Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-12-13
FIRST DAY IN CoNGRRss.
Correspondents Of the phiiaddBSia Pres.
n WAsHrNeroN, Dec. 5, 1870.
" openInR or the 0csNIou,

tSorresponoene9 OF the fhilAde1phia PreN-I
n WASHINGTON, Dec.5, 1870.
y OpesIaE Of the Session.
The Weather here to-day was more
like May than December. The morn
ing dawned bright and clear, md be-
fore noon spring o%vercoats were dis
carted. Everybody was In the best OF
spirits. At an early hour the streets
were filled with pedestrians. many OF
them In holiday attire. and NIL bent
upon witnessing the opening Of the
third and last session OF the Forty-drst
Congress. Pennsylvania avenue was
of course crowded, and the tide OF
travel flowed steadily toward the Cap.
itol. By eleven O'Clock the galleries
of both the Senate chamber and the
hall of the House Of Representatives
were filled BY al intelligent and fIsh-
ionably dressed audience.
A large number of ladies were pres
,ent, apparently rs much interested In
the proceedings rs the sterner ser.
The usual greetings and congratula-
lions we're exchanged with great
cordiality. Nor was there any
apparent distinction on account Of
party or politics. The Democratic
Senators and members mingled and in
dulged freely In good-humored jests
about the "new party" the "reve-
nue. reformn movement, and other hui
mors Of the recent political campaign.
In the senate,
1.-The Senate chamber, having been
renovated and considerably improved
during the recess, presented a very
handsome and attractive appearance.
TIE floor Is covered with u neat. pat
tern Of fine Wilton carpet, made ex:
pressly for the Senate. The desks Of
the Senators have been revarnlshed,
the chamber itself painted, and many
improvements made In the way ef ven
tllation. The Senators were unusually
early In their places. There WAS GER
tainly a quorum present at half-past IL
o'clock. From that hour until twelve
the time was spent In hand.
shaking and mutual congratulations.
Senator Summer, as might be expected,
was the central figure on the floor OF
the Senate. Not only his colleagues,
but the visitors and spectators who
gained access to the floor, seemed anx-
lous to shake hands with him. The
Senator himself was In the best Of spir-
its. Sometimes he was besieged by
three or four gentlemen ut once, all
eager to take him by the hand. The
cordial manner in which Senator
Schurz was received must have been
gratifying to mat gentleman. The
Republicans were especially attentive
to him. Senator Schurz stated that he
was a Republican, and intended to ad.
here to chat faith as long rs he re-
NAMED in public life. He seemed very
much pleased at the manner In which
he was received after all that has been
said about his leaving the party. Pre-
cisely at noon Vice President Colfax
made his appearance, and CALLED the
Senate to order. Rev. DR.. Newman,
the chaplain, offered very impressive
prayer. and the proceedings were lnau-
gurated.
In tho House.
the opening scenes were more lively
than IN the Senate. Being the popular
branch. the masses seem to feel as If
they had more liberty here than In the
Senate. The members themselves lack
much Of the formallty which prevails
among the Senators. Chow are you,
old fellow!" was the general greeting
as one member grasped the hand OF
another. There was n free, cordial
exchange of experience about the CAM
paign. Those who have been reelected
for the next Congress were especially
iubilant, while those decreed to retire
to private life seemed to take the mat
ter philosophically. There was no
complaining, 10 grumbling every.
body seemed to be In good liumor, and
ready for the work of the session.
General Schenck was constantly sur
rounded by large number Of men,
bers, who were anxious to know
whether he proposed to contest the
seat of Nj. Campbell, and whether he
intended to accept the English mis-
sion. 10 all such inquiries Schenck
made Characteristic witty replies.
As the clock told the hour of meet
ing, tile fine form of Speaker Blaine
appeared upon the scene. For a few
minutes he was the centre Of attrac-
ton. The floor was crowded by the
"sovercigns," when the Speakers
gayel called the House to order. Chap
lain Buffers prayer was brief but i'm
pressive, and at the close Of 1t the buzz
Of conversation was resumed. Then
there was another reminder from the
Speaker TINT the House was In session.
Mr.. Mcpherson, the clerk Of the House,
began to call the roll Of members by
States, but the congratulations were
still kept up, and the buzz became so
great that the Speaker was compelled
Several times to demand order SO that
the tally clerk might hear the responses
of members. Some Of them were so
busily engaged that they seemed to
forget what was going on, and occa-
.sioiially the response was faye" or
mo-" instead Of "here." General
Butler did not put in An appearance
until after the clerk had finished call
Ing the rollgc He, too, was warmly
received by his associates. Stepping
over to the Democratic side Of the
House. where Bingham sits, he had n
cordial welcome from that gentleman.
Then Sam Cox, Eldridge, Niblack and
other leading Democrats grasped his
hand as warmly MS If he had been u
Of themselves. Butler, with all his
eccentricities, Is not without his friends
on hoth sidea of rho Housn-