New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-19
THE FORTIETH CONGRESS.
Frc- Oa, special Correspondent

stone end marble, plaster and bronze, stare at the
wondering visitor. The chamber, modelled upon
Grecian theater is half circular 100 feet long % high
TO the top Of its bowl-liko dome, surrounded by 70
columns of dark Potomac marble, with stnp oil
gallery behind them barely large enough for 2OS
visitors
Gone are the hosptable stone fre-places at the
south end. Darkened are those pleasant windows
where the fresh Potomac breeze flowed IN. The ola
halls were far better ventilated than the new Whlch
arc interior on ali sides, and look cut of doors only
through the roof. The ancient bar-cloth cnaiIs arc
here The old stone eagle is still taxing lnghV HUiH
the wall Ii is better than most sculpture aOouD INC
CAPITOL but Just after il was put up MY years ugo
some newspaper critic lllened il to hawk naIed TO
barn door What artist could ever bear the re-
Wiling of his offspring The young Italian who had
cbiseled II drowned himself in the Potomac.
The ancient Hobbies and staircases zee should call
very narrow, even for private house. Here, now
post-olfce is the old room Of the Speaker, where
John Quincy Adams was brought TO die. 1t is plan
and narrow as hemitS cell Now We give the very
doorkoepcr an Office with the dimensions OF lecture
hall and the upholstery OF palace Opposite IN the
little room then used for the mails, Abraham In
coin Representative from Illinois, delighted to slt'
telling stories, with feet over the fireplace, Wie
the member from Buncombe was making his speech
In those days nobody listened TO Congressional bores
rooms, each with its plain walls, BRICK paved pas
sages and comfortable fireplace. There members
wrote and talked while the orator above adureSSe,t
empty benches, content to know that the speech
would be printed for MS constituents. Nhen wore
was 10 b. taken, the Speakers page touched nm IN
knob; " tinkle," "tlnkle," sounded uOAeh UoiS
through tao long passages and members came IIVUP
ing up the narrow oirS to record the;T names. Gas
there was not. Might SESSIONS were Illuminated "
oillamps from reilcctOrs and chandellGrs' ~
Here sat orr gIandfathcrs in knee-breeches SILK
stockings, silver shoe-Dnckss ana poTuGIeu Ir n"I.
tgaT annonnced decisions in his rich mOdulated
voice. and emphasized them with his long waving
arm. Here in presence OF the invited Senate nan
century after tue revolution, he welcoheu
the aged lafayette IN the name Of the American peO
pie already great, prosperous ana happy. III was
Tare pageant. Sin said the young orator 10 the
iIlustr0us guest yen stand ~ The midst oil poster
typ TIE same Congress voted TO Lafayette 24',W
r.s f n,,i,ic land and S2CICCO In the new Hall, bis
full-leugth portrait 10y NHdcTiyn stands on Tue
Speakers lett, corresponding WIN teaies "aSiilns-
ton ON his right. -.
dark eyes smooth brown hair, parting m the middle,
cirsh forehead gaIn' form, shrll voice, ana long,
eloquent forehnger-full OF bitter speeches anu
bearing lifelong hunger III his heart mere c'iho
tho aged Benton, after 30 continuous years IN the
senate Cerwin and Crittenden. also from the higher
chamber; and John Quincey Adams for nine terms
after he had occupied the White House. When re-
fractory Clerk kept the House disorgnized for four
dayA by refusing to call the NewJersey delegation;
in oue INDIGNANT speech the old man eloquent
carried all members with him, and numbering
propose to put the question myself brought ordor
Here. for long years facing every obloquy and
danger, no fought for the Right OF Petition; and
When the onse P4 3R e 70 CS sSoWd read tie
Declaration of Independence tor his defense. here,
IN his last years members USED To tlong ABOUT tnaV
bald head to listen for every word nom mat tIenu-
lous voice and once, when he entered, alter illness,
the whole House stood up as one man TO
greet him. Here finally, at IS. just by
1ose 90 address the Chair, staggered fell gasped out
Tins is the end of earth-l am content anu thet,
chapel was all draped in sable, save the muse OF
history still poised so gracefully over the door, with
the oOckface fOr hen charlOt-W heel and the record
ing pen IN her hand She stood. looking upon me
c1flined face white her own mart arm TIL that
honored form was carried out. 80
Here for u years Giddngs-large, dauntless, with
snowy hair and Sowing broW.denled that man
could hold property in man. When the House cen
sured him he resigned. Ills constituents sent him
back and kept him here till his strong voice made
itself sudibe. He lived 70 hear the Proclamation OF
Freedom and his portTait-the only one OF recent
American-now hangs in the ROtunda.
Here the Kansas-N ebraska battle was fought: Who
has forgotten the tolng bells and flags at half mast
throughout the North, when the bill was finally
passed Somebody wittily characterized the STRIFE
rs all about an ideal Territory for hypothetical
negro but popular instinct already felt the air heavy
struggle. Aiken Of South Carolina conducted Banks
Of MASSACHUSETTS, to the Speakers chair. 1t was the
first victory the North won.
Going from the old Hall to the new is like passing
from Quaker meetng-hOuse 10 a scene IN the
Slack Crook. Beautiful beyond dispute; but gaUdy
with gilt and bronze fresco and stained glass marble
and mosaic The goddess OF Liberty has fair dowry;
give her robes Of state and crown Jewels but she Is
not a ballet girl TO bespalgle with brass yet an
AIdpahoe Squaw that We should STAN her checks
with youuilliOn.
Tho new Hall, too, has it's memories. Here the
long LecOmptOn battle was fought and won. Here
N - when kett threatened to dissolve the Union,
Burhngame answered, pointing hs finger at the
CarOlinan's salow face, and lifting his voice till
hronzcd roof and nched walls rang with the climax:
II would poi be right to DO It = you'd not be
Kcstt fell on a Southern battlefield. stone in
yonder Congressional Cemetery commentaries
Brooks.
Keitt sprang at Grow, and the Penllsyl Van!an
knocked him down; where Barksdae lost hls WIG ;
where an excited reporter seeing rougl-andtum1ie
tight below dropped his huge BOWle-kh1e on lhe
floor gpraDC over the railing to go n'-and beng
thero suspended by his eOatTS from the press gal
Jerry till his restraining brethren drew INN pack
Here after the John Brown raid, was the long con-
test about the Helper book, in which many Repub-
licaus who had Endorsed IL ate humble PIE but owen
IOvcloy in fierce fiery speech NON the CLERKS DESK
s;Ed to the Slave Propagandlsts; lOu murdered my
brother in Alton, % years ago. because you dared not
hear him now you shall hear me-
The present RepresentauveS-the mob OF gentle,
black but few in white linen, for three or four
hours daily. Some limp from Rebel bullets. Some,
their political hopes blasted bear IN sad faces the
marks Of deeper MOUNDS. One, under great do
nestle grict went into hermitage tor 20 yealsand mas
again come back 10 the busy arena While most men,
beers are speaking the rest write talk read newspapers,
or clap their hands to cali pages for letters and mes
sagcs A man who can debate IN such a pandeuo-
alum must possess great seli-COntrO. Bat there are
halfa-dOzen whom the House hears with close at
Thaddeus Stevens is the first Now, at a. his weak
voice is almost inaudible TO the reporters, ne IN
slant he rises. all sounds are hushed; al distant
members crowd around his desk, with heads bent
Forward 20 catch every word from bis trembling lips
intellectually, his speeches are the best IN the House
clear compact, direct, logical but his power does
not e holly in this yet ia bis sagacty. for he Is
)ut-yOted half the time nor IN ms wisdom, for he