The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-08-31
PnrLApELrnLA. 80. p. "a.

Our \ isit to Washington was re-
plcte With interest. The National
Capital of "the greatest government
the world has ever seen certainly
has innumeraBle attractions to out
eiders, or, in other words, to those
remote denizene ofTennessee whose
ideas of its magnitude, grandeur
and CORRUPTION are formed almost
entirely from hearsay and but sell
dom from observation. landed in
that whirlpool of politics, that mel
strom of intrigue and diplomacy,
feeling very much like the fellow
who, before visiting a perfect Bed
lam in the shape of an immense lu-
matte asylum, said that he anticipa-
ted a lively time for his nervous
system but very depressing festi-
val for his common sense. l knew
enough Of Washington to know
that it was anything else but min
iature Garden Of Eden, that its ar
tifcial magnifcence and perpetual
confusion only served to conceal
and silence the endless wire-work-
ings Of corrupt politicians, contrac-
tors, lobbyists and SO on to the end
of the almost infinite catalogue of
blood. suckers who stick as fast to
the government pap as one of An
cocks porous plastcrs do to the
weak back ofan invalid. We soon
suspected that to see Washington a
man must indulge in considerable
physical exercise-that he would
have to Iocomote his corpus with
irrepressible vigor. Let me put it
on record that the suspicion was
we'll founded. We first paid a visit
to the National Capitol and went
through the entire building. We
found it magnificent but incom-
plete. The Senate Chamber and
Representatives Hall are both in
the hands Of workmen who are bus
lily engaged in preparing them for
the approaching session of Con
gress. One seat in the Representa-
tives' Hall struck me as having a
peculiar odor of birthstone and sui
phur and without inquiry was sat
lsfed that it was the one occupied
By Ben Butler, the Massachusetts,
ogre. The Patent Office then IN
derwent our inspection. This mag
nifcent building occupies an area
OF ground as large as the public
square of Pulaski. It is built of
stone, is several stories high, and
its outer and inner appointments
display beautiful taste and an utter
disregard of expense. The innu-
merable models Of everything in
vented and patented in the United
States are arranged with systematic
precision and good taste and dis
played in handsome glass cases.
Here at least thought the presid-
ing genius Of the country bore its
best. fruits and proved its useful
ness to the world in something
more tangible than political har-
.angues Astounding in rhetoric and
rhedomontade. We were shown
many me-honored relies of the
great men who, in a glorious past,
have added unfading splendor to
the escutcheon of the Republic
Among them was the coat worn by
Washington when he surrendered
his commission in the army, togeth-
er with his camp equipage, includ-
ing chair, camp chest, plates, knives,
forks, bottles of condiments, sauces,
de-, all OF which are preserved just
as he left them. His walking cane,
sword, window curtains, and bed
spread worked by his illustrious
spouse who adorned the matro1age
of America, are preserved with re-
lSgious care and cherished by all
americans with q reverence that is
fully due the first american RLBEL.
The coat worn by Gen. Jackson at
the battle of New Orleans is also
an object of much interest to visit
ors. l noticed, however, with a pc
GGiar sensation q pair of gloves
made by some obscure Yankee firm
for Nj lincoln. displayed ofcourse
as al advertisement This is a
good deal Ike lacking n business
card on a tombstone Leaving the
PatentO6ce, we Visited the Treas
airy DepartmenS-tha5 Gulconda Of
She Government, where promises 10
pay bring the gold without having
anything to pay with, (il the Ma
ti0nal debt IS thought of After
obtaining permits from the Secreta-
y We were shown through the build
ing say very attentive and polite
clerks. We were decidedly of the
opinion that this was the most in
teresting feature of the National
Capital We were initiated into
the process of making greenbacks
and national currency. L. = bonds,
stamps, &c The work is begun
with very little more material than