Continuing our examination of what is called the original Capitol building, we would stop next at the Supreme Court room, once the Senate Chamber of the United States. For quiet, harmonious beauty it is unequaled by any other room in the building. It was designed by Latrobe, after the model of a Greek theater—a semicircular hall, with low-domed ceiling, and small gallery back and over the seats occupied by the dignified judges of the Supreme Court of the United States. “The Bench” is composed of large leather upholstered chairs, with the chair of the Chief Justice in the center, and those of the Associate Justices on either side. In front of these is a table around which the counsel are seated, and back of a railing seats are arranged around the wall for spectators. On the walls are the busts of the former Chief Justices of the United States: John Jay, of New York; John Rutledge, of South Carolina; Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut; John Marshall, of Virginia; Roger B. Taney, of Maryland; Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio; and Morrison R. Waite, of Ohio. Back of the judges is placed a number of graceful Ionic columns of Potomac marble, the white capitals copied from the Temple of Minerva. The Standard Guide of Washington pictures the present court in this way: +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ +--+ |8 |6 |4 |2 |1 |3 |5 |7 |9 | +--+ |10| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |11| +--+ +--+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +--+ +--+ |13| |12| +--+ +--+ +------+ | 14 | +------+ SEATING PLAN OF THE SUPREME COURT CHAMBER Chief Justice occupies Chair No. 1 His colleagues sit on either side No. 10—Clerk’s Desk No. 11—Marshal’s Desk No. 12—Reporters’ Desk No. 13—Attorney-General’s Desk No. 14—Counsel’s Desk In this hall Webster answered Hayne, and here Benton and John Randolph made their great speeches. On the left side of the Senate stood Calhoun in many a contest with Clay and Webster on the right. One day Calhoun boasted of being the superior of Clay in argument. He said: “I had him on his back; I was his master; he was at my mercy.” Clay strode down the aisle, and, shaking his long finger in Calhoun’s face, said: “He my master! Sir, I would not own him for my slave!”