Litchfield enquirer., 1834-07-10
SKETCHES OF THE SENATE.
From The KnickerSOcker for June.

where - Van Buren, Wnere - clay anu
| Webster and Calhoun My FIRST query was
answered by painting to the vice-president's
| chair. + should have much to say Of Mr..
Van Buren; but they hare elevated him to a
high Office, which like AL offices, has its draw
hacks and its Disadvantages. He cannot fig
nre.' said my guide, in debate, his mouth is
shut, unless to say. :. The ayes have it, or
1.-THE menoriali is REFEREED or something Of
! the like His manner is calm and bland, and
| he presidts with ease and dignity. And there
! he sits, with no opportunity for display
humping with his mallet, when the galleries
are out Of order. remarking that the ques-
tion IL so and so,' ar something Of the like
| The newspapers talk Of his shrinking, cow
ering. bk,shisg. This is all the srriest ro-
| nance in the world. He lives 10 the Senate
like an embodied abstraction. He takes Clay's
jibes and Websters thrusts as the ghost Of
Creusa received fhe embraces Of Eneas.-
! fle needs them not. He leans back his head
-piles one leg upon the other--and sits as if
he we're pleasant sculptured image, destined
! for that niche all his life.
That massive forehead, those prodigiOus
eyes, those heavy shoulders. that iron built
] frame, point out Webster. How like Satan
himself he can look. and what malicious
| smile He talks as If he were telling plain
story; not enthusiastic. hut concise and clear.
His arm comes up AZ il lifted by spring.
He speaks like one from the grave--sO SOL
emn and SO severe. Anon the linn is arnus-
ed. What voice The sentences leap into
life; with wrll.timed metaphor. skilfully in
\ terwoven -all perfectly wrought out. Yet
Webster 10 man ofno imagination. He has
a we'll disciplined taste: and give him clue
to figure, and he will trace it out with force
and beauty.
That slender-huils man. apparently about
Fifty years If age, in a blue coat, with bright
buttons. frizzly head, and an eye like q
Aawk, erect and earnest. with mouth partly
Ioprn-that is Calhoun. He is not en- orator
Yet few command SO much aftenfion-nOne
more. His voice h had. Flis gesliculatiOn is
without grace. He is jealous and enthusias
ltic. but without being frantic. His apparent
t'cand0r, ear1estness and sincerity, command
attention. His voice struggles in his throat.
and sou almost understand the thoughts
3swelling there and they soon rush out as
fast a. words can convey them. He speaks,
N debate, as farmer, in earnest, would talk
n to his boys. or a. merchanttO his clerks. He
steps about. stands here and there, looks AT
this and that. And ii man lacks inquiring-
" At him, he asks. I am right, am not r.
But as was saying. this conservative priG-
ctpIe' II hHrts me- 70 talk to-day; I've got
u cold etc. This 10 much the manner OF
Mr.. CalhOu0. If an idea comes inf0 his head,
out i comes. without regard to- rhetorical poll
ish. Mr.. Caihoun's .pDwer is in colloqny--
Ianimated conversation. Men are willing to
listen 10 \ man who talks well. whose dscla-
nation might be insnfftrahle. Calhoun links
words together--bites of the last syllabIes--
and 0itentimes eats mp. as il were, whole SEN
| fences. inthe rapidity OF his enunciation.
| That tall. well formed man. with wide
change Of thought within, Is Clay. He has
| been 50 often described that | shall dwell
briefly. here. Nature made him an orator to
figure Ia free government. In drspotsm,
his head would have reached the block for his
impudencp. bsfssfe hewas thirty. He il good
at every thing; nikii fesigis, gsod non orkavii
have never heard such d voice. II 10 equal
~ distinct and clear, whether ne its highest
key or lowest W hisper-rich. musical capt..
| waiting. His action is the apontaneous OF.
spring Of the passing thought fle grsticn-
lates all oUer. The nodding IT his head, hung
on a long neck--his arms. hands, fingers.
feet, and even his spec,acles and pocket hand
kerchef aid him 10 debate. He steps for
| ward and backward, and from The right 10 the
left. with effect. Every featur. speaks. The
whole body has its story TO tell.
That IL Forsyth. with his arms akimho,
head thrown back. spectacles On, laughing al
| what somebody has 10 say. who is spreading
over the way. cannot dsscribe bis figure,
but II Is handsome one. He is all ease and
cnnposure; IL never thrown off his guard
he 70 ever ready. and the less prepared the
better tor the 6ght. He eludes with the ut
most skill allnanner Of ,Weapens. No mem-
oer OF Congress 10 better, at the recOnnoiter-.
ing and skirmishing of debate.
That tall. red headed man. with large,
manly figure and fall face, is Preston, the new
member from Sauth Carolina. He looks as
ne had long lived under the rays ola south
ern sun. Preston is sai generis. He talks
poetry. all 10 rich array aud gorgeous senten-
ces. When there is a Storm in The Senate.
.hey nang him 0ut as rainbow; and. al,ho'
.ne rough clouds often darken his gliitering
nues before the storm IL hushed. yet temppvs
are cooled and spirits are softened. by the
uaz1i'ng arch and the rich inierlacings of its
uo"; ms Is unprecedented elOquence.-
sooss not. like Sheridan, mark in his ora
.sons the place 10 introduce ss Coed God! Mr..
SPeaAer." The incidents at debate suggest
Z. MS n"e sentences. HE gestures are ad-
. ~" American orator IL more grace.
w-sew nave more art end yet few under.
s'auu 80 well the ans celars ortem. Such
man was necessary in the Senate. Al the
!. A'nus o. eio9nence that Cicero describes, are
now esempliard and illustrated in that body.
! ""g no Two are fnnmed % Tie same nodel.
re"x Grundy 10 harp4 man. There Il