Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-27


der his arm an immense ehspes bras, edged
with white ostrich feathers He wss man to.
tally different in HE air and manner from oil a.
round him and the very sntipodes especially OF
the Man on whom all eyes but his seemed fixed
a. by spell. Tssw many other very striking
figures grouped about and behind the Speakers
chair, but did not know their names, and had
no one to ask bssides dare not open my lips
The President. having seated himself. re.
maiued in silence, serenely contemplating the
Legislature before him. whose members now
No house Of worship. in the most solemn pauses
Of devotion, was ever more profoundly still than
that large and crowded chamber.
Washington was dressed precisely ss Stuart
has painted him in Lord Landsdown's full
length portrsit-in . tull suit Of the richest
black velvet with diamond knee buckles and
square silver Buckles sot upon shoes japaned
with the most scrupulous nestness, black silk
stockings. his shirt rufIled at tho breast and
wrist, a light dress sword, his hair profusely
powdered. fully dressed, so as to project at the
sides. and gathered behind in q silk bag orna-
mented with a large rose Of black ribard. He
held his cooked hat, which haG q large black
cocksde ON one aide Of ii, in his hsnd, as he ad.
vanced towards the chair, and, when seated,
laid il on the table. ....
At length, ,hrus,ing his hand within the side
of his coat. he drew forth roll Of manuscript
which he opened, and rising. held it in his
hand. while in rich, deep, full. 'onorous voice
he resd his opening address to Congress. Hi.
annunciatiou was deliberate. justly EN- mphasised
very distinct. and accompanied with an air o.
deep solemnity. a. being the u,tersncs Of q
mind profoundly impressed with the dignity o
the &C, in which il was occupied, conscious o
the whole responsibility Of it's position and &C
ton, but not oppressed by il. There was eve
about the man tomethng which impressed thu
observer with conviction that he was exac,l!
,nt fully equal to what he had to do. He wa
never hurried; never negligent but seemed
ever prepared for the occasion, be it what
might. II could express his character in Of,
word. il would be Appropriateness. In bis stu
dy, in his parlor. st a levee, before Congress. 9
the head Of the army. he seemed to be just wha
the situation required him to be. He possessed
in degree never equallec BY any human beinl
I ever saw, the strongest, moet ever presen
sense OF oreprieiy. 1t never forsook him. an
deeply snd involuntsriy impressed itself uPo
every beholder. His address was Of moderst
length; the topics ! have Of course forgotten
indeed was no, Of On sge to appreciate them
but the cir, the msnncr. the tone, have nevs
left my mental vision, and even now seem TO '
brste on my ear.
A scene like this. orce beheld though in es
liest youth. is never TO be forgotten. II mu
be now fhy years ago, hut I could this mome'
+ 81, down and sketch the chamber, the assembl
, and the MAN. -......
, Having closed the reading, he laid down Il
scroll, and, after brief pause, retired as he HI
entered when the manuscript wss handed, {
second reading, to Mr.. Beckley, then Gle
. Of the House, whose gent!emanly manner, Gle
and silver voice. and sharp articulation IN
. ever associate with the scene. When S,.,a,.,
D sgain behold such Congress and epch Pr,
dent! SIGNA