The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-14
THE cApIT0L
AT WASHINGTON
Halls and Corridors of Legisla
tive Renaissance.
The Senate OF tho United Statesmen Who
have Been Prominent Therein-Historicai
Scenes and Portraits In the Senate Wing.
BY KATE B. SHERWOOD.

The Senate wing of the National Capitol
is to the north, leading by corridors from the
vestibule, passing the Supreme Court Room,
which was the old Senate Chamber before
the wings were built. 1t is sem-circular
chamber with galleries for visitors and sem
atorial seats arranged in semi circles in front
Of the Vice-President's desk.
Broad panels Of glass set in the fiat ceilings
are painted with patriotic designs connected
with the Army, the Navy, mechanical arts,
and so on, which softens the light and renders
it pleasant to the eye on the brightest day.
It's walls are marble, with pilasters in
couples panelling the surface. The doors
are of fine old mahogany, and the desks are
of the same rich wood and quaint in pattern.
A silver plate on each marks the name of
the occupant. The desks are drawn by lot
at the opening of each Senate. Many OF
them are of deep historic interest.
My first sight Of the National Capitol wa.
in the Spring of 1860, the exciting period
leading up to the civil war. james Buchan-
an was President, and John G. Breckjn-
ridge Vice President, afterwards Colonel
in the Confederate army, who, elegant, arts
tocratic. Immediately attired, sat grave and
erectas marble sphinx, while the torrents of
debate ragged around him. His associates
Toombs Mason, Slidell, Yulee, Hunter, and
others, whose names became forever linked
with the fortunes Of the Confederacy; and
there, too was the arch conspirator OF them
all, Jefferson Davis.
Nor was the Union sentiment of the South
without representation; the rugged face Of
Sam Houston of Texas, and the determined
men of Andrew johnson, of Tennessee,
afterwards Vice President of the United
States.
II was Senate of extraordinary force and
masterfui intellect, and pitted against Tho
men of the South were such men OF dis
tinguished bearing and powerful resources as
Lyman Trumbull Hannibal Hamlin, after
wards Vice President; Charles Sumner, John
2. Hale, who made the campaign for Presi-
dent on the first Free-Soil ticket before the
birth of the Republican party; William ii.
Seward, Benjamin f. Wade, and Simon Cam
eron, who, with Seward, went into Lncoln's
Cabinet year later.
The Senate of 1860 may be said to have
been marked for the statesmanlike appear
ance Of the Senators composing it, just as the
Senate of the present time is marked for its
preponderance of business and commercial
men, Vice-President Hobart is type OF
the latter class. As he sits negligently In
his chair, turning nervously from side to
side, giving little attention to the proceed
ings, beyond putting the questions rapidly
as they arise, he is in himself symbolic of the
commercial spirit of the age as reflected IN
his associates, nearly all of whom are in
business suits, with the alert air of men who
are bulling the stock exchange, or driving
a bargain, or looking out for the rights of
Client.
The Senate of 1860 was composed of white
vested gentlemen in dress suits, high-haring
collars, black satin chokers. Very few men
of this class and these chiefly from the South,
are in the Senate now to suggest the grave
and reverend seniors of a quarter OF a CEN
fury aud more ago. Governments ID now a
business, like any other public enterprise.
The Senate Chamber is none too large for
its present representation. In length 1T ls