Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-01-11
VERMONT PHOENIX.
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING. BY
q WIN. Il. RYTHER.
Correspondence Of the Boston Atlas.
MIR. PRENTIss OF MISSISSIPPI.
WAsHINeToN, Dec. 81, 1888.

Il. WAsHINGToN. Dec. 81, 1888.
Ga repairing 10 the House OF Representa-.
tives, this morning, found more people in
abe galleries Than havee ever met there since
the opening OF this session. Mr. Prsatiss Of
Mississippi, it was knownt to every body, was
entitled to the flooe; aud the announcement
ofihe fact was sufficient TO attract crowd
The ladies besides filling their own gallery
70 overaowing, occupied the creates, mum
Der fthe seats in that appropriated TO the
men, which commanded view Of the
House, and the orator
II was feared at one time. that the large
and brilliant assemblage would be dsap-
pointed for the Report Of the Wisconsin
Contested Election had been assigned ms the
special order of this day but il was post
poned to next Thursday and instead of
dull discussion upon the facts Of contest
tor Congress, we had the captivating and
impressive eloquence of Mr. Prenliss.
The House again resolved i,selfinio com.
mitlee OF the whole. John Quincy Adams
again took the chair, and " The gentleman
Of Mississippi arose.
There was perhaps scarcely one stranger
present with whose notions OF MIR Premises
character and genius his first appearance
did not jar in greater OF less degree but n
few minutes listening was sufficient TO make
them forget his figure, and TO eDgross their
minds entirely aud exclusively with his SUBJ
ject, and the spirit and vigor with which he
treated il. Seldom has there been more
striking example of the meus magaa in
eorpore Parro"
1t is exceedingly difficult to report Mr.
~
ideas so rapidly, and scatters his ina gerry
with so much prodigali,y--that, with the
quckness OF his enuncation, and habit he
has OF lowering his voice almost 10 whis-
per, ii is almost impossible for the most skill
full stenographer TO follow him. On the pres
emf occasion the difficulty was increased by
the circumstance that many of the best parts
of the speech consisted Of comments on re-
ports, letters and other documeis. Without
these papers, no abstract of his remarks
would be Ineligible. | will. therefore. con-
tent myself with noticing lew of his prin-
cipal points, Arguments. and illustrations
His subject was to show that the Presi.
dent ofthe United States, and his Secretary
olthe Treasury, in the remarks they have
respectively made on the recently discover
ell defalcations Aacc attempted 10 play off
upon The people of This country a WrelcheG
imposition and that THE WHOLE ADMINS
TRArIoS PARTY IN, CONGRESS ARE AID.
ING AND ABETTING THEM. He said he
would prove this upon the President. as the
person first, and chiefly responsible, accord
ing 10 the doctrines OF his .illustrious prede-
cessor," He. would faslen the charge Of cor
rupt collision and fraud upon the Secretary
oil the Treasury, so that il could not be
thrown of, unless some OF his friends should
put in for him a plea Of his being mon COM
pos meats" He compared the conduct OF
the Executive and his partizans. in showing
up these instances Of deiaca,ion, 10 that oil
an ancient tyrant who inflicted upon his DO.
dy several apparently severe wounds then
exposed them TO his countrymen, declaring
they were made by an assassin-and asked
an additional guard Of soldiers for his protcc.
lion. Once possessed of this accession OF
military force he seized upon the supreme
authority. and made himself master Of their
rights and liberties So this Administration
comes forward, showing us the defalcatons
which were produced by its own system
and asks for additional Offices to be filled BY
the Executives creatures and partizans; for
p the purpose ofbreaking down the freedom
and independence of the country
The party give up Swartwsut as the pur.
sued bear drops one Of her cubs TO save the
rest But (Prcniss sdid) he would follow
the old dam to her den, and call on the peo-
pleto crush the whole brood
Mr. Prentiss commented with great pun,
gency on the Presidents suggestion thai the
application Of public money 10 private uses
By an officer ofthe Government, ought TO BE-
visited with ignomnious punishment; and
on his wonderful discovery that "ihe APP
pointing Power cannot always be well adj
ysed in its selections" He adduced cases
in which the Executive had failed TO remove
men and had re-appointed men whom he
knew to have committed offences which ht
now wishes should be slgmatised as felony
, and punished with disgracefol punishment
The President, in this very recommendation
pronounces on himself and his own course
the most decisive condemnation /"
Mr. Prentiss then went TO the Secretary
OF the Treasury; and gave him a Aagela
ton that will not soon be forgotten, ii,
took up that funclionary's report communi
eating the correspondence between the De
partment and n whole host of defaulters-l
know not how many. Their name is LEoI
ON This document he pronounced TO be {
moral. POLITICAL and literary curiosity. |
reminded him .ofthe cauldron in which th,
witches in Macbeth mingled their hell
broth II was a collection o. the mos. be
. ~