New-York tribune., 1867-03-08
49, ~ -uC>Ny
LIFE IN WASHINGTON

.oc,.~v AVN ira RUIEs-THE FINE ARTS IN lhE
oAPrror-rHE SENATE AND THE SENATOR'S
Fr0n Our sPse~i O"fe'P'Au w.sgycTON March 8, 1851
O. TRIBUNE. the shining fabric OF WashIng'on ~, =
o;a4, "a rocked IN its foundation, ana do iO' -
with nv irreyerent handi For saiu ","V ou1O 80
ta loveliest of the Representatives 'oiu He' 'n"'
ths ivas NJ the Judges called on the wives Oh inc
cn0stora and on the Cabinet lacles NOe they
sThev vould be set quick i the earth ana Do"ieu !"
aeath with turnips firstl The power "nleh sp.
.oints is higher than the power appointed"
ssason the Senatorial logicians. I'VE receive and
,.oha.A again. We do not bestow. This
;s tba notion which the autocrats Of the
Eouth left In perpetual fee when they departed.
eve are the soveregnsp said they'll "soveregns OF
The sovereign people. We exact homage which we
return in courtesies." On the other hand. the Su-
preme Court held itself the one social fxity, and
looked upon the brief authority of the Senate as the
hills might regard the White House. And the CaDi-
net said I'VE are the allies of the first officer with
out whose advice and consent he is n0ught. After
has, the deluge"
r Nevertheless. though York and Lancaster con-
tended for whole seasons though red rose burned
with fiery zeal and white rose palcd with hurt aih
biton; though divinity whose husband was
Judge slipped ambrosia from twin chslee,
side by side with q divinity whose nusDsHu
was q Senator, one long Winter ana nei.ne'
would call upon the other; capnuia'lo"'
az not victory has been achieved, and the supreme
Court rides proudly with the Capine' anu o0a"'o
hecking in captive bonds its chariot wheels. And
sare LET me add that the wife of the President OF the
Ranate and the wife of the Speaker Of the House,
and hereafter II do not aude TO the eternities the
wife of the ChiefJustice-since the crown now trem-
Les above his lofty brOws welfare not expected
TO make calls or, at least they demand them first,
being Of the blood royal or, rather, welded to the
heirs apparent
trust that nm herein anchored to the Everlast-
ing Verties The eloquence of this most sound ex-
position is my own, but the laws were unfOlded to
me by a stern Gamalie at whose feet sat, and
whose other name will tell if hnd that have
profanely removed of the ancient landmarks OF
The fathers in attempting "a quick cross-cut over
lhis social Land of Promise. This correction
offer in a spirit Of meek atonement for the
ruin have wrought When the dreadful
question was asked, "Who killed Cock Robinf',
my conscience forced me to answer, IL" SAID the
sparrow. with my bow and arTowl" And now, II you
are not tired Of me, wish to rise to a question OF
priyilege When The Chronicle does me the honor
Df saying that tell degree of truth rejoice at it;
but that same stern element which it so graciousy
recognizes in me, cOmpels me, when 1t adds that
btart out with the settled purpose Of carpng at
eyerytbing, TO aver that didn't-and, further to
Hdd that was brought up to believe, as all right
minded American citizens are, that the Capitol com
pared favoraby with tho Louvre, that the Treasury
surpassed the Vatican and that Washington Itself
more nearly Tesembled Zion than any earthly
model No came to praise and is it my fault
IL unworthy things barred my way, and {hscords
drowned my song should so have liked to say that
onr royal America wore this wild as her first crown
kewel and that it flashed wortily. should so have
liked TO say that the public buildings were the ex-
pressiOn of the culture, the taste the hberaly OF
hheir owners. That their ornaments were significant,
kpd fine aud their whole purpose clear and noble.
And when l am compelled to deelare-with tears
Tn my eyes, if my critic win believe me-that
our legislation has been injudiciously, and
Therefore nkindly, generous in trusting I'm
efficient servants, / am supported only by
Che hope that other Congresses to come will
save us before we are lost in national Righteousness
We all object to those ideas of Beauty which inspire
the noble savage And should not be secuted if
deprecated wampum and ornaments Of scalps But
will not my candid critic and the gentle public,
slider whether have notperpetuated in our stately
Capitol too many elements Of the Camanche Ordor Of
decoration, and the Sioux theory OF colors Con-
greSsional evil communications have corrupted my
good manners. / used never to notice misappreheD-
Iions but have heard so many personal explana-
nations that frenzy of personal explaining pos
sessed and beside, don't like to be supposed to
carry tOnahawk instead of a Geneva watch. Hino
Rie laoksgn0.
After the House. the Senate addresses ones senses
Rsa panacea, and silence like pouItice comes to
heal tho blows Of sound" After the House too the
Chamber looks cosy, not to say domestic that
dug in rug ceases TO be the symbol Of snugness It,
also, is a rectange, with paneled walls and ceiling
of painted glass whence much allegory and symbol |
}sm look down in gaudy clothes 1t is lighted from |
tbo top alone, and at night, when armament of
rasets blazes above Allegory concentrates them ALL
like gigantic sun-glass and pours fiery flood
upon the tops and rounds OF sovereignty
below. In consequence OF this singciug, |
snoSt OF the Senators pren.aturely bald, and in
Ears cases, like tat Of Garrc Davis t is said to have
affected the brain itself But this Is mere rumor
and am a aGradgrind of facts The painting Of the
Senate is less positive. but almost more showy than
fiat OF tho House. There is much illumination Of
yellow panelings, and the seats of the Diplomatic
Gallery upholstered with duh green rising OBJ
trHsiyely from the of pale dIab which encircles
the hall. The desks and seats here are rosewood |
dark and rich but, most unhappily, the carpet Is
brilliant flower pattern, well enough in a ladys |
boudoir, II one likes square roses, but in this
ruminatiye haunt affecting ones like the sud
den shIill blast of trumpet, the irruption of
whirling bGlct Yet again. the steps of the Presi-
dents tribune are covered with deep crimson very
luxury of color but at odds with everything else ia
the room Sitting in the gallery, the floor and the
walls and The ceiling and the furniture jan gle Swear
at each other" as the French say of in-aranged
furnishings You study the men to escape their hab
itafiea, so perhaps it is good thing after all.
When you enter-and this letter is not for a day,
but for all time-Garret Davis is speaking lie isa
sepulcrsl aud atenuatcd Graiano. His reasons are
as two grains Of wheat hid in two bushels Of ohaff
You shall search all day you find them aud when