The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-02-20
For the Jeffersehian Democrat.
A Visit to Washington.


For the 6rst time IN ms life. have made
9 visit to the Capital of the Nation; and I
think tho Arst impression of stranger
would naturally be that which experienced
myself, on arriving hore, namely: that
Washington at distance Is an altogether
different thing from Washington at home.
In my own case. also, as presume is the ex-
perieuce of others. all subsequent observa-
tion tends to copHrm that Impression. II
for no other reason. feel amply repaid for
my visit hero, in the removal Of the false
ideas concerning tho Capital, and tho man.
agemeut Of things therein, and tho ncquisi-
tlon ef moro accurate nnders anding Of
tho Washington Of actual life.
And. frst, In respect os the appearance
OF tho town itself. fool disgreesble disap-
polntment. The architecture is altogether
inferior to that Of any Western city Of prom.
inence. For instance. the private buildings
Of Washington are inferior to those of CIevo.
land; and so are the public buildings, very
decid ,dly, except those which belong to the
General Government. The town is dirty ;
the cutters ore full of Nth; ,horo are more
stinks than Coleridge found In cologne -
There ID sort of sbabbiness, kind of an
,iquated air and style pervsding the Whole
town. and around the borders, often in the
heart Of the city, dIIapidation aud thrift
lessness that Is anything but commeudable
and agreeable. Concerning the Govern
mont buildings, however. my disappointment
was pleasurabie. l Iexpected to find them
congreeated together somewhat. instead Of
being scattered all over the town. and their
architectural effect thereby greatly lost
but the vastness and magni6cenco of the
Capitol. aud, indeed, the extent and general
excellence aud thoroughness Of construction
Of oil the later Government buildings, alto
gether exceeded my anticipations. Upon g
gentle SWELL just high enough to overlook
the town. towering gigantic, msguiGcent,
with it's lofty dome and its wide.stretcbing
wings. islands the capitc' Of tho Nation. alb
sorbing the attention and challenging the
admiration Of the most careless. 1t is an
imposing and gratifying architectural spec
tacle. such as bad never expected to wit
ness. but which. above all others, would
be glad to look upon as the Capitol Of my
country. Tie Pataat ofBce. ,bs General
Post. Office, the Smithsonian Institute, the
Treasury Building. all are equal. at lens, to
the general impression. They surpassed
my own, and think will also generally sur
pass that of others. II these buildings we're
alt gathered under tho mighty shadow of
tho Capitol, the metropolis of any otbor ma,
tion of ancient or modern times. could
hardly surpass such collection in size,
completeness and splondor. But. u tho air
that pervades tho town and the Government
Halls. am painfully disconcerted. ex.
pected TO And here, at the center of affairs,
especially at such time a prevailing sense
of power, OF resolution. Of determined pur.
pose. expected TO sec something Of tho
appearance, and to feel something OF the
presence. Of the authority Of the conceb.
trated majesty and weight of the Nation. -
IDstead Of this, lind nothing materially
different, 10 these respects, from wba,
would be experienced in other cities ol
equal tize. Here 10 an sssemblego of in
NiBucths W NVo-"OikoTs, Ot mhuC6uNToTe
j hgurers. politicians. technically so called
that will be nowhere elso seen. All the no
tels, boarding g-houscs, public places, ar,
crowded, ovorrun with strangers, transien
sisilors, the like of which know not wher,
else TO 20 In search of. Itis great, ever
chsnRiDg caravansary. These classes, will
their private schemcs, thoir darling intor
esis. their Sightseeing and their curiosity
hunting. are they who give that tone /,
public feeling and appearance which s,rike
a stranger. IL ls not the shadow of author
ity, the presence of power, but q vie,
through gigantic kaleidoscope, that mos
] wildly touches the freah susceptlbIII,ies as
lsorbs the feelings and attention, Of a newly
arrived stranger In Washington. I did no
feel. do not yet feel. half 30 certain Of th,
suppression OF the Rebellion, ss I did Ia n,
lquiet home on Lake Erie. thought. Ii
, the Seat of its Capitalization, the maiesti
power and purpose OF the Nation was soms
, thing which ] do not find 10. But psrhap 3
the fault, though national and commol
one, is in mysoif Tho people are apt :,
Ioot to the Government for isad, and 70