New-York tribune., 1869-03-05
THE SCENE IN TIE SENATE.

THE SCENE IN THE SENATE.
Despite the rain and mud, which increased as
the for meeting the Senate Chamber approached
immense crowds gathered early in the leading
to the open spaces around the Capitol their features
beaniDg with smiles although dreaTness overspread the
OF The few hundreds who were fortunate
enough TO possess tickets TO the Senate galleries
were collected before the east door at the north
wing of the CsnitQI rs early as % o'clock In
addition TO these were dozens OF Welldresscd
people, who rcsorted 10 the most astonishing
subterfuges to gain admission. Fow and then some
genemans curiosity would get the better Of his honesty
and he would exhibit fabulous paper and rehearse
Of his ancient exploits in hopes of convincing the
puzzled police who guarded the pOrco The humber OF
people who had permit. from President Wade
astonishing "why he knows me, and won't he be
offended when he hears of thisF' were some OF the
mildest Of the rCjoinders profcred as the wouldbe
nuostors were repcled from the door with no gentle
hand The ladies evidently had overwhelming desire
TO see the President for many dozen would
sometimes be presented by enterprisng gallant on
one ticke-so those who had properly the night to enter
first were generally josted and crowded longest and 1t
was O o'clock before the last ticket had been presented
Then the rush for good positions so great that people
forgot their good manners and the ladies, aud their
elegant toilets suffered the melee However order was
attained at last broken only by the continuous Whispers
OF the Ladies' in the galercs-whch somewhat disturbed
the nervous Senators, who faugued with their pro
tracted vigil Of the preceding night and wishing doubt
less to preserve much dignity possible ON the last
day of their official career. gave notice. through Senator
Trumbun of Illinois, that unless absolute quiet was
maintained the galleries would be cleared So the ladies'
stopped whispering for five minutes, ana then began
again as siDilantly vocferOus ms before
The galleries presented brilliant spectacle. The
ladies prcdOminated IN number and one vast panorama
of pink and blue. ntcrspcrscd with lovely faces and
bright eyes, was the scene presented to the spectator
Whenever notable man entered, army Of lorgnettes
were lcvclcd at INN. aud he fairly transfXed with
the gaze OF the beauties.
Two seats had been reserved the left Of the Dpo-
matte Gallery for wives and friends OF the President
and Vice President elect and the ushers were constantly
engaged keeping less important persouagcs from occupy
ing them At last the public had the satisfaction OF scan
ming the face Of Mrs Colfax, who in toilet OF cnircol
ored dress white bonnet aud green gloves eat with Mrs
Wade and Mrs and Miss Mathews looking eurously upon
the lively below. Near them. III the diplomatic
Gallery eat Mrs Thornton, wife OF the English Minister
with her daughter Mrs Ford sat at her right and Mrs
Fitzpatrick occupied seat near by After the arrival OF
the Foreign Ministers. nearly all the ladies' VINO give i
ported European society its tone III washington ais" GU
tered the gallery Shortly before the NcePresident
elect took the oath Of Office Mrs Grant habitcd mOdcsy
! in black entered took the seat assigned her accom-
poued by her son in cadet uniform, and leaned quietly
upon the railing watching with intense curiosity every
! movement in tine Chamber.
II was worse than useless to attempt to proceed with
the regular daily routine of business In the Senate The
alabsorbng topic OF the hour. finally discussed in the
galleries without fear OF rcprimand was the arrival OF
Gen Grant and 10 restraint could be placed upon the
unrest Of the multitude, by his appearance AT
last cX Senators began TO arrive now and then House
member would peer in, stalk boldly 10 the center of
tho noor in defiance Of ceremony as did Ben Butler OF
Massachusetts, who was holding an unfinished cigar Jn
one hand and his broad black hat in the other Pres
emily, uniforms began TO glitter, and in q short time
there we're seated at the right OF the main Senate en-
trance Gems Sherman. Thomas, Hancock and Ferry III
fun uniform. Near them Admiral Farngut Gems
scldcs and Mcdowell Pay mastcrGeueral B1cc' Gems
Buttcrheid ingalls,, and Meigs. Nice-Adminl Porter
Gen HelnYleInan, and Rear-Admirals SbubrcR Smith'
Cod.norourlt and Dallgrcn Rcar-Admirals Stringham
aud strbuC Of the Charlestowu Navy Yard and on the
right from the entrance were numerous Governors ana
exCovernOrs States and Territories, Assistant sccre
taries of Departments the Assistant POsmastcrsGcncra
the Assistant Attorney and the JudgeAdvocate
General several Controllers Audltorss and Registers OF
the Treasury and many solicitors OF the various Depart
mcnts: also numerous Judges, and the Mayor ana eX'
Mayor Of Washington. Gems. Sherman and Hancock at
tracted much attention. aud the noble appearance OF the
former from whose face the old compressed anxious
carv orn look has quito vanished. the subject OF fire.
ouent remark The entrance Of Mrs DR. Mary Walker TO
the goor Of the Senate and the assignment her OF seat
on the extreme right under the pursuvant protection
OF several old gentlemen created many remarks and some
criticism hcadies particularly were very curious to
know what business she had there, land questioned
strongly the prOpety OF her thus trustng herself into
the Immediate proximity OF Executive dignity. She
vas neatly but plainly dressed dacolored garments
and her long hair hung her shoulders. The lady
took notes daintily In elegantly bound reportugcase
After killing the Tenure of ONCE bill, and becoming
plauly convinced that the working hours OF the Kiln
Congress were numbered account OF the constantly
Increasing xcement the Senate withdrew in body to
the seats assigned them the left OF the Chamber ana
awaited the entree Of the dgntares foreign and native
and tile arrival OF tho inaugural procession with the main
features OF the day The audience ceased It's hunmngbut
recommenced IL at once when the diplomats, headed by
the venerable Baron Won Gcrolt OF Prussia, entered and
took their places with their attendants on the night OF
the Senate Chamcr the glitter OF their court dress and
the evident mpatence with which they, az well as the
public Gen Granrsappearance satisfied curiosity
for some time The Senate had dispatched committee
IN inform the President that they at his disposal
and every noise at the brought all to their feet
straning their eyes in the hope Of seeing the hero
Meantime the diplomats sat haughtily quiet with the
exeeption of tho Turkish Secretary OF legation
who regarded everything aud everybody through
| tbe medium OF an immense opera glass. Slr Edward
Thorpton noblelooking Englishman, with thoughtiul
but rather severe cOuntenance now and then roked his
white yhiskers aud looked at the clock aDxously on
.i,har side OF him were ranged Mr.. Berthemy, French
Nnster with his attaches the Comte De Faverny, and
che vicomtv DE Aulan wademar DE BodscO the Russian
SECRETARY OF Legation Gd interim; Senior Dc Altos Poru
ooese Minister; NJ Maurice Do La FOsse Bel gian Minis
ter resident: Mr. Hitz political agent Of the Swiss Gov
| ernment: NJ Rangabe, wellknown for his JudiciOus
| presentation in this country OF Grecian af-
| airs ; Senior Garcia OF the Peruvian Legation
| seror non yolles second Secretary of the Spanish
,oea,on M MazeI. Representative of the Netherlands
NJ !, p.ua ~ the Danish Legation; BE Fontecilla
~ Cu sepor Mogahagens Of Peru, SenOr Vela OF Guat