Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-05-20
Washington Letter.
THE CROWD OF OFFICE SEEKERS.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 10, 1869.


THE CROWD OF OFFICE SEEKERS
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 10, 1869
The lively air that session of Con-
gress always gives to Washington has
| passed away. The magnificent distances
for which this city is so justly celebrated,
are rendered the more magnificent by the
solemn stiffness which pervades its streets
and avenues, presenting marked con-
trast with what it was but few short
days ago
With the closing scenes of the past
session of Congress, many fond hopes and
many political aspirations were brought
to an untimely end. In that relentless
manner with which the hand of fate often
deals with his subjects, the proyerbial
Office seeker was often required TO make
a sudden transit from the very pinnacle
poets, to the lowly vale of disappoint-
ment and deep humiliation. That par
ticularly useful and valuable institution,
I" the oldest inhabitants" which is always
accepted as authority upon oil matters Of
date, although they may record every
summer the hottest and every winter the
coolest, known for years, pronounce the
rush for political favor, during the last
hours of the first session of the forty
first Congress, as beyond all precedent
Your correspondent, being still Yam
kee, had his curiosity greatly excited by
the crowd of persons who thronged the
halls and gallerys of both houses of Con-
gress, gave Pennsylvania avenue Broad
way like appearance, and lounged about
hotels and restaurants with apparently
nothing to do. Who are they? What
are they. Business men certainly not
where is the business Men of leisure,
evidently plcasure-seckers. Then why
come TO Washington Curiosity finally
found relief III the conclusion that ont Of
pure regard for the hero of Richmond, or
true national pride, these people had come
here thus early III the session to secure
accommodations Tor inauguration, &c, &c.
A very good theory, but il lost all charm
over curiosity, when, after Inauguration,
a reasonable time had elapsed for sight
seers to take their leave, and the same IA
miliar faces were daily visible, and each
day adding to their number Though
like all of his people, good at guessing,
your correspondent failed to comprehend
the whole matter, until after the session
called for executive business when the
whole mystery was solved, - the real
cause became evident-to IA person of
large sympathies, painfully SO. This
crowd, recently men of leisure, were
now, evidently, men of business; the
once free and easy countcnancc now wore
troubled look not the look Of Il settled
sorrow, but that of suspense-the min
gled expression of hope and fear. Ac
cording to the usual custom none were
admitted to the upper floor during session,
SO this crowd, in lieu of cushioned gall
lery-seats, found standing room in
the halls and corridors below, with
the privilege of leaning against the
wall when standing became uncomfortable.
The character of the session lit being
private), or something else, seemed to in
spire this crowd with an inordinate desire
amounting almost to a mania to know
what was being done by the Senate. Sc
majors who adhered to the established
practice of not having the floor during the
session, in response to cards, messages,
&c, sent in, found a safe retreat from
Office seekers the only one in Washing
ton by the way upon the Senate floor.
Those who disregarded this rule, or were
SO rash as to step Qnt to the P. o. SecyS
afiice, or elsewhere, deserved punishment
for their temerity, and it is the opinion of
the writer that generally received it be-
fore getting back into the Chamber, often
being buttonholed and piled with ques-
tions by half dozen at once. Members
OF the press were in nearly as good de-
mand. Presidents room. was appropri-
ated to the use of the reporters, not so
much in honor of the Press as from the
fact that the reporters gallery being
closed, this was the only available place
for them. A duplicate List Of the nomi-
nations sent to the Senate was sent to this
room for the reporters use. It soon be-
came evident that something more than
usual placard, "Privats"-"An persons
requested" &c, was necessary to ensure
quiet for the reporters, 20 door.kseper
was placed at the door, who, not being