The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-05

Scott in the most friendly manner, Shak-
ing HIM cordially by the band. aud in
vitng him to call at the White House.
On the following day General Scott came
and sent ND his card. Two gentlemen
were with the President when it was re-
eral to climb the stairs to his office he
told the messenger to show him into his
private parlor below, and to say that he
would join him with the least possible
delay. Within tive minutes the Presi-
dent went down: but General Scott was
not III the parlor and the messenger said
that, after having waited a minute O,
two, he had petulantly left. The next
day the general went OF to New York,
without seeing or making another at
tempt to see the President.
The officers of the exploring eypedi-
ton in the South Seas had brought home
small botanical co lection. made during
their voyage, which was at first kept in
greenhouse temporarily erected ii. the
inner court of the Department of the In
terror building. In 1850, an appropria-
ton was made for the erection OF a green
house for the reception Of this collection
of plants. on Il public reservation near
the Capitol and this became the National
Botanical Garden. The gratuitous sup
ply, every Spring, of boxes of plants to
Congressman, and the distribution of
and friends during the fashionable sea
son. has never failed to secure the neces-
sary annual appropriations from the
treasury.
The distribution of plants and seeds to
Congressman for their favored constitu-
ents has made it an equally easy matter
obtain liberal appropriations for his de
partment, and the publication of enor-
nous editions Of his reports. The first
of these reports were issued by Edmund
Burke, while he was Commissioner of
Patents, during the Polk administration
On the incoming Of the Tay lor admins
tration, Mr.. Burke was succeeded by
Thomas Ewbank, Of New York city.
and Congress made an appropriation Of
So SEQ for the collection of agricultural
statistics, with an additional ST. coo for
defIaying the expenses OF chemical anal
yses of vegetable substances produced
and used for the food OF man and animals
in tie United States. When Mr.. Ew-
banks report appeared, the Southern
Congressman were-to quote the words
used by Senator jefferson Davis in de-
bate, amazed to find that it was pre-
coded by what he termed ''an introduce
ton by Horace Greeley, a philosopher
and phianthropist Of the strong abolition
type 1.-The very fact he continued.
that Mr.. Greeley was employed to
write the introduction is sufficient to
damn the work with me. and render it
worthless in my estimation
Congress had been induced by Mr..
Crutchett to make an appropriation for
the erection Of illuminating gas works at
the Capitol from which supply was to
be furnished for lighting the interior of
the building. and for large lantern on
the top Of a mast planted on the dome.
1t was claimed that this lantern would
light up the Capitol grounds and the
avenues radiating therefrorn: but it fail
ed to do so, and high winds began to
sway it to and fro cndangcring the sta
bility of the dome. Mr.. Crutchett was
asked to remove it, but he declined. say
ing that the appropriation had been voted
to him for It's erection. and not for its re-
moval: SO Congress had to vote more
money to have it taken down. Gas was
thenceforth procured from the Washing
ton Company for lighting the Capitol,
the public buildings. and Pennsylvania
Avenue. and in order to secure the liberal
appropriations necessary. no charge was
made. for many years. for the gas used
by those Senators and Representatives
who occupied houses at Washington.
The congressman not only provided
for their Wants and comfort but secured
a respectable burial place in case they
should be called from life. Appropria-
tious were made for the enlargement and
burial ground. and those Senators and
Representatives who died during a SEES
sion were honored by the erection of Il
monument. whether their remains were
inferred beneath it, or were taken to
their former homes. Many great and
good men are uttered there. including
distinguished representatives of foreign
powers: and among the monuments
erected by the Federal Government is
that of Push ta-ha. a ChOctaw chief.
who died of Group while engaged in
making Il treaty with President Monro .
On its base is inscribed his last request.
-" When am gone. let the big guns be
fired over me. which was reliyiously
complied with.
Formerly. Il Congressional funeral was
Il source of great profit to the Sergeant
at-Arms of the House to which the de-
ceased had belonged, as the undertakels
and livery stable keepers divided the
! profits on their exoibitant charges. Each
| Congressional mourncr received pair OF
black kid gloves. which he put into his
| pocket. and generally exchanged the next
day for others more srrviceable: Will,
the officiating cbaplains were deckcC
with large black scarts, each one OF
which contained silk enough to make al
apron for the recipient $ wife. Although
these funeral abuses have been reformed
Il practice has since grown up of publish
ing in book form the eulogi>ms over de
parted Congressman, illustrated will
portraits engraved on steel. at cost 0
several thousand dollars.
Beau Hickman. so called. began
during the Taylor administration. to ranl
himself among the celebrities of Wash
iugton. He was middle aged man, VIII
protested to belong to one of the frs
families OF Virginia. and to have squan
dered a considerable estate 1T the gaming
table. but to have retained his londnes
for dress. His attire was generally some
what threadbare. but scrupnlouslv clean
his black kid gloves fitted WELL although
the worse for wear: an eye glass dangle
from a black ribbon around his neck
and in cold weather he sported Spanis