The New York herald., 1870-05-17
THE GOVERNMENT ON A STEAMBOAT,
Congressional Excursion Down
the Potomac.
The President, the Cabinet and the Two Houses on
Lark-who Were There and What Was
Done-Rare Exhibition Of Senatorial Danc-
ing-"shoo, Fly" and Dan Tucker"
the Tunes for a Breakdown-Ham
and Eggs as Senatorial viands.
WASHINGTON. May Is, 1870.

she motion 10 adjourn over I'M Monday only ten
members stood up 10 sustain MN. Cohr res-heh
have as great q peacham for free rSe or iree
lunch as the somewhat notorious Bean hickman
has for free cigar. II u very seldom ihheei that
ghey give a negative response, either individually
or collectivcy, 10 sucn an invitation as was sent
Them last week by nualber OF tho wetodO pub
aic sp.riei citizens OF Washington. When such q
temptation is presented the appeals OF Mr.. Dawes
op behalf OF the unccasdered appropriation bills,
ar the entreatles OF General Schencx 10 go on win
me Tariff blil eqCally unheeded and unavailing
A parcel OF scnooboss could not be more delighted
at the prospect OF holiday than were the wiseacres
who make our laws, and, in some degree, shape the
destiny OF the country, with the green tickets In
their pockets which were TO admit them on board
the Lady OF the Lake. Even Mr.. Dawes himself had
ticket. ana noticed his arrival at the boat among
the earliest. Nor is the Senate less susceptible than
the House to such inducements for adjourning over
and letting the public business ''snde." When the
matlon for an adjournment was made in that body
on Friday there was not single objection, much
less a can for the yeas and nays. The 'upper
hcu ci has a Keen relish FOR little innocent and in
ex EN- i've amusement, with all ITS proverblal un-
bending dignity.
WHY THE EXCURSION WAS GIVEN.
There is some speculation TO the object OF the
Congress ona excurson; for such things are seldom
done without an object. II must have cost the citi
xeus Of Was IN ton a und sum, and they are too
ehrewd 10 throw away their money for nothing.
Rnmor has it that tie MAJ orally election, which
comes on next month II remotely connected with il.
The 'sodr citizens anxious TO get nd OF he
PIE eni city Hat ring az the head oi which Is the
election. ana 10 place one Cf IN r own number Mr..
M. q. Emery IN power. ms may bave eu one OF the
motives that proml ted the excili for Mr. Emery
was among the guests, 80 that the congressman had
"A chance to learn something Of his gond qualiI
a man ana re ublican. Bul the main object un-
with the men who cont ol Ihc srtngs OF the purse
out OF VIII ch all appropri lions must come Tor Inn
proving and btamiying the city. The Southern poll
ans VINO ruled the country for upwards OF n ty
years had theory that the way 10 reach mans
H. art, II not his head Is through II stomach This
thy conceived especially true rs regards North
ern men. and hence their far-famed hospitality.
Whatever other The )rles the war may have biotted
out IL is very evident that the pooi people OF WASH
tngt sti hold 10 tins one and practical experience
demonstrates Its correctness During Andy john
sons admInis ration the people here took sides with
HIN in his Light with Congress and the consequence
was trong proud ce grew up among the majority
OF congressman against them. IL has taken good
deal OF money, spent in giving entertainments free
Zee IL nd Tree rides TO do away with this feeling;
odt IL Is now nearly obliteia'ed
WHO WE'RE THERE.
II may be safely stated mat the Lady OF the
Lake, under It's new proprietors, Brown Plant,
she was launched as she had yesterday. There were
the President and his lady, together WI h the mem.
bers OF b ; oil ial household majority OF The
members Of rue Cabinet were present to give the as
semblage oiicla dignity aud Importance. The Gene.
raj OF the Army. together with some OF his trusted
captails was on board, IN az good humor as II no
attempt Was being mate 10 cut down his salary. 1t
woald be asier u say what Senator's and members
were not there than 10 give list or those present.
And So o, the heads OF departments. Had the boat
been blown up the gov, rnmebt would have been at a
sfandstill for lew days at least, 50 numerously
was every branch represented. Party anu politics
werc completely ignored and democrats and repub.
tn oc ,a,y "rnhaain id not envv juash y nor
did 'Judah yeX Ephram."
WHEN THE BOAT STARTED
Atprv bQI VIVA An M asf Of
were over 70J on board there was no uncomfortable
crowdlug. The President lighted cigar and walked
around snok ng and chatting With everybody lie
had evidently len the 'cares Of state' at home with
Secretaries Fish and Boutwell,, who were lot OF the
lime the biriy secretary OF war did not lock as II
he were seriously troubled about the rumors of an In
iii N war. Attorney General hoar hal evidently Tor
gotten his reec ion by the Senate for Associate JUS
rce and sat smoking an talking with General Sher-
man. who was enter aiming hall a dozen Senators
with rem nscences OF the war. Secretary Cox was
trying 10 maze good impression upon Mr.. Dawes,
probably with view 10 liberal appropriations for
the Interior Department. James Brooks was prom
enad ny with couple OF young handsome girls; for,
BROOKS, you know, - great favoflte with the
women. sam Coz was giving some excellent mita-
tions Of negro minstreisy 10 crowd OF adm ring
spectators. Zach Chandler was down In the punch
room sitting in his shirt sleeves at game OF draw
POKER" w.ta Hamlin. OF Name. and two or three
other Senatorial 'Joly fellows" General Dent,
gotten up Ia full reglmentals regardless oil expense,
as moso' ITO iio m mIdsimmer. BECK, OF Kentucky
was wandering up ana down seeing mat nobody
ran of with his two good-looking daughters. Ben
jamin. OF Missouri, and Kelsey, OF New York, were
perchei upon the hurricane deck expatlating upon
the Importance OF 'objecting' IN the House TO all
schem Of suspicious character. Here and there,
in odd nooKs and corners, some aspiring young
CLERKS were carrying on sly nlrtafions with the
daughters OF Senators and members or playing the
agreeable to the wives Qf the Men whose influence
sometimes is so powerful.
THE PUNCH ROOM
was thrown open after the boat started, and
the "thirsy sols' were not long IN discovering It's
location. Huge pitchers of lemonade with stick
In M were carried around by thoughtful gallants,
and served to such Of the ladies' "a chose 10 sin
dulge' OF course the temper OF the eXcurslonists
NAL and female, was perceplibly improved as the
lemonade went round. Everybody felt good towards
everybody else, and the conventional barriers OF
soc.ai aid official Status gradually melted away as
ga and alleys OF the BODY "a the ghost OF Ham,
let's father phrases It, Next to death this lemonade
swth "a stick in it'l Is perhaps the grea est leyel.
Ter. Probably 1t Is upon the principle that "a fellow
feeling makes us wondrons kind." Even the whist,
euchrc am poker players became more lioerai TO-
wards each other. Zach Chandler gave odds 10 his
opponents With princely liDeralty. The ex-Nice
Presldent from Ma.ne was as enthusiastic over HIS
cards the most confirmed veteran player, and at
every "tiickv would laugh with the abandon OF o
youth OF sixteen.
Forward, on the lower deck. the young folks had
organized dance. and that part OF the boat soon
became the GENRE OF attraction for young aud
old. Tie President was Interested spectator part
Of the time, but neither he nor Mrs Grant partici-
pated. There Was no LACK however, 0l dancers.
Grave Senators whired around IN the waitz ana tne
granddaughters Hoary hea ej, apoplecttc Old fel-
lows OF the lower house danced l their faces were
pup and ther breath was almost gone. set,
composed of Senators Chandler and Hamiin,
ana Representatives Judd and Farnsworth,
Oi limos, attracted good deal OF attention In
quadrlle, which ended with an old-iashioned
ebreukdown.n The vivaclty and abandon OF the
Senators was something remarkable. Chandler
threw his long angular limbs around In every ulrec-
tOn, utterly regardless OF the consequences TO the
toes oil his partner and his neighDors. Hamn
skipped over the deck ike young ram on lrolic
aiiu called cut tile 'igureSn at the top OF his
AS the 'breakdown'' was reaching the climax the
excitement became intense and spread from the
gay dancers TO the spectators, among whom were
hali dozen OF the national legislators keeping
time with their hands ana their ieet. ''Give US
old Dan Tucker u shouted the excited and hari.
Gus hamlln 10 the leader OF the band. 'Give us
sUId Dan IGcker-that's Inc tune Tor q breakdown
Hamin is the most theless OF dancers. He took
part IN hat dozen iaclers and quatrilles consec-
nIvey and all tile lime seemed to throw his whole
soul Into the work before him.
'sH0O FLY, DON'T DoDDER ME.n
Among the dancers OF course, was the gay and
festive Sunset Cox. Sunset, being light gets ound
with a great deal OF unosIentatious giacefulness,
and the ladies' all wanted TO dance with him. ale