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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
HOW WASHINGTON CAME TO BE THE CAPITAL.
Reasons for selecting Washington-History of the Location of the
Capital at Washington-The insult to Congress-First Propositions
-Disputes as to Location-Quarrel between the States-Offers of
Maryland and Virginia-The Compromise-The Capital located on
the banks of the Potomac-The Act of Congress incorporating the
District-Proclamation of President Washington-The District
named in honor of Columbus......
....
21
CHAPTER II.
THE FEDERAL CITY.
The Federal City definitely located-It is named after George Wash-
ington-Prediction of Thomas Lee, Esq.-The Boundaries of
Washington City defined-Sale of the Land-The City laid off by
Major Ellicott-The original plan-Real estate speculations-How
Washington became a City—The Primitive Capital-Slow growth
of the City-The War of 1812-15-The Battle of Bladensburg—
Capture of Washington by the British-The Public Buildings
burned by the British Army-The return of the Government-
A blessing in disguise—Rapid growth of the City-Opening of the
Baltimore Railway-The First Telegraph-The Routine of Wash-
ington life-The Rebellion-Changes in the City-Washington
during the C'vil War-Effects of the War.
34
11
CHAPTER III.
THE WASHINGTON OF TO-DAY.
Location of the City-Topographical features-General Plan of the
City-Arrangement of the Avenues and Streets-Pennsylvania
Avenue-Its History-Its Attractions-General Aspect of the City
-Private Residences-Residences of Notable Persons-The Cor-
coran Mansion-Lafayette Square-Its History and its Inhabitants
-The Decatur Mansion-Mr. Colfax's Residence-The Old Club
House, and its Reminiscences-Mrs. Madison's Home-The Story
of her "Polisher "-General Sherman's Residence-The Wash
ington Aqueduct-A magnificent Work-How Water is brought
into the City-The Parks and Squares Statues and Monuments
-Railway Connections with the Union-The Long Bridge-The
City Hall-The Churches-The Hotels-Hotel life in Washington
—The “National Hotel Mystery "-The Markets-The Schools
and Colleges of Washington-Benevolent and Charitable Institu-
tions-The Soldiers' Home-The Cemeteries-Congressional Ceme-
tery-Monuments and Inscriptions-The United States Arsenal
-The Old Penitentiary-Scene of the trial of the Assassination
Conspirators-The Old Capitol-The National Armory-The Gov-
ernment of the Territory of the District of Columbia...
CHAPTER IV.
THE NEW CAPITOL.
Prominence of the Capitol-Its History-The first Edifice-It is
burned by the British-The Capitol of 1825-Plans for extending
the Capitol-Laying of the Corner Stone of the New Capitol-
Daniel Webster's great Speech-Completion of the Work-Descrip-
tion of the present building-External Ornaments and Statuary-
Crawford's famous Group-The Cost of the Capitol-The North
Portico-The Bronze Doors-Description of the North Wing-Its
Paintings and Statuary-The President's Room-Washington's
First Cabinet-The Marble Room-The Marble Stairs-The New
Senate Chamber-The South Wing-The Old Hall of Representa-
tives-A Beautiful Chamber-The National Gallery of Statuary-
The Bronze Doors of the House Wing-A Grand Work of Art—
The Story of Columbus in Bronze-The New South Wing-The
Speaker's Room-Leutze's Great Painting-" Westward Ho!”—
49
The New House of Representatives—A Magnificent Sight-The
Mysteries of the Basement-The Committee Rooms-The "Heat-
ing and Ventilating Apparatus"-The Dangers of the House of
Representatives-The Central Building-The Crypt-The Mailing
Rooms-The Central Portico-The Rotunda-Its Statues and Paint-
ings-A Beautiful Picture-The Great Dome-Ascent of the Dome
-Brumidi's Frescoes-View from the Dome-The Dome illumina-
ted-The Capitol Grounds-Crawford's Grand Statue of Freedom
-Greenough's "Washington "-The Superintendent of Public
Buildings-The Capitol Police......
CHAPTER V.
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
80
Organization of the Legislative Branch of the Government—The
Senate-Its Organization-Its Character-How Senators are chosen
-Contrast between the old time Senators and those of to-day-
The Senate in Session-Scene in the Chamber-Conduct of Sena-
tors-Untimely Applause-Pen and Ink Sketches of Senators-
Vice-President Colfax-Senator Hamlin-Senator Patterson, of
New Hampshire-Charles Sumner-Sketch of his Career-Henry
Wilson-A self-made Man-The new Vice-President-Senator
Sprague-The "handsome Senator Conkling"-Simon Cameron
-A Veteran-"Parson Brownlow "-John Sherman, of Ohio-
The Western Statesman-Senator Morton-Senator Trumbull—
"Fighting Johnnie Logan "-A brilliant record-Senator Harlan—
Senator Blair-A good Story-Carl Schurz-His romantic his-
tory-A daring Adventure-Senator Pomeroy-" Old Subsidy".
A crushing Downfall-Scene in the Kansas Legislature-Indignant
Virtue-Pomeroy's Defence-Senator Caldwell-How they make
Senators in Kansas-The Commercial Value of a Legislature-Re-
port of the Committee of the United States Senate-" A Novice in
Politics." 143
CHAPTER VI.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Organization of the House-Apportionment of Members-The House
in Session-A Characteristic Scene-Rivalries-Partisan Outbreaks
in the House-Mr. Toombs's idea of Free Speech-A very
"Personal" Explanation-A Free Fight in the House-Disgrace-
ful Scenes-Party Discipline-Recollections of "Old Thad"-
Party Leaders-How to keep an Obnoxious Member out-Speech
Making-A happy Expedient-Congressional Salaries-A Glance
at the "Perquisites"-Abolition of the Franking Privilege-A
Triumph of Public Opinion-Pen and Ink Portraits-Mr. Speaker
Blaine-Ben Butler-A Scotchman's Opinion of Butler-A Good
Story-N. P. Banks-Horace Maynard-General Garfield-W. D.
Kelley-The Champion of Pig Iron-James Brooks-Fernando
Wood-Oakes Ames-The Chief Engineer of the Crédit Mobilier. 189
CHAPTER VII.
A GLANCE AT THE LOBBY.
Natural history of the Lobby-"Deluded Souls"-Why shrewd
Men and Women go to Washington-The growing Demand for
Legislative Aid—The course of Monopolies-How Congress plun-
ders the National Treasury-Popular Demand for a Cessation of
Subsidies-The true View of the Case-Congressional Breaches of
Trust-How the Lobby is worked-Arrival of the Lobbyist in
Washington-His Mode of Procedure-A Public Man's Foes are
his own Household-A mild Form of Lobbying-Laxity of Public
Sentiment upon the subject-Reckless Charges-Difficulty of
Proof-The popular Suspicion-The Women of the Lobby-A
startling History-Division of the Women of the Lobby-The
Women of the Hotels-How they conduct their Operations-Sad
State of Affairs-Scene in the Hotel Dining Room-The "Beau-
tiful Woman's Private Table "-Who are caught by it-Susceptible
Officials-A Spectacle of Roman Virtue-How to snare a Con-
gressman—The office hunting Women-Humbugging a Secretary
-A little Morning Call at the Department-The great Man fooled
-Managing the Senate-How to secure a Confirmation-The
Widows who have Claims-How to make a small Claim cover
a large one-Preserving Appearances-The Story of Mrs. Bill-
pusher-Cheap Hospitality-Who pays for it.........
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CREDIT MOBILIER.
History of the Crédit Mobilier-Its connection with the Pacific Rail-
way-The Oakes Ames Contract-Liberality of the Government
towards the Road—A sharp Transaction-Bleeding the Government
215
a
—Congressional Aid--The kind of Aid needed-"We want more
Friends in Congress"-Ames undertakes to manage Congress—
"Satan in Paradise "-How Ames let his Congressional friends into
"Good Thing"-History of the Purchase of the Stock-The
Crédit Mobilier cheats the Government again-Estimate of the Pro-
fits of the Crédit Mobilier-Where the Money came from-How to
win Friends in Congress-Quarrel between McComb and Ames-
Letting the Cat out of the Bag-Charges against Congressmen-
Indignant denials of the Crédit Mobilier Congressmen-" We never
owned any Stock”—Fatal Mistake of the Congressmen-A Lie out
somewhere-Meeting of Congress-Demand for an Investigation-
The real Issue-Report of the Committee-A pitiful Affair-Con-
gressmen convicted of Falsehood-The Innocents in Congress-
Detailed Statement of the Facts in the Case of each Congressman-
The two Victims-A Congressional Committee Trying to humbug
the People-The Truth of the Matter-The Crédit Mobilier Senators
-The Facts in each Case-The Evils of a bad Memory-Oakes
Ames's Note-book-Senator Patterson's Documents-The Case of
Mr. Colfax-Detailed Statement of it-Terrible Chain of Circum-
stantial Evidence-The Vice-President's Dilemma................ ......................... ......................... 248
CHAPTER IX.
THE DEPARTMENTS.
Organization and History of the State Department-The New Building
The Secretary of State-Duties of the various Bureaux of the De-
partment-The Treasury of the United States-A noble Edifice—
The Secretary of the Treasury-Detailed Statements of the various
sub-divisions of the Treasury-Martin Renehan-The War Depart-
ment-Its Organization-The United States Army-Army Head-
quarters-The Navy Department-Organization of the Bureaux—
Department of the Interior—Its Organization—The Patent Bureau
-The Patent-office Building-The Museum-An interesting Col-
lection-The Washington Relics-The Declaration of Independence
-The Model-room-Triumphs of American Ingenuity-The Post-
office Department-The General Post-office Building-History and
detailed Description of the Department-The Dead-letter office-The
Bureau of Agriculture-Its Prospects and Promises.....
CHAPTER X.
...
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Statement of the Duties and Privileges of the President-How he is
chosen―The Inauguration—Reminiscences of the Inaugurations in
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