The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-14
AWALK ABOUT WASHINGTON.

Occasional Correspondence of the Daily Register
Come, reader, let us take an hours walk
about this famous city. These elegant street
cars are an admirable relief to the weary
pedestrian in his transits DER these 'magnif
cent distances" We enter those on 7th
street, pay five cents-and geta transfer
are soon whistled to the world known Penn
syivania Avenue-and now with this little,
punctured paper in our fingers we "go
aboard" the line running directly from the
Navy Yard on the East, to Georgetown on
the West-a distance of five miles-said
document paying our fare to either ex-
treme-cheap Well-which way now shall
we go? To the Presidents house, west
ward, of course. We are soon at it
having passed the great Treasury buildings
with their imposing colorado front on 18th
street. The way to the door of the royal
mansion is grand semi-circle, leading from
strong iron gate at each end of the beau
tiful grounds fronting the building. We
will 90 in The gate is open-making our
way to the orifce in the white edifce which
gives ingrsss and egress to the world.famed
Uncle Abe, we find an extremely digni6ed
porter there who politely informs us that
the sacred parsonage whom We have come
so far to see, is too indisposed to receive
visitors. Disappointed, We turn for few
minutes into that noted East room, and
walk awhile amid scenes, furniture and pic
lures on which even greater men than zee,
have looked in days long since gone by
We retrace our steps, and in few minutes
find ourselves in the magnificent grounds
immediately north of this House, surround
ing the famous jackson equestrian statue.
We could spend hours here admiring the
sculpture, shrubbery, and walks Of the love-
ly place, but-let US say admiral" and re-
enter the cars, and 90 back up the avenue
to the Capitol. See! the park around this
10 10 hVol u oioAiS0 90 LAoh
can make it. What splendid walks-lovely
trees-convenient seats-grand promenades
singular fsh.ponds and other artistic and
costly arrangements are here. But, look at
the building itself. Did you ever see any
thing of human construction 80 majestic as
that house with its great wings and heaven
propping dome! Sure am you never did,
nor, perhaps, never will looklupon anything
man has ever done, more imposing. A few
days since yon pinnacle was placed on the
spire. 1t appears small from here, but it is
really huge head Of bronze on the statue
OF the Goddess of Liberty. 1t went up amid
loud cheers of thousands of spectators and
the laundering of cannon from the Gordon
of Forts that surround this city. 1t is noao
said, ''The Capitol is finished" We enter
it-but not until we have assembled many
flights of marble stair.ways zig zaging in
many directions till after just 100 steps are
passed) do we place foot on the grand Mo-
sale of the indiscribably majestic rotunda.
After spending an hour here in admirlng
the elegant pictures and sculpture placed
in and on the colossal walls, we pass to the
right and are soon ushered into the old
Hall of the House now-deserted-bu
once the scence of forensic dispute SO keen
and eloquent as to become immortal. Ii
you wish we will pause short time TO ad-
mire the exquisite polish of these huge,
conglomsrate columns that stand like anti
deluvian giants around this place. We
must not delay too long here, or We will
have no time even to look at the remark
able bronze door that leads out Of this Hall
into the anti.room of the great, new Forum
of Representatives. A door that is door
of wonders. A door whose every PANEL,
style, cross-rail.casing, facing and archi-
trave, is of solid bronze, bearing on it some
Poetical, Historical NEUROLOGICAL, or fam
ciful device in sculpture of the very finest
type. A door made in Munich-designed
by Rogers of Rome-and costing $4,000,
only. What costly folly! We pass it
turn to the left along lobby where crowds
of persons jostle us-ascend flight of steps
having most exquisitely wrought ballast
rads-pull open bi-valved door, with an
eliptical lookout" in it-and find our
selves in the gallery Of the Lower House
Of Congress. What an immense crowd OF
PERSONS I'LL tueS6 uuc SCdts al oioohu sho
Hall They arc Hooking with intense int
rest on the many Honorable" below. What
is going on? The House is organizing. 1t
is nearly half passed IL O'Clock, Dec 18th.
The gentlemen on the rig BIT OF tue Speaker
land in the right generally are Democrats.
Those OIL the other side, are Republicans.
The vote Is being taken for Speaker. Cox,
of Ohio, and Colfax, Of Ind, are the most
prominent candidates, This fne-looking
man directly before US, is VOORHEES,, of Ind,
one of the best debaters and most elo-
quent speakers in the body. That burly,
bullsh appearing fellow over there leaning
forward on his desk with his eyes on the
Clerk, is Lovsjoy-the famous abolitionist
of III. Yon small, dark haired, fancy little
fellow sitting right in front OF the Speak
er's Stand, is Cox, of ohio-and that very
slender, cheerful, rustic looking member
over there where that group Of men are
talking, is Colfax who will be the Speaker
of the House. But it would require too
g..