The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-15
LONGITUDE HEIGHTENED.

The length of Senator Benton's lucubraions
on the Treaty begins now 10 be positively indie
cenl--an outrage not only on the credulity, but
on the patience Of the community. This cop
per captain himself with his face Of brass and
metallic GU .eI;. seems to be aware that some
apology is due to the public for this unprece-
denied infection upon them, and accordingly,
with faint attempt at humor, he alludes 10 il
as "my speech on the Tredty-Jorty mortal
columns of the imperial Globe"
To these forty columns are now to be added
nine more in lump; and taking into the ac-
count occasional episodes and extempore re-
plies, the aggregate Of yarn already spun can
not be short Of seventy mortal columns, which is
about equivalent TO a volume Of three hundred
pages. This is a feat which puts to shame the
exploits of the full-botlomed, big-wigged Dutch
commentators Of the oden time, when prolixi
~, and not brevity, was considered ''the soul OF
wit" and the productions OF genius were weigh
ed in the same scale with butter and cheese,
and rated accordingly. We cannot help being
reminded Of the anecdote of the honest Hol-
lander, who, Boosting Of his brothers talent,
pru'lder have wrote a pook 80 pig ais all dis
cheese p
And it seems that even now we are not TO
have the consolation of knowing thar this speech
is ended. Some mischlevOus wag, it appears,
has hoaxed the orator into belief that his for
ty-column speech did not cover the whole
ground Of denunciation against the Treaty.
Certainly" quoth Thomas, sit was not antici-
pated that there should be complaint against
that speech for defect of accusatory matter
But the complaint is made, and l must justify"
So he goes 10 work incontnently to overhaul
The Treaty again, and finds, to his amazement,
that he had overlooked zone of the heaviest
charges" that he has found. Fresh discoveries OF
this kis6 will no doubt continue TO be made, each
one 10 be followed by nine mortal columns of cack-
lng-so that We have scarcely any hope left eY-
cept in Prophet Miller. The end Of the world
may, perhaps, put an end to the speech.
Seriously speakins-supposing it practicable
to speak seriously on such a topic-if Senator
Benton were not as mad as March hare on
the subject ofthis Treaty; If he were not suffer
ing under species of monomania, morbid
excitement, which can find no relief except in a
dysenlery of words, he would be able 10 see
what every body else sees, that the very labo-
riousness and Prolixily Of his attack on the
Treaty, is one Of the strongest evidences that
could be adduced Of its excellence II manfests,
at the same time, his eagerness to find fault, and
the difficulty which he has in finding any. If
there were any real or serious defects in the
Treaty, he would have infinitely less trouble in
exposing and explaining them. 1t is true, that
he is able to boast Of having delivered, or writ
ten, an unsnswerable speech-simply because i,
is unreliable. No mau-even on a rainy Sun
day in the country,-would undertake to wade
through such mass of stuff unless compelled
by law and, happily, the provision Of the Con-
stitution against I" cruel and unusual punish
ments" e1empts US from any fear of legal
compulsion.