Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-18
coRREsrohDEscE OF THE HARRISBURG GAZETTE.
WorbiDvfou Der !5th fRa5

IcoRREsrohDEscE OF THE M.RTissBURG GAZETTE.
Warrington, Dec. 18th, ls45.
| To JAMES Z. STEWART, ESQ:
| Agreeably to your request, commence my cor
respondence with the "Martinsburg Gazette" and
shall endeavor from week to week to give you "a
bird's-eye view" of the passing events in Congress
referring you to your Washington exchanges for
particulars.
! Thus fer very little of importance or moment has
| taken place in either House Of Congress. and in
deed one looks for much business until after the
Holidays over, and then 1--WE shall what
we shall see." 10 casting my eyes over both the
Senate and House of Representatives. l sec many
new faces. and the absence of much of that high
talent and experienced craftsmanship which the
country has looked to in her most trying times du-
ring the last twenty years with so much reliance
and confidence. Bot you must not understand me
as representing the present Congress as deficient
in talent, because intimate that il is not 10 be
compared with some of its late "ilustrious prede-
cessors." Not at all-for assure you there are
some mighty men in Congress now-espscially in
the Senate. Before "msny moon." are past and
gone. shall again hear the sound Of the ponder
Gus batte.sxes Of Webster and Calhoun-we shall
soon again behold in the midst of the fight the
cleaning scimita, of J. Nj. Clayton of Delaware.
and hear the eloquent and clarion voice of "Tom
Corwin" (as he is famarly caled) of Ohio plead.
ing the cause of his country and defending her in
dustry and prosperity from the ruthless touch Of
Loco Focoism. There are many other very able
and distinguished men in the Senate, Of whom
may give you sketch at another time-but must
content mysef for the present by merely giving
you first impression made upon the mind upon
an entrance iato the chamber of the grave and
revered seignors."
! Placing yourself in the front gallery, YOU find
yourself facing the Hon. George NJ. Dallas, the
Vice President of the United States, who is quite
handsome man, with an expressive and Intellectual
phisiognomy, but at the same time strongly mark
ed with vanity He is Democrat by profession,
but in manner, motion and habit would be taken
land not wrougfully) for an Aristocrat and "a fine
old English gentleman of the olden time" On the
left of the principal passage, sit the Wing Sena-
tors, and when run over the names of few of
them, you will see that have put no false estimate
upon the intellectual greatness Of the present Sem
ate. Here is the Wing array: Msngum, Berrien,
Corwin, Webster, Davis, the two Clsytons, Arch.
err, johnson and Pearce of Maryland. Crittenden
and Morehead of Kentucky, Evans, Huntington,
Barrow, Jarngan. &c; and the other side. there
is Cass Calhoun. McDufie, Fairfield, Ashley, Niles,
| Lewis Benton, Wescott of Florida. aud others
who are men OF decided talent and have much
service. You compare the two and draw your
own conclusions. "As comparisons are inyidiuus,"
! ] will not venture to say more upon this point.
may however, venture this assertion: that barring
1.-TWO or three" the Senate is now more free Of
demagogues than il has been for some years past.
| see your new Senator Mr. Pennybscker, in his
seat. Mr. Rves absence seems TO be universally
lamsnted by the Wings particularly at this critical
| period of our National legislation though hear
his successor well spoken of "in all circles"
amiabe and well;judgiog statesman, but without
power figure ia the debates of the Senate, or TO
win an extended fame 10 the country.
| | cannot attempt in this letter take even
peep into the House, where there are many Re.
pressntstives of the sovereign people, and where
almost every seat is filed with new member
The new nsmbers have no, yet shown their pa
ces." and il is therefore next impossible for me
thus early TO form an opinion of the intellectual
character of the House. Think. however. the Sc
quel will show the House TO be rather weak asa
general thing, though there some powerful men
I on both side. of n Virginia makes rather slim
show Of her Whiegery, as far 8, least as numbers
extend--Mr. Pendleton being the cnly member, OF
as no is called here the ''lone star" l hope,
however. that he may be enabled 10 keep the Stone
star" always shining so brightly that the glory Of
the "Old Commonwealth" shall not entirely fade
from view, and that its steady and blazing light
may vet illumine and encourage the hearts Of vir-