The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-09-13
From the ~. Y. Ua,,,
SKETCHES OF CONGRESS.
WAsHlsoros, Sept 8 Is43


smoke OF the contest now fast disappearing leaves -,
posed 10 the gazsrs view the combatants and tt.,,
field OF battle. Already the events Of the sr..,r
have become historical records and the bcOfs theme,
of future story
purpose, then, To throw a rapid glance over some
of the circumstances of the field of conflict and
slightly To note few of the individuals that dsl6
uished IT, Safe from the passions and the danger. Of
the arena, survey them from the vantage ground Of
truth
FIRST, then, or notice, 6rsl ia Parliamentary ab.
lities, stands forth from the crowd the Hon Caleb
Cushing, "to give the world assurance Of man
All men of public life and profession, whose talent,
exercised in the tumulluousness and the ygoro Of
debate have each his peculiar method, his lndyIIua
tactics by which 10 annoy an enemy 10 carry or o..
lend p sIon, some attack the weaker of their a-
verssrie 10 injure the party they espouse, By van.
gushing lie impotent though acknowledge der..
ders policy times successful, sellum conclusive
some lsud and embelllsh they oppose but O.
destroy its friends ndexleIously exhibiting the gfs,
Iepugnancy, the repuls'e energy between the cause
and It's real INFLATED advocates Others ack the
less guarded entrances, the exposed defence.
and carry the oulworks To- enirench lhemselyes-ant
thus acquire opportunity t. seduce ntmdale The
garrison Many strive IN pitched babe, aud BY the
exertion of brutal free Ia overpIwer iy numbers
when they fear 10 succeed ia diplomacy few, anu
they the Napoeons of their tines know hlm 10
combine great physical energies indomltabe Iers,,rr
with mental capaciiy.
j cannot give better illustration of the policy aud
prowess of my subject than by adopting the word,
of Walter Scott relation to Of his heroes WHO
disputed and won the field against physical superior.
ty They occur in ms description Of MS Passage
at Arms at As by, where he speaks of the fearless
ness, the tact and selreIiance of the disinherel
knight" 1.-The dexterty with which he managed
his steed and something of youthful grace which he
displayed in his manner, won him the favor of the
multitude, which some of the spectators espresso
touch the Hospitallers shield he has the least sure
seat, he is your cheapest bargain" The champion
moving onward amid these wemeant hints ascend
ed the platform by the soping alley, which led 10
from the lists and to the astonshment of all present
riding straight to the central pavilion, struck with the
sharp end OF his spear the shield Of Brian de Bon
Guilbert, till II rang again Like Ivanhoe, the mo-
dern champion seeks his worthiest foe and 10 tie
thickest of the fight, where the battle dakeu,
he revels in the luxurance OF ms strength he has
eve, an ear, a voice TO watch, to hear, 10 command
the onset: he never qualls nor in the darkest hours
shows symptoms OF dependency nor in sunshine OF
victory does he doh his armor OF proof; always %
harness. he is equally prepared to lead the attack or
cover retreat whether advancing on the bridge Of
Lodi or retreatng in the face Of treble battala
through the Black Forest, he retains his seposse,-
sion, is fearless and sagacious, and from defeat
lures plans Of future conquest.
And he has the excelling qualities most essential to
the statesman, the accomplished politician Quick
ness, both of apprehension and repartee, which the
unforeseen contingencies, the multiiorm and eyorya-
rying tones of debate most imperiously require
bodness of nature undaunted, without which talents,
though extraordinary, serve never for uses rarely
adorn; a frmness of purpose that not only manuIiy
resists hostile aggressons, but--a unfrequenl
Quality---confnes the speaker to his subject,
duced by temptations for fanciOl but useless display
a warmness, a heat of the mind which, a. in a cruc.
ble dss0lves the precious but yet uncurrent Of
thought to refine and to harden it--then throws it
forth glowing with the impress Of the conner, ready
for circulation and address, tact in the manage
ment Of recent affairs that nothing but well-acqued
experience or great natural endowments can give
or maintain.
And b. sides to him. of all Others can be rewarded
the conjunction OF qualities opposite of nature
which, nharmoniZing, unite TO create, always, r.
mirkable characters infinite ingenuity Of analyt
ical argument, with most persuasive rhetoric hard
severe, close ratiocnaion, with powerful appeal, 10
the feelings that the mind Of the nearer is either
the he leads by Irresistible con-
viction, allured by fascinations, whose power,
though concealed, is not less effcacous 1t either
a captive or willing subject
And there is in every Speech in all his writing,
curious felicity Of expression which attracts in ad
of the argument as the sparkle Of the diamond
secures our imagination ere we become acquainted
with its nestimable value.
The accomplished de- aier the impassioned orator
the astute politician, honest and fearless seii-fcyn5
but not arrogant, without presumption, and without
calm, impeturhabe, iDscru,abe Yet unre.
served where confidence and trust be rcpueed
ture has marked him the leader of parties the HOPE
of the aspiring the Idol of the daring the arbl el 10
dest MES.
The curious abuse him he forgets their naive
the ungrateiul calumniale him he padons their Im-
potence: the malignant conspre against hin, he
rnies at their hale. For he is, all his enemies
Tower Of polished STEEL secure and nacc,ss bIe
liz has tIa
yisages of It's rash aggressors as they advance pP
on il.
s'But he is ambitious" So were the Themstcts
the Percles, the Scipios, of ancient days; the A.
reds tho Van A!teveldes, the Pitts Of modern histo
so are all intellectual characters Of every ogr, the
founders of States, the propa2aors of principle be
rulers of parties; for they follow the laws other
tue, to seek in exalted stations enlarged sphere
for the exercise of exalted vrtues. The Eagle towers
the Sun from the same instinct that confines to be
earth The less adventurous of the feathered tribes
nd If by this sin fell the angels, lis 10y it, ndu-
ence man becomes like one without greatly daring.
he can never greatly excel.
He is desirous of popularity u all men well de-
serving Of their country wish its kind regard. He
seeks not the hearts OF the people, like Absaou IN
any improper mode, with any impure spirit The
praise Le desires follows like shadow great deeds
II wish popularity" said the grea, Mansfield, "but 4
is that popularity which follows, not that which
seen after. II is that popularity which, L.
ter fails to do justice to the pursuit of noble
ends by noble means.
He has stood, throughout all the session, like A.
las, with {" world of words upon him. He BIAS
never avoided q contest, and yet never provoked
attack true courage never declines nor seeks Diff
cultes
In his mastery report the Exchequer, he ha,
shown the strength of his intellect, its wonderful
6neness. " Ii is" said political opponent, 10 me
day after its introduction "a production of yariou,
excellencies. displays extraordinary research and
as much as its nature would admit extraordinary orr
gnality, compression OF thought in style of luxu
RANT beauty what he has borrowed from others, be
has repaid four fold to the science of the Else and
whatever may be my objections 10 the plan, have
none to the manner in which it is treated. 1t is the
most finished report have ever read or heard since
have been a member Of the House"
His snecchns too In relation Ia the Gscnl nNulr- o.