Viewing page 26 of 113

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[start page]]

sent 50 000 men to the aid of the Government & is ready to provide more if they are needed. At twelve o'clock [[strikethrough]] [?] [[/strikethrough]] Congress opened we went up some time before in order to procure seats but found very few people in the Senate galleries The House was crowded..
[[one end of arrow]] In the evening we had a visit from Senator Pearce, He looked thin & pale. [[other end arrow here]] As we went into the Capitol we met Mr. Breckenridge He looked as if the troubles of the country weighed lightly upon him. He seemed pleased with Father's cordial invitation to ^visit the Smithsonian. The situation of the few Dem. here now is very disagreeable. It was very sad as the Senators took their seats -- to miss the old familiar faces, the tones that had [[strikethrough]] old [[/strikethrough]] ^only a few weeks before made those walls ring with heart stirring eloquence. Mr. Breckenridge introduces us to the Senator who takes the place of Douglass. He is very different in appearance from the Little Giant.  Tall with heavy iron grey eyebrows dark [[piercing?]] eyes his [[head?]] is partly bald.  Last evening a eulogy was delivered upon Douglass by his friend Col. Forney [[clerk?]] of the [[Senate?]] and for years editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer Mr. Forney spoke of the Senator's great generosity
[[end page]]
[[start page]]
& [[magnamimosity?]] of disposition  ^He said is was important for him to[[ban?]] [[malice?]] Father gave us one instance of this.  He said that at a meeting of the Agricultural Society, Judge D. attacked the Institution Father was vexed & said [[strikethrough]] [[made?]] [[/strikethrough]] some severe remarks in reply.  At the next meeting S.D. came to Father & said very [[politely?]] Prof. We had some hard words yesterday.  I am going to make another speech to day & you must follow me.  Father shook his proffered hand and they were the best of friends until the death of the noble senator. He was one of the Regents of the Institution & always took a warm interest in the affairs of the Inst. especially in Father's reports & addresses.
July 5th.  We are almost tired of camp visiting but concluded to pay one more visit to the Twelfth  Regiment (N.Y.)  We saw Col. Butterfield Col. Ward & other officers.  One of the engineer corps invited us to take tea with them. The regiment is finely drilled but complain greatly because they are obliged to perform so many evolutions in the double quick. In the morning we had a visit from one the 71st regiment N.Y. They are at the Navy Yard but expect to be ordered off to day.  They are considered second only to the Seventh.
[[end page]]