CHAPTER I.

DISREGARD OF NATIONALITY.

THE CAPITOL AT WASHINGTON -THE OLD HALLS OF LEGISLATION THE SENATE OF WORTHIES-DEDICATION OF THE NEW HOUSE - MAIDEN SPEECH THEREIN THE USE OF AN OPPOSITION PARTY THE PROXIMATE CAUSES

OF THE CIVIL CONFLICT- ANCIENT ROMAN POLICY-EXCESSES NORTH AND SOUTH — FUTILE EFFORTS FOR ADJUSTMENT – THE THEORY OF £ECESSION - CONSEQUENCES OF SECESSION - THE WISDOM OF CIVISM.

T

HE Capitol of the United States is not only superb as an edifice, but, next to St. Peter's in Rome, the most elaborate and elegant structure in the world. Between it and the palace of the Spanish Cortez, the Palace d'Elysée of the Corps Legislatif, in Paris, the German Reichstag-gebäude, and other edifices in Europe dedicated to parliamentary meetings, no comparison can be made. As between it and the Westminster Palace, where the English Parliament sits, there are few points of comparison. Their different orders of architecture furnish simply points of contrast. Westminster Palace is Gothic-Tudor. The United States Capitol is Greek of the Corinthian order. The former is built of brown limestone, the latter of pure white marble. A great feature of the Palace is its tower clock. The Capitol has a lofty iron dome. One registers the time of passing dynasties; the other is typical of the enduring majesty of the people. The Palace stands on the bank of the Thames — flat and subject to overflow. The Capitol has an Acropolis for its situation. It has not the height nor the surroundings of that rocky eminence which gave to Athens its crowning glory; but it is so set upon a hill that, with its dome capped by the Goddess of Liberty, it makes a grand beacon of attraction for all the country round.

It is an event in any one's life to enter this Capitol and examine its excellencies of decoration. It excites one's interest to enter the old Senate and House chambers. The former is now used by the Supreme Court, and the latter is a statuary-gallery where the civic and martial heroes of the states are apotheosized. It is more exciting, however, to enter the legislative halls when the representatives of states and people are in convocation and debate.