Next day, by invitation, I visited the House of representatives, took a seat in the gallery opposite the speaker. The House had been called to order, but everything appeared to be in the utmost confusion. The speaker sat in his desk quietly reading a newspaper, when suddenly a voice called out, " Mr. Speaker," then another, still louder, " Mr. Speaker," and another louder yet, " Mr. Speaker." The Speaker then gave a rap on his desk announcing the name of the gentleman who had the floor. The subject which had occupied the House on the day previous, was an appropriation for some improvement in the condition of our western frontier. It had been warmly discussed, and was likely to go by the board, but the gentleman now announced being in favor of the measure, and in the face of all opposition, was determined to put it through.
He commenced thus: " Mr. Speaker, allow me sir, to relate an anecdote which occurred in the town from which I came. "A young man, with whom I was intimately acquainted, had paid his addresses to a lady with whom I was also acquainted, and for a season all went on very well. Suddenly something transpired which put an end to the intimacy for the present, and the gentleman was forbidden ever to enter the house again. He was much distressed and earnestly sought an interview witli the offended lady; but was denied the privilege of seeing her. He at length determined on the last effort of reconciliation. He went to the house, rang the bell, was admitted, and wished to see the lady for the last time, (unless they could make the matter up.) She came, and he thus addressed her.
' My dear, we have been acquainted for some time; our acquaintance has ripened into friendship and love; you have discarded me for an evident misunderstanding. Now let us blot everything from the page of remembrance, and begin anew/ They mutually embraced, renewed the acquaintance, and were finally married. Now, Mr. Speaker, this is my position; let us act as wisely as this young couple did, and commence anew." This created a general laugh throughout the house. I had been two years in the Massachusetts Legislature, and had witnessed some things which I considered rather derogatory to the character of respectable men, and now plainly saw that I had not seen everything. All around the floor were groups of men, busily engaged in noisy conversation, apparently regardless of the subject under discussion, and others were debating a point, evidently under much excitement, and interlarding their remarks with dreadful oaths, apparently regardless of anything like decorum.
I left this babel, and to change the scene, took a walk in a flower garden. Comment on the City of Washington is unnecessary now; I leave it for those more capable of faithfully delineating the true character of the Capitol during a Session of Congress. I left Washington for Baltimore, and on arriving there learned that a mob had just destroyed a printing-press, the excitement of which had hardly subsided; took my seat for Boston, and arrived home on the 10th of June. Several years passed without any event transpiring worthy of note, except that during this time I had received from a man who was indebted to me, a deed of a tract of land in the town of Athens, in Maine.
One of my neighbors had also received a deed from the same source, and under the same circumstances. We had mutually promised that at some convenient season we would go and examine our newly acquired estate. At length the time came. We took the steamer for Portland, on our way to Athens. We left Boston, late in the afternoon — had a pleasant night. I was out very early next morning, in order to get a look at the land. I went amidships, leaned over the rail, and as we were close in shore, I had a good opportunity for gratifying my desire. Along-side of me was a negro, who was also scanning the shore along. I remarked to him that here would he a nice place to raise grapes.
He turned to me with an indignant smile. " Grapes! sir? These people raise grapes?" Why, sir, they are too lazy to make a hoe handle, but will send to Boston to buy one. If you are going down East, you will see two or three lazy lubbers spend a whole day in a boat, and catch twenty-five cents worth of fish, rather than go to work, as they might do, and earn a dollar apiece. There is no more soul in these eastern fellows than there is in a sculpin." " Do you live here?" " Yes sir, I reside in Bangor, and have a wife and two children. I own a small house, a good sized pig, a cow, and a lot of chickens.