Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-05-01
"Cold water
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

The Sketches Of Travel by Miss Mar
tineau,a second work on this country from
her pen, contain, as we perceive by the
London Westminster Review, dcscrip-
ton of many leading men in this country.
Her description Of several political char
acters appears to be quite faithful. Mr..
Van Buren, is set forth in no very estima-
bic light. g was often asked, =" SAYS
Miss Martneau, "whether did not think
his manners gentlemanly. There is much
f.:14sllIinCso rITIu-
hearted man: he is also rich in informa-
ton, and lets it come out on subjects in
which he cannot contrye to see any dan
ger in speaking. But his manners want
the frankness and confidence which are
essential to good Breeding. He questions
closely without giving any thing in return.
Moreover he flatters to a degree which so
cautious a man should have long ago
found out to be disagreeable: and his
hattering is not merely praise Of the per-
son he is speaking to, but a worse kind
still-a skepticism and r.dicule Of objects
and persons supposed TO be distasteful to
the one he is conversing with" We make
this extract simply for the benefit of the
| Pennsylvania who deels in political por-
TRAITS. OF the American Senate, Miss
MartineaE writes:
d" The American Senate is a most i'm.
posing assemblage. When | first enter
ed 1t, / thought / nevefsa a finer set O.
heads than the forty-six before my eyes
two only being absent, and the Union ther
consisting of twenty-four States. Mr.
Calhoun's countenance first fixed my at
tention; the splendid eye, the straight fore
head, stlrmounted by load of stiff, up
right dark hair; the stern brow; the IN
| flexible mouth;-it is one Of the most re
markable heads the country. Next to hin
sat his colleague, Mr.. Preston, in sngula
contrast, stout in person, with round
ruddy, good humoured face, large blu
eyes, and wig, orangeto.day, brown yes
terday, and golden tomorrow. Nea
them sat Colonel Benton, a temporar
peoples man, remarkable, chiefly for hi
pomposity. He sat swelling amidst hi
piles of papers and books, looking like
being designed by nature to be a goo
/ humored bar keeper or inn keeper, BIT
forced BY fate to make himself into mock
: heroic Senator. Opposite sat the trans
cendent Webster, with his square forehea
and cavernous eyes; and behind him II
homely Clay, with the face and figure
a farmer, but something Of the air of a d
vine, from his hair being combed straigl
back from his temples. Near them $
e Southland and Porter; the former astu
{ and rapid in countenance and gesture
4 the latter strangely nninghng boyish Fl
i. and lightness of manner and glance, wi
& the sobriety suitable to the Judge and 4
; senator. His keen eye takes in eve
It thing that passes; his extraordina
Z mouth, with its overhanging lip, has b
i to unfold into a smile to win Taught
Il from the sourest official or demagogu
~ Then there was the bright bo1hompaie
IS Ewing Of Ohio, the most primitive loo
ing Of senator's andthe benign, religio
r. gravity Of Frelinghuysen; the gentlema
z " air Of Buchanan, the shreWdness
!. Poindextery the somewhat melanchi
= simplicity of Silsbee, -all t3ese, and ma
B others, were striking and for Moth
! more than their total unikeness ID et
Of other. No English person who has
q travelled over half the world can for9
"a idea.of such differences among men +
be ming one assembly for the saHle purpos
he mdsDeaklnG the same language. 30
Il were descended fs1n Dutch farmers so
i nom French 20 ots, some rom SEQ
8 4 bnfitaps, some from English cayalil
so.sls from Irish ehieftalns. They AZ
brought together ont Of law courts, ST.
sh1 fields, merchants stores, mountain
-4ee forests and pfairi8s. The stamp of 81
inalisy was inple ed 81 every one, /
81 INSPIRED deep INVOLUNTARY respect.
Z have sesil no Assem- elioser iaS.