The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-06

of plausibi!ity.
From the Christian Messenger
From the Potomac.
WASHINGTON c1rY-1Ts PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
SUPERINTENDENT, CONGRESS IN SESSION,
CAMP GRIFFIN, &c.
Editor Of Messenger 1T is MATTE,
Of national pride that there still exists within
the boundaries of what we have b en- pleased
to mark off as our national Territory etv
bearing tho illustrious name of Washinoton
and above all, Notwithstanding the threats Of
the Southern conspira.ors, that there, the
healthful throbbiugs Of the great Dat;opa)
heart, is still felt. lhe grandeur and beauty
Of the variegated scenery of land aud water
within this city-the magnicence Of its pub.
lie buildings, adorned as they are, with the
best specimens of artistic skill, together with
the fact that it is, and we hope is destined to
be the capital OF this great nation, while The
sun ard moon shall endure, all conspire to
make it place Of no ordinary interest to The
traveller.
In one respect it resembles many of The
oriental cities, for its chief objects Of interest,
are its public buildings.
The Capitol has Il noble and commanlug
situation upon the brow of hill, one mile
northeast Of the Potomac 1t is still in an
unfinished state, and no pen-and.ink sketch
can give you any idea OF its stately proportion
1t covers three acres of Ground. The come,
stone of the old building was laid by General
Washington, Sept. 18th, 1893. 1t was de.
stroyed by the British soldiers in 1914. The
cornerstone Of the new wing was laid BY
President Fillmore, July 4th, 1851. The
new dome when completed, will rise 395 feet
above the ground. This will be only 50 feet
less than that on St. Peters.
We had the pleasure Of looking upon the
Supreme Court OF the United States how in
session. Chief Justice fancy OF Maryland
still retains the chair which he has so honor.
ably filled, for more than quarter Of a cer
fury, and could not suppress the conviction
as | looked upon him, that he was last sink
ing inyo mental dotage. In the Senate,
SAW Hon. WIN. H. Seward, Secret4ryot
State, who happened to be in at that time,
conversing with Senator Sumner. Also
Senator's CoIlamer and k'oote oil our own
State. The latter is considered to be thcbe:t
presiding officer on the floor Of the Scpae
Chamber | visited the Representative;
Hall, and believe me, all was worse than cor'
fusion confounded. A speech there must lie
delivered in thundern. tones, in order to lie
heard. | should ,hink it would take very
eloquent orator to awe that body into a"]ihns
like respectful attention. The Hon. John
j. Crl'tcndeo Of kentucky, was present.
think he has son, who is Major General IN
the rebel army Our own Representatives
appear TO be among the working members
of said body | visited the Smithsonian To-
stitu'e and listened to very inter estDg itc'
ture delivered by DR.. Hayes of the Arctic
Expedition. saw many things during my
brief stay at the Institution calculated TO
please the eye, and challenge the aduiratlon
| was interested in examining the COSTUME
sword and gun Of DR.. Kane. The Picture
gallery contains a large collection oil Indian
Portraits. There is also scientific Library
and large museum, in addition to this there
IS q course OF free lectures delivered during
tho winter season. In the Pagent Otfce !
saw Washington's military costume, sword anu
camp equpage. A stranger would mistake
this office tor Toy shop, on an ex'e"sl'e
scale but on inspection one would find m'u;
models OF wonderful pieces o. mechanism: \
word about camp Griffin and its surroundings
1t is in Virginia, the ..Od Dominion on on
the southern shore Of the Potomac, about "
miles from Washington and 4 from Cha'a
Bridge which spans the river. Lcwlnsv.t'
where the Vermont Third had sklrmsp
with the rebels, in which two OF the lh''u
were killed, is 10 sight Of our camp. tsS
rural district with one church. This por'l'l,
of Virginia is very sparssly settled, compared
with Vermont it is not 80 dense to square
mile BY nearly ope.tbird, according to the cep
sus OF 1860. As you cast your eye over ''s
country, you see large estates. but there -
great distance between them War has mace
sad havoc hcrs. The soil is said to he very
productive. Most Of the trees as fara 'n'
eye can reach have been cut down, and v''u'
be fences burned up, 10 fact think have