The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-02-11
From the National Era.
The Old Man Eloquent.
BY JOHN SMITH THE YOUNGER.
Mort. In faith he is 4 worthy gentleman;
Exceedingly well read.-King Henry w

In looking down from the ladies' gallery on
the troubled floor of the House of Represent
atives, one of the very first objects which at
tracts and fixes the attention of the observer,
is the Old Man Eloquent. There he sitS-so
still and placid, his arms calmly folded, and his
venerable head bent in meekness on his
breast-au image Of purity and honor, in the
midst Of crooked and perverse generation
"a peaceful rock, unmoyed by the surges Of
an angry sea
The general expression of the House, if one
may so speak is commonplace enough Intel
hgcnce, common sense, and shrewdness, meet
your eve in every direction; but the number
of strongly marked and striking heads is very
small indeed You are quite sensible, after
the first glance, that you are looking upon just
such an ordinary assemblage as might be made
up of a like number Of intelligent farmers,
mechanics and lawyers, in any well settled
district Of the Union-that is, always except
ing the ill-brecding and clamorous hustle and
confusion. 1t is not strange, then, that the
eve very soon singles out the subject of the
present hurried sketch and that to all visit
ing the gallery of the House, whether init
mate with his venerable aspect or not, the
Old Man Eloquent presents an object of the
most earnest and respectful regard. But in
any congregation Of men the sage would COM
mand this attention His whole aspect wears
that unmi5takeabe air which betokens a man
distinguished above his fellows A noble
head, almost entirely bald and white and
shining as polished marble-eyes that beam
as bright as half a century ago, but serene
and clear as a river fount away among the
hilIs-a mouth and chin whose every line
eyinces philosophic dignity and frmness, not
unmingled with the gracious benignity Of Il
loving heart-remind us Of one Of those I'M
mortal busts which have familiarized to our
thoughts the form in which wisdom dwelt at
Athens in the days Of her unclouded intellect,
ual glory, and fully assure us that we behold
at least one fit representative Of free and
sovereign people, in this latter day Of more
perfect light and liberty.
The last occasion on which the Old Mau
ELOQUENT addressed the House is not likely
to be soon forgotten 1t was on the last night
of the session of 1S44-'4G. The President
had sent Message to Congress, asking an APP
preparation of two millions of dollars to be
placed entirely at the discretionary disposal
of the Executive for the purpose, las he declar-
ed, of facilitating the negotiation of peace
with Mexico A great deal Of angry and ir-
rltatlng discussion OF inc SUBJECT mad taken
place in both Houses. The question of slav.
ory-of all subjects that can be debated in
these halls, need but say, the most infam
matory-had been thrown into the arena, by
the introduction of an amendment to the pre-
amble of the bill, affixed by certain of the
party, for the purpose of eiIecting certain oh
jects aimed BY the Executive and the feel
ings of members on every side of the House
were excited to tho highest pitch. In vair
did the Speaker exert himself to preserve the
decorum of the House, at all times Difficult
task but now tenfold more arduous, in conse
quence of the exciting subject under consid
Grafton, and the lateness Of the hour. The
imperfect manner in which the room was light
ed, added to the confusion. Some years ago
just few moments after the House had ad
journed the immense and superb chandelie
fell, with terrible crash, breaking the desk