The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-22
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

WAsnINaroN, -. C.. April 18th. 1876.
DEAR WHIG:-By the courtesy of our
Ex- Confederate House of Representatives,
last Friday, the nth instant, the annver-
sary Of the assassination of Abraham Lin
coin, was made legal holiday for The pur-
pose of celebrating the emancipation of
slavery. and the unwilling of the statue of
Lincoln, at Lincoln Park, in the eastern
part of the city. This statue was brought
into existence by suggestion of culored
washerwoman, Charlotte Scott. of Marietta,
Ohio, who, on the morning following the
assassination of Lincoln sent contribu
ton of $500 TO start a fund, which in after
years increased to 81, 900. This sum was
paid to Thomas Ball, the artist, who. after
making the design in this country. and
having it accepted, executed it at Florence,
Italy.
As A WORK OF ART,
it has been very favorably received, and
will, | think, stand any amount of fair
criticism. 1t is of bronze, twelve feet in
height, standing on solid granite pedestal
ten feet high. Abraham Lincoln is repre-
scented as standing beside a column that
bears the face of Washington in bas relief,
holding in his right hand the Emancipation
Proclamation, while his left hand is eX-
tended as if protecting the PROSTATE slave
in front of him, from whom the shackles
of slavery are falling.
THE UNWILLING
ceremonies were of particularly interest
ing character, and were witnessed by up
wards of $4,000 persons. After the pro
gramme had been gone through, which
n N q
Grant drew the cord which tied the veil
over the statue, and it's appearance to the
eyes of the crowd was the signal of con-
tinual cheering. Hon. Frederick Douglas,
the orator of the day, then delivered an
eloquent and patriotic Grafton which was
received with tremendous outbursts of ap-
plause; and after the reading of an original
poem-the production of a colored woman
of New York the Rev. John p. Newman.
of the Metropolitan NJ. f. Church, pro
nounced the bepediction and the crowd
dispersed.
EASTER EGG ROLLING.
The custom among the boys and girls
has become universal in this city, and
Easter Monday is anticipated among the
little folks as day that will bring them
hours of play and innocent delight. AS
was to be expected, the Capitol grounds
were thronged with lads and lassies, aye,
and many Older heads cOngregated to wit
pesS the pranks aud capers of the boys and
girls in rolling their eggs from the crest of
the hill to the lawn below. 1t was thought
at one time in the day that there were at
least j, 600 persons on the ground witness
ing the fun made by the children. At the
Presidents grounds and other convenient
places, the children also assembled and
amused themselves in this innocent and
harmless manner.
SCENES AT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
The scene in the Senate, yesterday, was
one to remind you of the days when the
trial of Andrew Johnson commenced. Be-
ing Easter Monday, when thousands of
children were playing on the hill sides in
the west park Of the Capitol and hun
| dreds thronged the corridors and passages
| through the Capitol itself. Added to this
vast concoursc of humanity were the PEG
pie who went to the Senate to witness
the beginning of the trial of General
Belknap. Every inch of space in the
galleries was densely packed. The mana
gers, on the part of the House, took
their places on the left of the Vice Presi-
dent and in front Of the Senators, while
General Belknap sat on the right next
and Montgomery Blair and Judge Black
on the other. The table in front of them,
on which their manuscript and law books
could be laid, had evidently been placed
there by the chairman of the committee of
accounts of the House of Representatives,
| for on it was a nice looking ink stand and
silver pitcher, with a fifty cent glass
| alongside of it. If it had been the House
| of Representatives, there would have been
ten cent ink stand and a tin cup, so rigid
has the system Of economy become. Gen.
Beknap did not look at all depressed in
spirits. He sat an almost impressive look
er on, and was warmly congratulated by
| the managers on the part of the House as
he went out. Ex-senator Carpenter seemed
to be master of the situation. He was evil
IDENTIFY accustomed to the Senate and spoke
with an air of confidence that did him great
credit. One noticeable feature in the pro-
ceedngs was the advent of the Chief JUS
tice, who came in with his long black gown
flowing en- hale, and swore in the officers
of the court. Major French, the Sergeant
alarms, took long breath and called
aloud for w. w. Belknap, who answered,
and the farce went on, and your CORE
| Spondent went over to the
HOUSE,
Where the tidal wave of investigation is
still rolling and making lively work on off
clal shores; and it is like a gun was shown
not long since, that when once started off,
revolved around and poured shell with sur
prising rapidity on friend and foe; so when
an Investigator gets up in the morning and
puts on his Congressional coat, he does not
know but that at night there will be a
slight possibility of his going to Jail on a
dollar-a day sort of fare. The investiga
tions so far amount to one person saying,
"You did," and the other responding
"Y on lie, and guess they do. If you
know of any one, dear Wig, who knows
nothing, is doing nothing, and wishes to
unbosom himself, send him down, there is
a chance here to earn $500 per day, and
travelling expenses paid. OF course, as
congressman are only here for fun and to
pass the time away, | suppose it is harm
less way of enjoying themselves; still, as
there are some things of Importance to the
country which they are supposed to attend
to. it is time we were having little less
talk and a little more work.