Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-17
WAsH1.eroN. JAN. 10Th, 1899.

WAsHIxeroN, JAN. 10Th, 1929.
For want Of any more increasing mattsf
whrrewirh TO entertain youia thought has JUST
come into my had, 20 endea'or to institute
cnmparison between the tout ensemble OF our
House Of Representatives. in which am now
writing. y the Frencl, Chambte des Deputies, and
the English House of Commons. In the exc
cu,ion Of this project, intend - 20 "u' OF my
own prnber person, and assume, so far as na-
tionaI pr eiudice will permit, the Probable reel
inps. opinions, and habiluIes of thinking OF
r,enchman and an Engisbmsn. II Is but an
experiment; and il tail, as most probably
shalD hope to be visited Incredibly. 10 be-
gin then-
An Enplishman would first observe the s.ri-
king difference in personal appearance, between
the American and English legislators. sreal
! proportion of the latter are much younger men
than are 10 be seen here; and the superior at
,en,ion paid by them To elegance OF costume,
would seem 10 indicate lha, their time is less
enprcssed with ,br business, than the ENJOY
men, of l,fe;-in other words, they seem 10 be
more universally gen, lpnen, 10 the English
meaning of The word, as distinguished from
men of business. The American legislators
have the air of being formers, merchants, plan
the scmblance Of men Of leisure and fashion.
Nor is the appsren, distinction lost in their dc.
mearor in the House. An air OF serious aud
earnest Occupation 2ervades the House OF Re
prrsr natives; few Of the members are absent
from, or change their seats, during the hours
of bu sin. IS; and where coerie Of takers is 10
be seen, their sation, from their grave yet
animated looks and gestures, appears 10 turn,
with very few exceptions, upon the matters
then before the House, or expected soon 10 be.
| The English members, On The contrary, APPEAR
10 nav but little attic pton to he subjects OF dis
Gus sion, except when those subjects are Of an
| intere sting nature either in themselves, or on
account Of the speakers by whom they are agi-
tated. To Judge from their gestures and the
EXPIRE ssion Of their cuuntenances, the matters
which they are disc using may more readily be
supposed 10 relate to occurrences not connect
ed with Iegislation,-to races, bets dinners, and
shooting matches, than 10 QUESTION oil policy
! or government. Their department 100 is less
de corous than that Of Americans; they lean
ur Ilr upon 1iie s~ars, rhey saPe aud laugh, ana
pu: in practice all the lille contrivancrs which
are usually resorted to by men oppressed viva
WEAKNESS, and the want of some hing 10 do
| In these respects he House Of Commons must
BIZ pronounced inferior 10 the American House
faces are generally better; more iniellec tual and
handsome their exterior more polished; and
their language more refined, and indicative Of
higher degree Of educ alton. AS to moral
character, strictly speaking there is little in the
exterior or d. pertinent OF either The English or
American Legislators from which a COMPARE
| son oud be fairIy drawn; but perhaps should
CRAFTY ERR in pronounoiDg that o: The Amrri-
cans superior, although probably not IN any
great or palpabs degree.
III were French,nan, were called upon to
describe, by comparison, the Deputies aud Re-
presruiatives, with reference to the same points
| Of view in which have considered the latter
with The English Commons, should find many
and striking marks Of distinction. The French
| Deputies have less the appearance Of men Of
business than the Anne rio ans, or even the Eng
lish; bu, then they do not in any greater degree
seem men Of pleasure. Ii is Difficult, in fact, to
say, what is the character of their general APP
pearance, unless indeed we were 10 say, at
once. tina, they look like Legislators. Perhaps
the marked singulariy Of their costume, being
a SPECIES Of Uniform exclusively worn by the m
while in the Chambrs, may serve, in some mea
sure, to account Cor this peculiarly in their
tout ensemble. Like the Erglst Comm ms, they
have more the look Of gentlemen, Chat is, as
opposed to the term 'puSintSS men, than the
Representatives; and their style Of spe aking, as
well as the matter Of their discourses, indicates
generally higher degree Of educaiion-prr.
haps too, Of talen, as orators; for doubt If G.
ven national prrjudic- could attribute 10 them,
or 20 he Commons # England, more rrartical
wisdom, or gr-a'rr qualifications for the per-
formancr Of thfir du,y as Legislators. Their
d.mrsnor, While engaged in debate, is not less
distinguished by aren ion 10, and apparen, in.
,rrcst in, wha' is passing before them, than
tina, OF The Representatives, borh being supe-
rior TO that of the Commons. IT there is any
difference between the Two former, il is In favor
Of he FIR. nch:--and on the other hand, this in,
,ertsr, when any subjec Of deep moment is un-
der discussion, is more apt 10 terminate in VIC.
lence and apparent anger. Conn., .9du.
I,-n,n IL. pailale Min Aierci.s,L IaeL.a,