The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-09

brated Fort Hill letter, they sternly refused, and
| finally came into the support, and procured the
election Of the present Speaker; whose posi-
ton though not yen defined, and perhaps not
very defnable, is nevertheless, an honest and
| upright Sub Treasury man--of a most peculiar
kind, il must be admitted.
| The member from South Carolina, MIR.
Pickens, who. according to the account he has
| rendered of h4nself on this floor from time to
time, "was born insensible to fear,n and '.whose
thoughts know no conceament" and who
boasts he would not step the right or 70 the lett
| 10 secure the proudest diadem that ever decked
a kingly brow, has, also had portion Of the
victory 10 inure to his benefit. This gentleman,
after having been ostensiby the Administration
candidate for the Speakers chair before Con,
gress met, and, as such, having been announced
with all due pomp and ceremony by the leading
Administration organs, being litte deficient IN
heels, though OF admirable bottom, came IN for
another share OF the victory. lie was placed
al the head of the Committee on Foreign AL
fairs. This station surely his due, upon
the principles of the Fort Hillleter; for, without
his vote and that Of few Of this little band,
our present Speaker, who, understand, IS his
special, political and personal friend, would not
have been elected would not insinuate, by
any means, that the member is not peculiarly
well qualified for the high and responsible posi-
tion IA which his friend has placed hum al TINS
most critical Juncturc Of our Northeastern
boundary" question. There has rarely been
time when Il was more important that those who
occupy responsible stations in reference 10 our
foreign relations should be the most sage, exPe-
rienced, cool, calm, and dispassionate men OF
our country; in whose wisdom, long services,
and great experience, the country would have
the greatest confidence. Under these crcum
stances, upon what other member OF this House
could the Speaker have so properly conferred
a.. ,l,n nj
gentleman in this country standing out SO pre-
eminently above all Others here, SO clearly emit
tied him the position, that all Were at once sa
tisfied the Speaker, in comforting II upon nm,
had acted with the most entire exemption rom
all considerations Of personal attachment, ana
exclusively with eye to the great and perma
nent interests of the country so liable to be al
fected by the action of that committee. The
temper and manner of the member, whether in
council or debate, peculiarly well qualify him for
commanding station in the deliberations OF thus
body on a question so momentous as that oil
war or peace between two Of the freest and most
prosperous nations EARTH His dignihed Ia
ciurnity; his grave, sedate, and thoughtful
bearing; his cool, dispasslonate manner IN de-
bate, so well calculated to rebuke heat and yio-
ence; his calm, laconc, and logical style, so add
mirably contrasting with that blowing, bolste-
ferrous, and inflated manner OF some members,
all, pointed him out as peculiarly and pre-eml-
nenty entitled to the station he fills. But, SAID
Mr. G., am protractng my remarks on THIS,
as on other topics, to much greater length than
| intended Before ] sit down, with the per
mission Of the member from South Carolina, !
will PROFOUND to him few questions, to which
trust, the leader of the new recruits to this
| Administration in this House, and as the au-
thentic organ of his fle-leader in the Senate, he
will give me such answers as his extraordinary
| position demands.
4 IL a.. III & 1. al
hes as he did when dcnouncing them in his
speeches from which | have read? Does he
still look upon such of them occupy seats here
as "servile courters and sycophants y as " mi
mons and understrappers," and. unworthy OF
him? Does he still think Sour country has been
foully deceived, and we have been basely de-
| luded by all the arts Of intrigue, bargain, and
| corruption 2" Does he still think, as he once
stated, that Mr.. Van Buren's election was brought
about by " shameless bargain and corruption ?"
Does he still think, as he stated in his speech
here, on the Sd of January 1887, just before
Mr.. Van Buren, was installed into power, that
the South could notbe 'reconciled by the success
sor falling into Southern principles z" Does he
still think " il will be treason to the Constitution,
and to the country to submit TO the dictation %
Does he still charge all in the South who do so
with being $ AT heart traitors 2" Does he still
think that this " is the reign of Caesar, and we
are towards, dastards, slaves, il we submit to
this state of things, and shall deserve TO have
children raise before their little hands and shake
their manacles, saying, Thou did it Thou did
II ~ If so, does he think Mr. Van Buren, chase
vile, degraded" as he has pronounced him, at the
head OF his "servile courtiers and sycophants,"
+" mnions and understrappcrs, is the man TO re-
deem our fallen liberties2
THE FREsHET AT AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
The loss by this distressing calamity is vari-
sIu nSfitn afaI IL A
Chronicle, at 100000, though the estimate is
only conjectural. The same paper relates a
thrilling incident which occurred to a little girl
about eleven years OF age, who was taken up
in the middle of the river, about twenty-five
miles above the city, by Captain Joseph Staun-
ton OF Petersburg boat. The editor says:
0The story of the adventure of this litde
girl, have obtained from herself She is
the daughter Eliza, of poor widow lady, Mrs
Sarah Stone, who lived on the river, near Fer
guson'e ferry on the South Carolina side. She
says the first lnmation they had OF their dan
ger, they were surrounded by the river, when
her mother, a daughter, older than Eliza, Eliza,
two brothers younger than herself, and faithful
dog, fled TO the top of their little cottage, soon
after which, the house taken of by the cur
rent. One after another, they met wateTy
grave, Eliza and the dog only clingng to the
wreck, when she came in sight Of the boat Of
Capt S. who had dashed his boat To tree, and
succeeded in making her cries heard. Capt S.
Immediately aroused his hands, who were all
asleep and gave chase, and after pursuing her
about three miles, overlook and rescued her and
the dog, from their perous situation Captain
S. says she was on a few shingles, which were
supported by feather bed, being all that was
left of the house on which she started, on which
frail bark she had descended the river twelve
miles when she was pickedup.
The damage done 10 the Georgia Rail Road
mar tho ttv will far time prayant he cara