Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-14

Washington Letter
WASHINGTON, Nov ., 80.


capitol at Washington is undoubtedly the
most interesting room in this country. II
is sperb apartment in itself. It's marble
walls, decorated with some of the finest
pictures and historical paintings and por.
traits in America; its superb stained glass
roof admitting a modified light, the ele-
giant stairways and halustrades leading to
it of Tennessee marble on one side, and
the pure white marble of Genoa on the
ings, and the semi-circular row of polish
ed mahogany chairs and desks, to say
nothing of the elegant senatorial lobby
and the wonderful marble room, in the
rear, make an ensemble which is at once
magnificent and imposing; Il room which
is a fitting place for the meetings Of the
most potent grave and reverend seniors
of he republic. But aside from the rich
garnlture which makes this room the
wonder and delight of visitors, some OF
whom 90 80 far as to say that it is the
most beautiful in the world-it is coming
10 have % historical and personal interest
of rare and peculiar nature Ours is such
a young nation that our history, though
exciting enough, is 100 recent Tor venera
lion, Pride in our national career and IN
our mtn of tine past seems to be a thing oil
81 orb arp hing
with matters of he present or the future
10 think much about it. Certain 1t is that
we have no Westminster Abbey-no place
peculiarly sacred to the great of our
nation. fell to thinking of this the other
day rs | looked from the gallery of the
Senate chamber down into the room be-
low. A woman was engaged in putting
the scattered furniture to rights but it was
not occupied by any other at the time,
save the ghosts and spirits of hose one
might call into place by an effort of the
memory. A quarter OF u century ago
Witnessed in this room, The preliminary
contests between slavery and freedom,
Charles sumner, rhud. Stevens, Lyman
Trumhull VIM. Pitt Fessenden, and few
others fougnt heir parliamentary battles
with roomhs. Davis. Walker, Hunter, and
other southern leaders here. Then fol
lowed the war period when HamIin, Nor
ton. Harlan, Wilson, Washburn. Boutwell,,
rrumbull. and others represented the
republican side. and, next, the long con
tests of reconstruction, and The trial of
President John. on. which took place in
his storied room. All these are its his
torical treasures and associations.
They cling to it and are part Of it, and
make the United States Senate cham Der
/ historical room peculiarly associated
with the greatest acts and epochs of our
history. As time goes by and veneraton
succeeds familiarity, and when the ordin-
AIRY heroes and statesmen whom we meet
o-duy come 20 be remembered in the
peril and grandeur of the lines in which
hey lived, we snail have here in this
the most vital and enduring
realization Of he history of the great
,!yl war.
But the memories of The past must yield
precedence 10 The immediate interests
when surround the meeting of The Senate
IN he second Tuesday in December. The
senate is continuous parliamentary
assembly. The House is elected every
wo years. but he Senate never expires.
Hence he changes from one session to
mot her a,e not very observable. But this
coming -ession will De -ather renal kable
IL his respect. 1t viii make it wildly
vident that many uf ne recent leaders OF
he republican side are gone. Blaine,
'unkllno, Morton, Window, David Davis. |
carpenter, Burnside, and not few more
rave dropped out, and SHEER places knuw
mem no more. Their successors are linked
With more recent events. Most of their
equations have been made since the war,
nd emphas ~ the fact that a new epoch
las succeeded he old. Their prociivrtIes
re OF u new order and date. They are
lol attached 10 he past but to the pres
nj, and her political battles are not 10
lghl over again he memories of The war,
,ur 10 grappe with the industrial ana
economic questions OF the hour. There is
10 -auh tendency towards following The |
domination OF one superior political leader
: here u-cd 10 ba when The crippled |
giant Morton would rise and whip in O
,Iace with his terrible SCorn aud fiery
allre the recalcitrants TO he Policy |
Ices not exist much now. Party organi- |
uion is very dilapidaled structure IN |
he Senate, 1t is more Of go.as you
,lrase match IN which the senators take |
,art. Whether his is 10 Inc advantage
nd gain of politics in general or OF the
epubican party in particular leave to
he reader 10 determine tor himself