The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-05-11
H
Legislative Excursion.
STATES & UNION:

Legislative Excursion
STATES q UNION:
l.: my letter of last week, in tho
hurry of composition, l mentioned
Frederick, instead of Cumberland.
Maryland.
I now propose to continue MY
sketch, by mentioning what took place
after u arrival in the National me
tropolis. Ii
On the morning of the goth Of
April at 10 o'clock, the members and
their ladies, in a body, visited the
President at the White House, where
all were very cordially received by the
President and. his lady, in the noted
east room. The Heads of Depart
nients, and some ofthe Se-ators were
present IT.. id, 81,
The formalitY of the reception. be.
ing over, the party passed through the
Presidents mansion,, and examined
its various rooms, and then through
the adjoining public. grounds, the
green house, DC; Here the daguerge-
sn artists discovered an. opportunity
of turning n penny The excursion
lists were invited to. one of their gal
%leries to have their pictures. taken in
groups of seven, which they. complied
with. This consumed the balance of
the forenoon : .v-L.
H. D. Sock, FORMERLY of OHIO,
chartered twoE steamers, the Wanna
Jksett, and ArEeW, and rendered their
use. to the party to make a trip to. Mt.
/ Vernon, and return, Il distance OF
sixteen miles down the Potomac river,
which was gladly accepted by the
party.
In the afternoon, the entire party,
accompanied by Mrs. President Grant,
the Secretary Of the Interior, of War,
and the Navy, with several Generals
of the army, Admiral Dahlgren and
lady, formerly of, Ohio, many Senators
and their ladies, and many members
of the House of Representatives, left
Washington Citybfor Mt. Vernon.
The afternoon being clear and the air
pleasantly warm, u trip was made
delightful. The scenery along the
river was most beautiful.
The steamers passed down the river
and landed at the Washington farm
in one hour and a half. The party
disembarked and passed up the bluff
to WashingtoD's new tomb. While
surrounding this hallowed spot, view
ing the last resting place of thes father
of his country, the artist was prepared,
and took the party in a group. We
then marched up to the old mansion
house, which stands on Il bluff, some
forty feet aboyethe river, which Is
about two miles wide at this point.
|. The location is beautiful, and the
former residence of the Father of his
Country is in n good state of preserva-
ton, and contains many relics used by
Washington in his. life time. There,
in his own room, are the shovel and
tongs, and andirons;. and in the room
of Mrs. Washington, several pair of his
long stockings, darnedin several places,
and bed curtains made by Mrs. Wash
ington's own hand! ..p.,
The party strollcd over the farm,
and bought many relics, and returned
on board the steamers, most gratified
to. know hat thcyhad visited the tomb
and house of the great father of bis
county, General Washington! What
memories spring up at the mention of
that name! There has been but one
Washington in the history Of the.
world His meuIorv Il lever die.
On the return, the boats touched Mt
Fort Washington. All disembarked
and passed through and over the fort
looked at the large guns and NOR
tiers, and when we were about depart
ing the soldiers fired,o of the heavy
Armstronggulfs stwice, and it. made
the, bubbles rushup from: the bottom
ofthe Potomac,l EThc ladies. thought
itrnther more noise than the bill
called for, and hence, our boats pushed
off towards the National Capital. -.
We touched at Alexandria, on the
Virginia side. After a short stay, we
again headed for~the city. 1t will be
recollected that Washington done his
marketing, and attended, churchin the
city of Alexandria. The family pew
is still pointed put with pride.
Upon our arrival in the city, after
refreshments, I'VE entered carriages
prepared, and made calls at the pri-
vate residences of the Ohio Congress
men, and General Sherman, by special
invitation. We were well received,
and partook of their hospitality, and
returned to our lodgings, at a rather
late hour, The next morning dawned
most beautifully. Boo.
After breakfast, the whole party
visited the Capitol. Congress adj
journed, and gave the company the
privilege Of the Hall of the House of
Representatives. There are many
very superior men in Congress, yet,
taken as a body, they do not appear
so much above ordinary. 1t is dis
lance, that lends enchantment to the
view.
We next entered the Supreme
Court room where we saw nine grave,
gray-headed, specialized, venerable
looking judges in long gowns, setting
side by side, on what is called the
Supreme Bench Alas! fancy, and
Marshall are no longer there! We
shall not soon see their equals ON the
bench again.
We next took a look at the grave
Senators-the carpet-baggers, and the
niger. There Ire many able men in
the Senate. But the carpet-baggers,