Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
Calhoun and Benton.

Those who take no part in politics, or
who look on the two opposing parties as up
on two sides of pyramd-correcting each
others leanings, and holding the strength OF
the country between them-are still inter-
ested sometimes to know the shape in which
the corner stones are hewn-the grain and
mark from nature with which eminent men
are visible to their fellows. The two great
Southern Democrats, Calhoun and Benton,
figuring in strong relief in the Senate, and,
in memorandum book, wherein we record
any chance approach of ours TO the personal
orbit of star, we put ink on the impressions
we received of these two, in weeks obser-
walton, and herewith we present them to our
readers-adding only the conjunctions and
propositions, left out, so universally, In
things written to be read when one is be-
yond responsibilities of grammar.
Benton is a caricature likeness of Louis
Philippe-the same rotundity, the same
pear-shaped head, and about the same stat
ure. The physical expression of his face
rredominates. His lower features are drill
ed into imperturbable sauvity, while the eye,
that undri,!able tale-teller, wrinkles of in
ward slyness rs burning lamp-wick does
of oil. He is a laborious builder-up of him
self--acting by syllogistic forecast, never by
impulses. He is pompously polite, and
never abroad without g Executive" man
ners. He has made up his mind that ora
tory, if not a national weakness, is an UNI
presidential accomplishment, and he delivers
himself in the Senate with subdued voice,
like a Judge deciding upon cause which
the other Senators had only argued. He
wears an ample blue cloak, and broad
brimmed hat, with high crown, and lives,
moves, and has his being, in faith in him
self which will remove mountains of cred
ulity. Though representing State two
thousand miles of, he resides regularly at
Washington, paying rare and brief visits to
his constituency, whose votes he has retained
for more than twenty years--an unaccount-
able exception to the anti-conservative rota-
ton of the country's gifts of office.
Mr.. Calhoun lives in his mind, and puts
sort of bathing-dress value on his body
| There is temporary-ooking tuck away of
his beard and hair, as if they would present.
ly be better combed in another place-mouth
and eyes kept clear only for brief life-swim
in the ocean of politics. He is tall, hollow
chested, and emaciated, and both face and
figure are concave, with students bend
forward. He smiles easily when spoken
to--indeed with rather simple facility
though, in longer conversation, he gives his
eye to the speaker, barely in recognition of
an idea-with most 60 Uerbum sap'' with
drawal from talkativeness. When speaking
in the Senate he is a very startling looking
man. His skin lies sallow and loose on the
bald frame of his face-his stiff gray hair
spreads off from rather a low forehead with
the semi-circular radiation of the smoke
from a wheel of fireworks just come TO
stand still--the profuse masses of white
beard on his throat catch the eye like the
shoulder of fire under his chin-and his
eyes, bright as Goals, move with jumps, as
| if he thought in electric leaps, from one idea
| TO another. He dresses carelessly, walks
the street absent-mindedly, and u treated
with the most marked personal respect and
involuntary Difference, by his brother Sena-
tors and tie diplomatists of Washington
He is a great man-probably an ambitious
one--but he Indignantly denies the charge
of " making tracks " for the Presidency
Home Journal.