The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-19

the presidential succession, winch put INC io'inei ="
the latier's place, when Armstrong was tumultuous-
ly driven from Washington the night after its cap
ture by the enemy. The executive departments OF
government were out Of joint with each other, and
many of them out of favor with most Of the advo-
Gates of the war. There was large, bold, and some
Of them unscrupulous neutrality-suspicious., however,
any treacherous disloyalty that know of beyond
the usual struggle of parties TO supplant each other
Some MEMBERS no doubt, countenanced that ex-
IRENE opposition which afterwards centred in the
Hartford convention whatever It's undivulged designs
may have been. But there was neither despair nor
than party dissension at any moment IN either
house of Congress, less faction IN the minority,
and more unanimlty IN the majority, than would
have been the case under less trying circumstances
The disastrous commencement Of the war was not
without the uses of adversely. From distant point
of time we may look back upon the external pres
sure and internal resistance OF that Crisis with graf
tude to the overriding Providence which, by what
seemed calamtous occurrences, prepared the conn
try for happy results. Next to Divine Providence,
this historical acknowledgment is due to tina, popu-
lar providence--that much despsed abused, and un-
dervalued mass of the people; considerable, how
ever fuctuating yet constant majority of the Amer
lean naon the least calculating, but ruest and firm
est Of all, who, under every tribulation, upheld and
cheered their lneal ofisprng-a majority in the
taxes bore hardest, whose livelihoods were most in
terrupted, whose names would probably never be
bazoned to celebrity--iike the common sailor and
soldier, who bore the brunt of war; aciuated more
by patriotic impulse than selfish reason-they never
deserted or faltered. who loves the peoper said
Voaire, greater architect than Bonaparte of that
prodigious revolution which restored their sover-
eighty, Notwithstanding all its abuses and aberra-
tons. Yet without coincidence with that least self
ish though least refined mass---without even party
spirit SO much deprecated what state can be free,
what free state great, what statesman strongs
"Among the fervid and the fearless to whom no
small share Of the popular of that is at
tributable under extremely trying circumstances,
is entitled to more grateful recollection than
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Henry
Clay. Ardent and bold in support of the war, and
Madison's administration of IT. prompt, clear, CO.
gent, and authoritative in the chair eloquent, forci-
bic, aggressive in speech; impulsive and overbear-
ing YET adroit and commanding in conduct; resoute
and daring in all things without much learning,
study, or polish, he was them in the flower of his
age and robust health, the powerful champion OF
whatever he undertook, and master spirit wherever
he acted. His descent from presiding over the rep
resenaton of popular sovereignty was the first step
of his declension.
awe had hardly the door closed in secret session.
before John Rhea of Tennessee, came within ten
votes of carrying his motion to lay Colonel Stuarts
resolution on the table, which Rhea denounced as a
factious attack upon the administration AS Colo
mel Stuart submitted the resolution on his RESPONSE
bty for his sincerity, feeling bound to believe il at
least until the contrary should be shown, | voted
with Macon and few others of party, with
all the federaists, against laying it on the table Mr.
Rhea was great oddly, in appearance, behavior,
dress, Speech and temper; a rich old bachelor, a
very honest man, thorough-going party man, and
good-natured man, but of those gruff, growl.
ing persons, who would rather be considered unkind
when he really was not The Tennessee delegation
at that time, besides Mr. Rhea, consisted, among
others, of Felix Grundy, distinguished member Of
the war party, and Of General John Sewer, an old
Indian. hunter, as straight and almost stiff as an
arrow, with the stern department of reserve and
selEpossesson which men are apt to contract who
have much intercourse with savages, and the hardi
hood of frontier life the outskirts of civilization,
in perpetual conflict with them General Sewer, if
am not mistaken, had been involved among the
pioneers of the West, in a rencontre with the most
extraordinary American of the nineteenth century
General Jackson--also of Tennessee.
safer Rheas motion was negatived, Mr.. Thomas
G. Ghoson, of Virginia, moved to strike out the
preamble from Colonel Stuarts resolution; which
being done, and the blow at the administration, if
any was intended, thus parted, the subject came
before the House for consideration on its merits.
"The weather was in canicular sympathy with
our condition, as representatives of the country and
the party on whom its forlorn fortunes pressing;
one of those dry, sultry windy, not cloudy, but
misty, murky, smoky, overcast, uncomfortable dog
days. whether the regular canicuars had set in or
not, which surrounded by an amphitheatrc of hills,
with the sluggish Potomac, and extensive flats be-
tween it and the Tyber, closed July and prefaced
August with unwholesome, enervating, sweering,
atrabilious, suffocatng, langud feverish heat, as
hot as the faction within and war without. Wash
ington was unhealthy in the latter part of summer
and most of autumn. There were few of the
crowds of visiters or of inhabitants now there;
most of those few had marched away on the sud-
den campaign sprung up; and Pennsylvania aven-
Al zf 81. IF
nifcent distances, had hardly listener along its
disconsolate thoroughfare. Congress were nearly
alone in the Capitol, of which only the two wings
were then built, without the rotundo, either OF
the noble fronts now facing east and west; the
whole pile imperfect and extemporary. II blew a
hurricane, roaring like great guns through the dome
of the House of Representatives, and struck down
the flag ratline on the top Distant artillery was
audible was thought, from time to time, and ru.
mors continually ahoat as the enemy advanced. The
division of parties intense that there was lit
tie personal intercourse among many members Of
opposite sides The federaists and the republicans
did not sit together except few republicans over.
flowing among the federaliss, occupying the Speak
er's left. Debate ran high Mr.. Clay was an ex.
cesnt presiding officer, but he could not keep the
House always in order. Alexander Hanson, a small
man, in delicate health, editor Of the Federal Re
publican newspaper, one of the boldest in opposi-
lion, was sharp fierce speaker, and attacked some
or, of New York, the readiest debater and hard
est hitter of the federalists; Mr.. Castor, hand
some man, of pleasing address and speech Mr.
Oakley, Mr. Daniel Shelley, Mr.. Richard Stock
ton, Mr.. Webster, Mr. Pickering Mr.. Pitkn
were prominent on that side. Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Cal
houn, Solomon Sharpe, of Kentucky, (assassnated
in the Beauchamp homicide,) Mr.. Troup, of Geor.
gia, Governor Wright, of Maryland, James Fisk
of Vermont, Jonathan Fisk, of New York, Viii
liam Duva, afterwards governor of Florida, John
w. Taylor, afterwards Speaker, Felix Grundy
were leading men Of the republican party. John
Forsyth did not speak that session, till the mid
die of the next, distinguished he became for
speaking talent Nor did Mr. Webster that SEES
sion make any of the great speeches on which his
reputation rose afterwards. He and Mr.. Stock
ton were gone home when the proceedings of this
conclave took place"
"During the angry discussion, when the House
was sometimes noisy, the Speaker commanded
silence with unusual emphasis: Gentlemen said
he, If we do arm and take the field, am sure we
shall be beat, if there is not order kept in the
ranks than in this house. should be sorry to