north america-2-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pile； and of those other costly public edifices at Washington； should the South succeed wholly in their present enterprise？ If Virginia should ever become a part of the Southern republic； Washington cannot remain the capital of the Northern republic。 In such case it would be almost better to let Maryland go also； so that the future destiny of that unfortunate city may not be a source of trouble； and a stumbling…block of opprobrium。 Even if Virginia be saved； its position will be most unfortunate。 I fancy that the railroads in those days must have been doing a very prosperous business。 From New York to Philadelphia； thence on to Baltimore； and again to Washington； I had found the cars full； so full that sundry passengers could not find seats。 Now； on my return to Baltimore； they were again crowded。 The stations were all crowded。 Luggage trains were going in and out as fast as the rails could carry them。 Among the passengers almost half were soldiers。 I presume that these were men going on furlough； or on special occasions； for the regiments were of course not received by ordinary passenger trains。 About this time a return was called for by Congress of all the moneys paid by the government； on account of the army； to the lines between New York and Washington。 Whether or no it was ever furnished I did not hear； but it was openly stated that the colonels of regiments received large gratuities from certain railway companies for the regiments passing over their lines。 Charges of a similar nature were made against officers； contractors； quartermasters； paymasters； generals； and cabinet ministers。 I am not prepared to say that any of these men had dirty hands。 It was not for me to make inquiries on such matters。 But the continuance and universality of the accusations were dreadful。 When everybody is suspected of being dishonest； dishonesty almost ceases to be regarded as disgraceful。 I will allude to a charge made against one member of the cabinet； because the circumstances of the case were all acknowledged and proved。 This gentleman employed his wife's brother…in…law to buy ships； and the agent so employed pocketed about 20；000l。 by the transaction in six months。 The excuse made was that this profit was in accordance with the usual practice of the ship…dealing trade； and that it was paid by the owners who sold； and not by the government which bought。 But in so vast an agency the ordinary rate of profit on such business became an enormous sum； and the gentleman who made the plea must surely have understood that that 20；000l。 was in fact paid by the government。 It is the purchaser； and not the seller； who in fact pays all such fees。 The question is this： Should the government have paid so vast a sum for one man's work for six months？ And if so； was it well that that sum should go into the pocket of a near relative of the minister whose special business it was to protect the government？ American private soldiers are not pleasant fellow…travelers。 They are loud and noisy； and swear quite as much as the army could possibly have sworn in Flanders。 They are； moreover； very dirty； and each man； with his long； thick great…coat； takes up more space than is intended to be allotted to him。 Of course I felt that if I chose to travel in a country while it had such a piece of business on its hands； I could not expect that everything should be found in exact order。 The matter for wonder； perhaps； was that the ordinary affairs of life were so little disarranged； and that any traveling at all was practicable。 Nevertheless； the fact remains that American private soldiers are not agreeable fellow…travelers。 It was my present intention to go due west across the country into Missouri； skirting； as it were； the line of the war which had now extended itself from the Atlantic across into Kansas。 There were at this time three main armiesthat of the Potomac； as the army of Virginia was called； of which McClellan held the command； that of Kentucky； under General Buell； who was stationed at Louisville on the Ohio； and the army on the Mississippi； which had been under Fremont； and of which General Halleck now held the command。 To these were opposed the three rebel armies of Beauregard； in Virginia； of Johnston； on the borders of Kentucky and Tennessee； and of Price； in Missouri。 There was also a fourth army in Kansas； west of Missouri； under General Hunter； and while I was in Washington another general； supposed by some to be the 〃coming man；〃 was sent down to Kansas to participate in General Hunter's command。 This was General Jim Lane； who resigned a seat in the Senate in order that he might undertake this military duty。 When he reached Kansas； having on his route made sundry violent abolition speeches； and proclaimed his intention of sweeping slavery out of the Southwestern States； he came to loggerheads with his superior officer respecting their relative positions。 On my arrival at Baltimore； I found the place knee…deep in mud and slush and half…melted snow。 It was then raining hard；raining dirt； not water； as it sometimes does。 Worse weather for soldiers out in tents could not be imaginednor for men who were not soldiers； but who； nevertheless； were compelled to leave their houses。 I only remained at Baltimore one day； and then started again； leaving there the greater part of my baggage。 I had a vague hopea hope which I hardly hoped to realizethat I might be able to get through to the South。 At any rate I made myself ready for the chance by making my traveling impediments as light as possible； and started from Baltimore； prepared to endure all the discomfort which lightness of baggage entails。 My route lay over the Alleghenies； by Pittsburg and Cincinnati； and my first stopping place was at Harrisburg； the political capital of Pennsylvania。 There is nothing special at Harrisburg to arrest any traveler； but the local legislature of the State was then sitting； and I was desirous of seeing the Senate and Representatives of at any rate one State； during its period of vitality。 In Pennsylvania the General Assembly； as the joint legislature is called； sits every year； commencing their work early in January； and continuing till it be finished。 The usual period of sitting seems to be about ten weeks。 In the majority of States； the legislature only sits every other year。 In this State it sits every year； and the Representatives are elected annually。 The Senators are elected for three years； a third of the body being chosen each year。 The two chambers were ugly； convenient rooms； arranged very much after the fashion of the halls of Congress at Washington。 Each member had his own desk and his own chair。 They were placed in the shape of a horseshoe； facing the chairman； before whom sat three clerks。 In neither house did I hear any set speech。 The voices of the Speaker and of the Clerks of the Houses were heard more frequently than those of the members； and the business seemed to be done in a dull； serviceable； methodical manner； likely to be useful to the country； and very uninteresting to the gentlemen engaged。 Indeed at Washington also； in Congress； it seemed to me that there was much less of set speeches than in our House of Commons。 With us there are certain men whom it seems impossible to put down； and by whom the time of Parliament is occupied from night to night； with advantage to no one and with satisfaction to none but themselves。 I do not think that the evil prevails to the same extent in America； either in Congress or in the State legislatures。 As regards Washington； this good result may be assisted by a salutary practice which； as I was assured； prevails there。 A member gets his speech printed at the government cost； and sends it down free by post to his constituents； without troubling either the House with hearing it or himself with speaking it。 I cannot but think that the practice might be copied with success on our side of the water。 The appearance of the members of the legislature of Pennsylvania did not impress me very favorably。 I do not know why we should wish a legislator to be neat in his dress； and comely； in some degree； in his personal appearance。 There is no good reason； perhaps； why they should have c
