New-York tribune., 1870-12-16
WASHISG70S SKETCHES.
MOSTLY REMISIscESr.

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around me and recall past scenes Sometimes tur1
quite aside from the throng and stroll around the fine
old chamber not 70 pick out groesque CHASTITY faces
IN the handsome oongomerate pillars, but to ca up s
toric and familiar gureso FIX the spots where
the orators 81 the old days sat and stood As the abe
"olivia" Of the Philadelphia Press" writes down
as venerable" and / noy longer hope 10 keep IN
the plessau, fiction of youth, may be allowed to fall
back the privileges Of age, aud be Little garrrlous
over the past
l never saw John Quincy Adams IN ths Han, but I
know the place where he planted HIS firm feet when he
fought the good hgh for the right of petition against
prejudice and fierce faction and the spot where he fell
and the last of earth" never Coywin here,
but old friend Las pointed ous TO the locality Of his
seat at the time when he made that Overp0Veringly
funny speech against the Michigan militia general,
Carey believe and got of bis audacious burlesque OF
country military parade with cornstalk for sword,
strding up and down the central sisle Many time
pass the spot does his dark powerful humorous Iowa
BILE face rise before "I cannot make lin dead" -
there such an abundance OF rich, joyous healthfd
life about him. May the soil OF his beloved State lie
lightly the great heart-so often misunderstood
often sadgenerOus fountain OF laughter, scaled well OF
tears
1t is easy to tx the place where Giddings reared
his obstinate fearless svercrowned head and his form
OF Ajax and where the "Od ConmODer" sat. casting
wary but defiant looks around him, and where shonc
Robert Rantous beautiful, dark eyes, and further on
the spot where the very air electrical with the
passionate eloqueDce OF Alexander stephens From that
little loft Of gallery supposed TO furnish generous
accommodations fer the sovereign people. witnessed
the Inauguration OF President Fillmore; and remcm
Der behoding from there curious and startling scene
which occurred very late the last night OF the session
Of 1852. Two Of the SOuth-the gallant Clineman
and the elegant Stanley OF North Carolna-after a
hot dispute, came TO blows, and would doubtless
have fought bravely," but for the meddlesom0inter
nvtA he
occurrence woke all up efiectually You may go and
60 TO that gorgeous big House Of Representatives
without having such q treat as that Tho whole old
Chamber swarms with assocatiOns-here great National
gories and tragedies fOreshadowed; here history
was shaped They talk Of making II gallery for scup
ture Imagination shuddcrs at tie suggestion think
however 1t should contain simple portrait busts. by our
beat artists, OF the who have made IL memorable
whose names are indssOubly connected with II. These
would take from the dreary look 1t now has-woUld
lay the ghosy memories that hover about IT, by giving
them "a local habitstion and namei
On a dull, dTizzlng day in Autumn, before the re-
assembling OF Congress, styoled into the Old Senate
Chamber, now the Supreme Court Room, and remained
there some time alone with shadows and memories.
found it difficult to realize that this little semieircuar
apartment the great arena OF debate once thought
so grand and imposing but al last IL all came back 10
me- could point out the very spot which each Ia
nous gladiator took his stand the scenes OF long ego
dust; dead faces emerged from the gloom, and ghosy
voices were on the air, though the echoes OF the
past were murnuIinc in their sleep seemed 10 hear
again bugle-ke ring Of Clays mpassioned tones,
and the hunderous roll Of Webers pOnderous sentences
the sharp eager notes Of challenge and defiance, Ike
the bark of fierce eager Watchdog sent out from the
place where Douglas stood, and famed and sweled.
seemed to again the rsping relentless, tauntng
tones of Benton and passionless voice OF Seward
patiently beating those cool pashing periods OF phil
Osophy and prophecy against the shaky old landmarks
Of party and prejudice.
Ah what scenes that old clock over the door hos
looked upon, with its hard, dumb face! What great
lives Of men and parties II has licked out! From the
reporters gallery, removed how well remember
seeing Louis KOssuth pausng for instant under that
clock as he entered the door his visit 70 the Senate
His grave wistful face Is before with the light
Of his Wild dear hope cleaning In his eyes, was not
o reporter In those good old Conservative days. when
the coming woman" was hardly dreamed OF, and
pretty Nelly Hut9hinson would have been as great
curiosity as the "rwoheaded Lady" or the Electrical
Girl but great Senatorial occasions, that little
gallery like every other "coign Of vantage" was
invaded. I sat there with the wife Of the French
Minister, on the melting June day when Mr.. Webster
made his ast great speech on the Compromise measures
and believe his last speech In the Senate. with the ex-
cepton Of his brief OF the mortal illness
OF President Taylor 1t was eloquent effort and II
was very heavily delivered. CaSsaudra-Nke spirit OF
gloomy prophecy seemed 10 possess him. which perhaps
should have impressed moro profoundly than 1t did
He sometimes far into the future with those grand
sad eyes The close Of the speech made rather Inn
pressiye by tributes TO tho Constitution and Massaehu
setts Concord and Lexington were Gfeet"nately TO
neinbered aud Bunker HI was not overlooked
But such good service had his words done the South
that remember seeing Southern eIrelnlSts-inen 10
whom New-Englapd was but the vulgar paradise of
elock-makers, wooden nutmeg vendors, and hctory
girls Massachusetts forlorn, rocky REGION desolateu
by east winds and long haired phanthropsts. and Bus
non den OF ofnegt6steaers-come crOwding around him
with thanks and gratulatlons. thought he received
them with somewhat cold graciousness smiling darkF
with tho farawsy, banshed look in LIS eyes, peculiar 10
him In his last days.
Now, when occupied by the Supreme Court In full
blast this haunted chamber is place only little less
svesone than when quite vacant. That row OF black
eowned Judges looks like old Venetian Council, dclht
Grating on affairs OF life and DEATH and listening to fear
ful state secrets in most oppressyey grave ana por
tenous way Nothing could give them more dread ai
pearance unless II might be the adoption OF the English
big wig. .....
The ChiefJustceasI last saw lin here. sitting far
hack and down In his chair, mufhed UP in his robes
was soarceIy recognizable the tall, erect and stately
Senator Salmon p. Chase Even mis- voice, wren now
and then he spoke few low words, had certain un'
natural remote sound No wonder that le or that eoh
hight OF dignity in this rsrehed legal at
mosphere was 100 much ior niin- f"'N'" ' N
Is usually enough for me- Yet. just now there Ia
case before this august tribunal which Interests me
20 a degree, and ] have fingered somewhat longer
than usual In these solemn precincts listening and
striving to comprehend the proceedings This Is an
eecnent case brought by Mrs, Mary Brobst against
Mr. Brock sf al for q valuable tract OF coal land In
pennsylvania was glad to see appearing ior the
plaraR who Is ga lone, lorn widow" our good Demo
c,,,lc friend Judge Woodward. His opening that morn
ing vas I understood his maiden speech before the
supreme Court, and have heard too that II made an
excellent impression the judges am glad OF II
Nrst. because his client La a woman, struggling foi
her rights-about half million OF then-aho