Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-21
From Our Regular Correspondent ,
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. II, 'e3

lnoil Schts, uonu VI WuOu IObo tOlHclI ioou'
and with heads duly bowed apparent y
followed the chaplain through his prayer
while others gave evidence of the total
neglect of their early piety by retaining
their seats, not even deigning to withdraw
their eyes from the newspapers in their
hands. As soon as the prayer ended other
undevotional senators came struggling to
their places. Evidently senators are not
much under Lenten influence.
The galleries of the Senate and House
are visited every day now by an unusually
large number of those transient sight
seers with which Washington is peren-
nelly thronged. all eager to be eye
witnesses of the real workings of the
American congress. OF course they hear
nothing but the discussion of the all
absorbing tariff question. After listening
to the debate for several hours they go
away, and doubtless inquire of tho first
person 10 whom they dare confde their
ignorance, Ia General Hancock: "Who
is tariff, and what does he want with
revenue onlyP" These spectators take
much interest in the scenes below, are
especially anxious to know the names of
congressman, and show much amusement
at the little tits and spats that they
indulge in so often, not because of the fine
quality of these retorts, but visitors have
preconceived ideas of the gravity of
statesmen and cannot but be surprised to
see them descend so readily to triviality.
The House gallery in particular is the
worst conceivable place for expanding
ones volume Of national pride. 1t permits
that close contact with real congressman
that inevitably results in disappointment.
U. 5. congressman have never been noted
for dignifed department, finished manners,
courtesy or elegance of any kind, but
there are some rules of ordinary decency
that they should feel required to observe.
They should not be allowed during
sessions to lounge and take maps on sofas,
smoke, elevate their feet above their
heads, sit with their backs to the speaker,
or DEFY his utmost efforts to make mem
Der heard. They do not seem to feel in
the least impressed with the importance
of time, even in the present stress, md on
the slightest provocatie will tnrn aside
from business to wrangle illnaturedly over
some insignificant point, and in their
efforts to get even school boy epithets in
lieu of logic. The Senate of course is
more quiet, orderly, dignifed, and respect
full. But even their little scenes of daily
occurrence, prove U. S. senators to oe mot
the shrinking creations of culture" thew
might have been. and persons entering
these halls oflegslation under the influence
Of surcharge of national initiation are in
LANCER of leaving the capitol more
impressed by the grandeur of its plan,
architecture, paintings, and sculpture than
oy the force, power, and dignity of our
SldltSlue0.
The tariff debate brings co instantly to
he surface the humiliating fact that the
minds and votes Of congressman are much
more powerfully influenced by local than
oy NATIONAL interests. Almost every man
wants the highst possible protection for
he interests of his state, and the lowest
possible duty upon every article consumed,
out not produced by his people. The men
who shout the loudest for free trade
'quirm the most when an industry in
which they are personally interested is
attacked. The supremacy of money in
behalf of private rater than national
ntersts has been the bane of tariff |
legislation all the time, and there has been
10 much narrow guagc thought and
contracted self interest brought to light
hat purity Of intent and breadth of
principle are no longer recognizable.
The happy democratic family of the
senate has just had little quarrel in
which some accused others of voting to
protect their personal interests. This
'roves that the tariff Is as distractinc to
democrats as to republicans. Bituminous
oal was the exciting cause. Senator
Davis, of West Virginia, who is largely
Interested in coal mines, had said that A
arge portion of an argument made by
senator Morgan, of Alabama, was
nworthy of notice; whereupon Senator
1organ arose full of Indignation and said
e would show that the man who made
hat remark was voting taxes out of the
people 10 put into his own pocket to
nrch himself.