The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-07
~ r HE MAILs.
WASHINGTON, March s, 1917.
Persoudlifiss.

WASHINGTON, March s, 1871.
Psrsonalities.
Mr.. Speaker Davis returns to his constituents
with the unanimous approval OF the House, and
the undivided appreciation of the country. He
has been a capital good Speaker, has this same
John w. Davis. Prompt, efficient, decisive and
impartial, he possessed the great funda mental
qualifications of presiding officer, necessary to
control the turbulence of so large body as the
House of Representatives Ia the chair he knew
no party-he knew no personal preferences; the
contestant whose voice first caught his ear always
secured the floor. In fact, we have never known
speaker who has been able TO control the House.
and bring it out of the greatest confusion with %
much efficiency and SO little difficulty.
OF the New York membcrsi of the House.
Messrs. Rathbun, Grover, Miller, King and Gull
yer have been most conspicuous during the sss-
sion, upon several of the important questions Of
the day; and Grover, perhaps, OF all the delega-
especially upon the Wilmot proviso, upon who,
however absurd the proviso itself, he was At least
as consistent in the end as he was decided in his
position in the outset.
In the Senate, Mr.. Dix has acquired the
established reputation of a man OF learning,
experience, sagacity, talent, and ability, while
the modesty OF his manner as Senator,
a depater, and as man, have won for
him a very wide circle of friends, and a larger
share than he is aware OF, of the public approba-
ton As member oil the military committee,
Mr. Benton, the chairman, from difference to his
abilities, gave him almost the absolute control of
the decisions Of the commttee, and their expos-
tons and defence before the Senate, and the
Style i'll which he discharged this duty was emf
nenty satisfactory, succinct, concise, conciliaory,
explicit, and judicIous.
Having said thus much of Mr.. Dix, 1t becomes
us 10 approve the course OF Mr.. Dickinson.
From affl ctions in his family, he has been neces
sariy absent good part of the session; otherwise
he has been punctua in his plac :, not interfering
share in the hard drudgery of the committees.
On the last night but two OF the session, he
made speech in exposition of his position
on the Wmot proviso, and taking, rs he did, the
bold and independent stand that the proviso was
at best but miBchievous excresence, and that tho
resolutions OF his legislature not intended Tor
a " fundamental condinon" OF that sort, ex-
PLANTATION of his views unavoidable. On the
abstract question Of the appropriate national po-
Icy, Mr.. Dickinson, perhaps, ventured too ex.
tensively into the fields of poetry and hgurative
illustration ; but in his comments directly upon
the third resolution OF his State Assembly, he teed
the mark like the regular soldier.
While we approve, therefore, the fearless since
rity and the entire obedience of Mr. Dix TO bis in
stfuctions we just as cheerfully endorse the indie
pendence Of Mr.. Dickinson, and the hazard in
which he placed himself on that account, in dis
approving the provso. Ii is charged that Mr..
Dickinson IS In the Marcy administration interest,
whlle Mr. Dix is equally devoted TO Mr.. Wright
promotion-and that herein hes the secret OF the
sttilu je on the proviso of both your Senators.
This, OF course, IS all fudge but even straw
may designate the drift OF the atmosphere. w.