north america-2-第6章
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ut here it is surrounded by timber； and as the columns are seen through the trees； they gratify the eye rather than offend it。 The place did belong； and as I think does still belong； to the family of the Leesif not already confiscated。 General Lee； who is or would be the present owner； bears high command in the army of the Confederates； and knows well by what tenure he holds or is likely to hold his family property。 The family were friends of General Washington； whose seat； Mount Vernon； stands about twelve miles lower down the river and here； no doubt； Washington often stood； looking on the site he had chosen。 If his spirit could stand there now and look around upon the masses of soldiers by which his capital is surrounded； how would it address the city of his hopes？ When he saw that every foot of the neighboring soil was desecrated by a camp； or torn into loathsome furrows of mud by cannon and army wagonsthat agriculture was gone； and that every effort both of North and South was concentrated on the art of killing； when he saw that this was done on the very spot chosen by himself for the center temple of an everlasting union； what would he then say as to that boast made on his behalf by his countrymen； that he was first in war and first in peace？ Washington was a great man； and I believe a good man。 I； at any rate； will not belittle him。 I think that he had the firmness and audacity necessary for a revolutionary leader； that he had honesty to preserve him from the temptations of ambition and ostentation； and that he had the good sense to be guided in civil matters by men who had studied the laws of social life and the theories of free government。 He was justus et tenax propositi； and in periods that might well have dismayed a smaller man； he feared neither the throne to which he opposed himself nor the changing voices of the fellow… citizens for whose welfare he had fought。 But sixty or seventy years will not suffice to give to a man the fame of having been first among all men。 Washington did much； and I for one do not believe that his work will perish。 But I have always found it difficultI may say impossibleto sound his praises in his own land。 Let us suppose that a courteous Frenchman ventures an opinion among Englishmen that Wellington was a great general； would he feel disposed to go on with his eulogium when encountered on two or three sides at once with such observations as the following： 〃I should rather calculate he was； about the first that ever did live or ever will live。 Why； he whipped your Napoleon everlasting whenever he met him。 He whipped everybody out of the field。 There warn't anybody ever lived was able to stand nigh him； and there won't come any like him again。 Sir； I guess our Wellington never had his likes on your side of the water。 Such men can't grow in a down…trodden country of slaves and paupers。〃 Under such circumstances the Frenchman would probably be shut up。 And when I strove to speak of Washington I generally found myself shut up also。 Arlington Heights； when I was at Washington； was the headquarters of General McDowell； the general to whom is attributedI believe most wrongfullythe loss of the battle of Bull's Run。 The whole place was then one camp。 The fences had disappeared。 The gardens were trodden into mud。 The roads had been cut to pieces； and new tracks made everywhere through the grounds。 But the timber still remained。 Some no doubt had fallen； but enough stood for the ample ornamentation of the place。 I saw placards up； prohibiting the destruction of the trees； and it is to be hoped that they have been spared。 Very little in this way has been spared in the country all around。 Mount Vernon； Washington's own residence； stands close over the Potomac； about six miles below Alexandria。 It will be understood that the capital is on the eastern； or Maryland side of the river； and that Arlington Heights； Alexandria； and Mount Vernon are in Virginia。 The River Potomac divided the two old colonies； or States as they afterward became； but when Washington was to be built； a territory； said to be ten miles square； was cut out of the two States and was called the District of Columbia。 The greater portion of this district was taken from Maryland； and on that the city was built。 It comprised the pleasant town of Georgetown； which is now a suburband the only suburbof Washington。 The portion of the district on the Virginian side included Arlington heights； and went so far down the river as to take in the Virginian City of Alexandria。 This was the extreme western point of the district； but since that arrangement was made； the State of Virginia petitioned to have their portion of Columbia back again； and this petition was granted。 Now it is felt that the land on both sides of the river should belong to the city； and the government is anxious to get back the Virginian section。 The city and the immediate vicinity are freed from all State allegiance； and are under the immediate rule of the United States governmenthaving of course its own municipality； but the inhabitants have no political power； as power is counted in the States。 They vote for no political officer； not even for the President； and return no member to Congress； either as a senator or as a Representative。 Mount Vernon was never within the District of Columbia。 When I first made inquiry on the subject； I was told that Mount Vernon at that time was not to be reached； that though it was not in the hands of the rebels； neither was it in the hands of Northerners； and that therefore strangers could not go there； but this； though it was told to me and others by those who should have known the facts； was not the case。 I had gone down the river with a party of ladies； and we were opposite to Mount Vernon； but on that occasion we were assured we could not land。 The rebels； we were told； would certainly seize the ladies； and carry them off into Secessia。 On hearing which； the ladies were of course doubly anxious to be landed。 But our stern commander； for we were on a government boat； would not listen to their prayers； but carried us instead on board the 〃Pensacola；〃 a sloop…of…war which was now lying in the river； ready to go to sea； and ready also to run the gantlet of the rebel batteries which lined the Virginian shore of the river for many miles down below Alexandria and Mount Vernon。 A sloop…of…war in these days means a large man…of…war； the guns of which are so big that they only stand on one deck； whereas a frigate would have them on two decks； and a line…of…battle ship on three。 Of line…of…battle ships there will； I suppose； soon be none； as the 〃Warrior〃 is only a frigate。 We went over the 〃Pensacola；〃 and I must say she was very nice； pretty； and clean。 I have always found American sailors on their men…of…war to be clean and nice lookingas much so I should say as our own； but nothing can be dirtier； more untidy； or apparently more ill preserved than all the appurtenances of their soldiers。 We landed also on this occasion at Alexandria； and saw as melancholy and miserable a town as the mind of man can conceive。 Its ordinary male population； counting by the voters； is 1500； and of these 700 were in the Southern army。 The place had been made a hospital for Northern soldiers； and no doubt the site for that purpose had been well chosen。 But let any woman imagine what would be the feelings of her life while living in a town used as a hospital for the enemies against whom her absent husband was then fighting。 Her own man would be awayill； wounded； dying； for what she knew； without the comfort of any hospital attendance； without physic； with no one to comfort him； but those she hated with a hatred much keener than his were close to her hand； using some friend's house that had been forcibly taken； crawling out into the sun under her eyes； taking the bread from her mouth！ Life in Alexandria at this time must have been sad enough。 The people were all secessionists； but the town was held by the Northern party。 Through the lines； into Virginia； they could not go at all。 Up to Washington they could not go without a military pass； not to be obtained without some cause given。 All trade was at an end。 In no town at that
