Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-02-25

The hall looks something like vast market
place on Saturday night, whilst the tumut oil
tongues does not by any means tend to dspel
the illusion. Galleries and lolbes are wrapt in
gloom and the dim obscure of the vast dome is
spread out over all, like mighty pail. All this,
however, helps to heighten the effect of the spe-
ci6c illumination to which each counenance on
the floor is subjected. The sckly glare Of can
delight falling full upon human face distorted
by pa sion, certainly does not sweeten the ex-
preston; and on this occasion the fact was veri-
fed in two hundred and fifty instances. 1t was,
indeed, one of the most interesting studies Of
the human yisage, under the peculiar effect Of
candle light, on a comprehensive scale, that |
ever recollect being favored with, except in the
case Of Scottish Presbyterian Synod, engaged
at midnight in fierce discussion on the duty of
the civil magistrate to punish heresy by the
sword; in which case must admit, the glare
appeared still more unearthIy, and the general
expression still farther removed from the an
gec.
noisy, sputtering, diminutive member from
some obscure northern district, who with hide
GUS grimaces, had been speaking in a sort Of
dumb-show for the last ten minutes, nobody
paying the least attention to him, and his poor,
meagre, peevish little bit Of a voice being utter
| ly lost in the loud buzz of excited and angry
CONVERSATION, the galleries Ginning in their
hoarsc, sulIen roar, had Just taken his seat, when
there was an instantaneous and absolute cessa-
ton Of the mingled noise which had pervaded
4I,o hall al,
murmnr on the floor, and sudden uprising and
sbuflng of feet on the galleries signifed the
occurrence of something unusual naturally
turned my eyes in the direction of those around
me, towards the side of the House where the
| Old Man Eloquent sits, and found, to my great
satisfaction, that he had arisen, and was about
to address the Chair The old man leaned for
ward, with both hands upon his desk, and SEEM
ed to be more feeble than had formerly suppo-
sed. A great many Of the members had lett
their seats, and stood crowded around, whilst
the small gallery to the left of the Speakers
chair set apart inl the short hand writer's, not
far from which the old mans desk is placed,
was so thronged with eager auditors, who had
intrud3d themselves there in their anxiety to see
and hear, that the reporters were squeezed up
against one Of the massive columns, and there,
with note books in their hands, obliged to make
what shift they could to discharge their honora-
bic duties. 1t was good subject for picture.
They may place one less appropriate in the va
= cant panels in the rotunda The circling crowd
of stawart, stern faced men, all agitated by strong
interest and emotion-tbe striking figure of the
venerable speaker in the midst, strongly illumin-
ed by the light which seemed concentrated upon
1.-THE fair forms bending anxIousIy downward
from their elevated position over the Speaker
chair, listening anxlousIy--the throng which filed
the large circular gallery seen still further in the
distance-the figures slowing moving to and fro
S in the obes and in the deep lecesses of the hall
(public claimants and ofice-seekers, -goad-
ed almost to desperation. in finding their dreams
: still unfufIIed at the eleventh hour, and now
dead to every thing except their own i'll fortune
fitting about in the growing darkness like con
! sprators, and scowling upon the scene, as if il
: had something to do with their blasted expeca
tons, 1.-THE Speaker, not without an impressive
dignity, leaning back in his chair, but with face
: turned in manifest respect to the aged orator
It and the assistant clerks, half dead with the inces
VI SAINT application Of the last week, gladly pausin9
j in their abors, and listening too, but all lookin!
;, --rosrums, desks, lamps, officials and alias
y they belonged to some other scene, so entirel,
l. did the interest and business of the hour seem con
= cenhated Immediately around the old man-th
- massive aud noble architecture Of the hall, rem
d derered still more sonbre and impressive by The
=, uncertain ligm-alI made up spectacle of ex
j. citing interest and grandeur.
10 The old man commenced in low and slight
er y broken voice, but he seemed quickly to gahe
le strength as proceeded, and in few minute:
he the indignant tone of his voice rang out shar
~ and clear like peang bell on a cold frost
I'd morning, and were heard Distinctly in the mo.
at distant part of the hail. With what bitter en-
IS phasis he dealt forth denunciations, which mus
d, am sure, have cut somewhere like two-edge
as sword The effect upon the features of one
as his auditors never will forget This was
I'd tall, dark-visaged mana Notwithstanding O
"A the outside of the circle collected around tn
o. speaker My attention had been arrested by tn
tn fixed fierceness of the gaze with which he re
I'd garded the Old man from the moment he took u
We his position on the outskirts of the stenin
Oh crowd His countenance grew blacker ever
n moment; and as the speaker became keener an
US keener in his merciless sarcasms, it assumed a
OF expression so positively demonac that | W;
OF shocked and startled! A cloak properly arranl
ed, and the gIuering of apoinard, would hay
To- made the fearful picture complete. But, tc
to soon loudly and heavily the hammer fell, an
he the old man, cut short in the middle of an in
FASHIONED appeal instantly sunk into his chat
OF in sudden and nervous manner, which sruc
at me very disagreeably, and somehow conveyed q
tor unpleasant impression, as if the speaker had ft
he himself sharply rebuked for some gross mpr
Eat priety. As the venerable man resumed his sea
ne his attractive auditory on the floor quickly di
ne persed and returned to their places, Will
be throughout the hail. in the Hobbies and in Il