The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-07-14
WASHINGTON. ..
A FACErsOus CON0R EssMAN on
THE rAvING OF PENNsSLVANlA

| During the discussion Of the bill to pro-
vide for the paving Of Pennsylvania
avenue, Hon. j. Proctor Knott, Of Ken
lucky, touched OIL the application Of the
Washingtonans quite fclicitou.ly.
Among other things he said: ....
| Understand me- sir, I am finding no
fault with tho people Of Washington about
any of these things. /, entertain nothing
but the kindest feelings in the world to-
ward them, and rejoice to know that they
are SO fortunate as to have the privileges OF
enjoying the fruits of the Governments
munifccncc in improving 'thc nations
| capital But ] do hope that after we
shall have paved and lighted all their streets
for them, after we shall have supplied
all their houses with water, after we shall
have contributed in every possible way
10 their comforts, convenience and tastes,
they will not insist on our making nm APP
preparation to pay salaries TO the little
cast-iron niggcrs which see some gentle
men have put up in front Of their houses
to hitch their horses to. Great laughter.
But, Mr.. Chairman, j have heard one
reason very frequently urged for the pas
sage of this bill which candor compels me
toadmit almost convinced me that We ought
not only to appropriate this sum OF $780,
600 but any other amount that might be
necessary 10 rcpavc Pennsylvania avenue
ut the very earliest period Of time; and
that is, that IL Is so mucn used by the
horde of oilice-holdcrs that throng the
thoroughinrcs of this city, in numbers al
most equal 10 the hosts which were hurled
with lucifcr from the battlemcnts of
heaven. Laughter and applausc,l For,
sir, If there Is u being on this earth for
whose comfort and convenience l enter
tain the proioundcst solicitudc, If there is
one whose smallest want stirs my sympa-
thctic soul 10 its scroncst depths, It Is your
ollicc-holder, your public functionary.
Laugh,cr.l When ] see one of tina, ''no-
BILE army of martyrs bidding adicu to his
home and all tho sweets of private life, for
which he is so cminently fitted by nature,
to immediate himself upon the
altar of his countrys SER
vice for four long years, Homer 5
touching picture ofthe last sad scene be-
tween the noble Hector and his weeping
family rises before my sympathetic imsg-
nation. [Great laughter When be-
hold him plunging recklessly into an Office
of tho duties of which no is profoundly
and dcilantly ignorant | am reminded of
the self-sacriicing hcroism Of Curtis when
he lcaped into the yawning gulf which
| opened in the Roman forum. When
behold him sadly contemplating his ma
| jestic features in one of those gorgeous
mirrors which is furnished him nj the pub
lie expense my heart goes out To him in
| sympathy. When scee him seated sor-
rowitlly ut u miserable repast of scatter
rappin and champagne my very words
yearn for him. lLaugterl And
when | soc him performing perhaps
the only duty for which he
IS fully compctcnt--singing the receipt for
his monthly pay-l am So overwhelmed
with pity for his miserable condition that
! wish were In his place. [Grcat laugh
teri When such consideration, as these,
sir have come crowding upon my mind,
appealing to every generous sentiment Of
my better nature; when i have thought
how the official nerves of our poor ne
elected public servants are racked by 'tho
car rafting DER the stony street. / have
felt, under the sudden impulse Of the mo-
ment, that we aught to tear up the old
cobblc-stone pavement on the avenue and
supply its place with one of the now fash
toned patent wooden ones, over which the
splendid carriages of our Government
officials with their coats If arms and live.
ricd outriders might glide as smoothly an d
noiselessly as the aerial car of the fairy
queen through the rose-tinted clouds Of the
upper ether. (Applause and laughter.