The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-18
ventilason-Popu Exhalations

yentilatio Popular Exhalations.
The MEMBERS OF the House Of Representa-
tiyes OF Congress are beginning to feel IN.
comfortable and apprehensive on account Of
the very unpleasant and unhealthy condition
ofthe atmosphere. of their hall. It has been
ever since the war quite perceptible to the
olfactories OF both congressmen and visitors
to the Capitol that ehe air Ia and about the
hall has grown worse than 1t was ever before
known TO be, and one cause was very appa.
rent to most men; but that was one that
could not be safely alluded to under existing
circumstances. The offense was recognized,
but the Republican nose, like the fox's tn the
lions dea, vas rendered insensbie by q cold
The matter has at last risen to non-enduIa-
bility, and under the phrase of " ventilation
a'commi,tee of the House have reported that
1t Is impossible to force fresh air into the
House 10 sufficient quantities to supply six
hundred persons. Therefore, the committee
urge that twill be necessary to exclude
everybody from the galleries save those hay.
Ing The privilege Of reporters and such as
have the admission.cards of members. This
was regarded as likely to give fresh air,
enough and relieve the atmosphere of Its
fe:id poisons. i. 4s
1t skuo~n that since the war large por-
ton OF the spsce appropriated to galleries
hiss been very constantly occupied by the
worst and most idle part of the negro popu-
lation OF Washington. They were there
L. ~ ~ 81, anx1o fbo foyy ~
of the Republican party. Nobody ventured
to lift voice against them, save now and
thes humorous hit from SUNSET Cox and
his friends, and once very choice allusion
from the late Mr.. BROOKS, of New York.
Every body knew of the presence Of this
class of persons, and the members all felt 1t
painfully. And now, as We say above, under
the civil phrase of "ventilation " the bad
air is freely attacked by some Of the best
Republicans, -including even Mr.. BLAINE.
Mr. BLAIsE declared that, "from some cause
or other," the air mad never been 30 bad as it
had been this year. And Mr.. WILSON, of
Iowa, asserted that 1t was worse than the air
Of emigraDt ships.
The most melancholy experience confessed
was that of Mr. HoAs, Of Massachusetts.
He came. to the House eight years ago the
youngest member from Massachusetts,, and
now he was the oldest. During the eight
years seven members had died: This was
SD. Heary and mournful stood the Oldest
man from Massachusetts, lamenting his col
leagues who bad fallen victims to the me.
phitic vapors Of Congress, which WILSON
said were worse than the air Of emigrant
ships. We suppose he must have meant the
New England ships, loaded with black emf.
grants, manecled, in the middle passage for
we doubt whether he could have justly
drawn the comparison with any other.
But the emphasis of the complaint under
the head of ventilation smoked out one Mr..
CoNYERs, OF Michigan, whose sympathy with
the African lion gave him tongue. He boldly
detained against the proposed measure for
getting rid of Dad air, because it was evidently
an attempt to draw line between classes
of American people,"
MIR. CoNYERs confessed that the allusion to
bad odors was reflection upon class
which be felt called on to defend. He spoke
like a patriot in defence Of the spirit
Of the Constitution, and now it only
remains for him to procure another amend.
ment of the Constitution which shall eff, ct.
ually put this class under the protection of
the letter of that instrument. The clause
should be made to read without distinction
of color, odor, or previous condition Of ser.
vitude." That would fix it.
This complaint in the House of Represent
atives is one we have been looking for for a
long time. 1t is brought about by the great
social revolution in this country in the main
part, and may be looked upon as one of the
numerous painful and disturbing social Incl.
dents which must make the present social
condition in America uncomfortable.
But there is much to learn in this country
upon the special subject of ventilation of
public edi6ces and private houses. AS the
country has decreased in population the repre-.
sentative bodies have grown, and the assem-
blages of people have become often huge.
More room and better means of ventilation
have been made equally necessary. The
main point of difficulty is in this: the aim
has been to Obtain warmth alone. Ventila-
tion has been neglected, and the error has
told fearfully on the health of those who
were met in large bodies, who were being
) all the time warmed up and deprived of the
necessary amount of pure air to sustain
] the bodily functions in their healtbful action.
Every man knows the wide difference there
Is In the bodily exudations under high
emperature of different races of men. All
have experienced them most sepslbly, and
can we'll understand the yapors that arise In
the great national temple under the presence
OF the ind,.craminate multitudes there con.
gregated by virtue of our unlimited freedom
and equality.
Ventilation" Alb, Congress wants 1t
badly, both physical and moral. But let
them aequirethe physical now and hope for
the moral hereafter. 1t will take time. j;
-@1SS
!. It is a bad s,sa from North Carolina THAT
of.the arrest OF General Cox, chairman OF
the State Executive Democratic Committee,
on the charge OF trying to deprive one Non
MsNT OF his seat 10 the State Constitutional,