Southern planter., 1832-05-12
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.

Linicion w. Tdsercli the Senator from Vi.
ginla whose name has within few years gained 50
much iamo in the Union, 10 gray-headed, patri-
archlal, sharp eyed looking man, with his hair aow.
ing down towards his shoulders in uncurIed locks
as Il he were relic Of another aaenos tha, Ia A.
so very old, (Probably about S0l but because he
hos such an air Of antiquity about him, that one IL
reminded Of Abraham and the PalEiaTchs.
Mr. Tazewel does not speak very oflen. and in
'acl has not during the winter made what can be
called set speech. ExtempoFe arguments str,,ck
ofon the anvil at single heat; extempore dacs1,s-
ton which the flint and steel Of the occasion ollen
elicit, he frequently INDUCES in, but to a lono.
ahored seven times heated debate, hammered ink,
all sorts OF matter from the huge anchor 10 the hob
ran, ne seems 20 entertnln an insupemblo obiec-
ton. To sec Mr.. TaEowell's nnse, eve. ar ove, ~,
gait, one would form some idea Of the man. Bue
4 will DO very difficult TO form correct idea oftbo
character Of his mind, unless you watch him cavn.
fully IN debate. He is a melaphysiclan. ss ao-
cu'o a. MI Calhoun, notqutie 20 hghteninR-likc ID
forming his conclusions, but far more rapid than
ordinary men. Tie Is mathematician too, but q
lawyer-mathemaiician, BY which mean 10 be nm
deTs'ood as saying, such man as will convince
you that two and two make five, if you are NOT ~.
ceedngly careful His sophstry is 90 unso6s,ioa.
ted IN form, that you may he eaptivsted by itbefors
you are aware, unless you keep on your guard and
olien Focur 10 first principles. Not that ,hink
Mr. Iazwell a dishonest man, for have 0reat ~.
gard for his integrity, but because think ihe ehau.
acter Of his mind n such that ho is more ipcIineS
to soPhs,ical views Of a subject than to ENLARGED
national views. lie is a lawyer-poliucian. Tbsti9
he sucha Statesman as carries the confined boun.
ded and settled principles oflaw with all their s@
ness into the consideration Of lhe great state oues
tons, without taking into view, that Law Il NOT
NOlitica nufp H..
with tho strctest precision Of special pIeady -
to the Keen distinciness Of a metaphysician. he
has great mind, but he harnesses Il, and loads Il
with shackles. II settled principles eonlcted via
common sense, ho would not, like Mansfield. coz
out new road for himself
Mr.. Tazwell is a strict consruetionnIlst. ana
would object to appropriating fppeny bit 20 bnO
goose-quls,--uness Il could be done cons,i,u,ion.
ally. Hence you will find him cousiitutionaIlv OBJ
Jeotng even to the removal Of Washinqtonis rn
mains.
As speaker, Mr.. Tazewel commands great al
teniion. Not only bis weigh, Of character entities
him to this consideration, but his logical, acute.
rnsaAg giayaiaaa, ~@A~~~vses- uAada Of arguing IA
deeply engages himselfin tho subject under discu6
SION, and throws il into all his energies. He haA
not the fiery, arm-tosuiug method Of iavpe nor ia
eooi' calculating, word-weighnR method of wek
slers nor the straight forward daring incautnusn.l
Of Clay, but a medium mode Of elouuh0rs IIS
talks meiaphyuicolly like Clay Fle jeclaims IilS
Webster, and scolds very much after HaVnS,s fask
ion 1.-The had never been Lawyer, be would have
been very great man. He often reminds me ~
Burks assertion, that law Is an unfortunate proess
sion, but for those who are happily born. But a.
he IS, hrs talents, are an ornament 10 his countrvI
and It 20 be lamented that circumstances have a
shackled him as to keep him in the train ofan "a
ninislra'ion' which have rOasoa 90 think -
heartily despiSes ~