hearing the debates and
looking at the g grave and reverend seign-
eurs." They occupy very cosy seats, and
are ranged in semi-circle in front of the
Vice Presidents desk otis distance
lends enchantment to the view" Camp