Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-13
Correspondence Of the Daily Journa
FROM WASHlNGTll

OW'SS'S ~S-'SV"SS SssssSSS ~ WVo WVseV-Aso
Character, etc etc. @
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1868.
The Thirty Seventh American Congress is
no more. Its labors were finished at noon
to-day, and ere this shall have reached your
goodly city, its members will be among their
immediate friends in all sections of the coun-
try, receiving the congratulations or the con-
formations Of the people, according as they
may deem the legislation Of the Congress to
have been wise or unwise. Of that presently.
just here, l may speak of less important, but
perhaps not less entertaining matters.
The last days of any Congress make lively
times at the National Capital Those who are
at all acquainted with the business of legisla-
ton need not be told that the great battles,
the general engagements, always come toward
the close of sessions. What precedes are
mere skirmishes, foraging forays, filibuster-
ing exhibitions, or at best reconnoissances in
force. The entire strength of the parliament
airy combatants, the best devised schemes Of
parliamentary strategy, are reserved for the
last struggles which shall be closed forever
by the umpire's casting down his warder, and
putting an end to the conflict-that is to say,
dropping the figure from the glorious days Of
chivalry, by the last rap Of the Speakers
gavel, as the clock strikes twelve, IN the case
Of the House Of Representatives, and similar
ly in the Senate. .
Both houses of Congress have been in SEES
sion almost constantly for more than week,
with the exception of Sunday. The galleries
to both chambers have been crowded with
people, the various passages in the Capitol,
the main passage from South to North wing,
have been packed with men and women from
early morRing to considerable ways into the
next day. The rush of crinoline and of broad
cloth has been constant and tremendous
wonder passing strange to those who failed
to recollect that of the 100000 people now
sojourning in Washington, at least two-thirds
are transient customers" Looking upon
the House Of Representatives, from the Re-
porters' Gallery, last night at 10 o'clock, was
struck with the splendor and variety of the
scene. The magnificent Hall, as light as
MONDAY from innumerable jets sending their
softened rays through beautifully painted
glass the tumultuous House, wrangling in
noisy debate, pages running, secretaries read
ing, Mr.. Speaker hammering and talking fas-
ter than Flora Temple can trot; Thadeus
Stevens slowly pacing an aisle, scowling at
an attempt at filibustering, smiling, somewhat
grimly, at its failure John A. Bingham tear
ing up old letters and clearing away the rub
bish Of his desk, to be ready for the morrow's
evacuation John Hickman, little out of
humor and evidently very sleepy; William
D. Kelly, getting on his long legs to make a
motion John Covode, debating with himself
whether "here is farce" or menagerie !;
Owen Lovejoy, heavily specialized, and deep
in the Tribune dozen or so more Republi-
can members Of national reputation, yawning
or wide awake according as they have, or
have not personal interest in the business
on hand Tom. Price," Of Missouri, as red
in the face as lobster, and unquestionably
as dry as desert, from the way in which he
seduces Aldrich to take turn at his pocket
pistol in the robing room; Maynard, a fine
representative of the civilized Indian Leh-
man, who looks like boy and talks like an
angel Sunset Cox, good deal exhausted /;
Ben. Wood, making terrific, cross-eyed hole
in his head whence to scream out mo "
John J. Crittenden, paying page some money
he had borrowed when little short, one
day Wickliffe, disguised all over Vallan-
digham, bobbing around generaly-all these
fellows, and more notorious men upon whom
GuO 600 liSuI olAAVS, w w tIOt AlCCA CSSAy
day in the week. Then in the ladies' galleries
there Is splendid array Of female loneliness,
not to mention batch of those whose gaudy
gewgawry points them out as frail as fair
an hundred women, each one of whom has as
much influence here as member of the Cab
met, crowded among those whose very touch
is contamination. The other galleries are
ran: jam fnll' of representatives of all Sec
tons of the country, and of many foreign
countries. All are deeply interested in the
storm that is noisily raging in the Hill below.
After while passed over to the north
wing. 1t was late, but the passage was still
crowded. There did not seem to be any
diminution in the throng. The Senate gale
ries were overhowing, and business was be-
ing dispatched as earnestly as in the House,
but with more visible decorum. Salisbury
was reasonably sober, and McDougal very un.
usually SO for that time O. night. Republi-
can Senators were alert, Democratic Senators
were anxious to talk.reIt was the House
scene done over, only the characters were
more dignified and sedate-the difference was
like the difference between lads at school and
the same lads, having grown to be men, at
college.
1t was during the previous evening, that
the best parliamentary strategy was exhibited
in the Senate-in the passage of the bill in
Identifying the President for the suspension
Of the habeas corpus etc. 1t was the deter
mination of Powell, Salisbury & Co. to de-
feat the passage Of, the bill by speaking till
the session should expire by limitation. The
first thing they knew the bill was passed, and
they were left a-swearing-thanks to the skill
IF Sanction Tr,,pp|,,,1 NJ, :1c
however, the galleries had been deserted and
several Senators were sleeping finely over
Bayard's speech. Among the rest, Preston
King Of New York. With his coat FOR a pill
low, and his boots off, he made splendid
tableau of sleeping, bare legged, and very
fat Highlander, with his mouth good deal
open. Senator Cowan tickled him with
straws, and Powell made profane and scurril-
lous jests about him. It was about o'clock
on the morning of March 8, 1868, that the
''august Senate of the United States" was
poking straws at Senator King. The Senate
rial dignity was non est Bayard was pros
ing away as though speaking against the
coming of Gabriel and the end of time
Powell asked him to give way for q motion to
adjourn; he gave way, and lost his right to
the floor under the rules; the motion was
lost; Trumbull moved to concur in the House
amendments, and the bill was through before
Powell could expectorate The Senators did
not get to their lodgings before streaks of
daylight commenced to sparkle in the East
The Congress which has just closed its Ia
bors will be ever memorable in history.
Whether we consider it in respect Of the men
who composed it, or of the measures which
it enacted into laws, it must BE- looked upon
as entitled to no small share of commenda-
ton. Stevens, Kelly, Hickman, Lehman,
Covode, Julian, Morrill,, Bingham, Lovejoy,
Roscoe Conkling, Washburne. Colfax, Crit
tenden, ! Cox, Vallandigham, Voorhees, and May
are men of unusual brain. "Thad. Stevens"
Il. L.. of l. IL.