The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-03-04
Men and Things at the Capitol.

| IvAOAA oAAh n bAIS
A correspondent of the Boston Excelsior,
writing from Washington under the above
head, relates the following incident which he
witnessed at the last session of Congress:
II was during the Oregon discussion, when
countrymen were constantly dropping in at
the Capitol, to see what was doing about the
war. A couple of Virgininns were leaning
over the gallery, and it being their first APP
penrance in the House of Representatives,
they evidently saw much that was new and
interesting One Of them was tall the 9TH
err, decidedly short. The tall one was the
best informed, though the short one had a
great natural thirst for knowledge. The long
one was pointing out the various ornaments
ofthc Hall, from the clock at the main en-
trance all the way round to the curious
piece Of sculpture over the Speakers chair,
supposed to he represented as the American
Eagle. From tile ornamental they descended
by easy stages TO the useful, and so come to
notice the members themselves
Il wonder who that little shiny-headed old
man is, down there to the right said the
short one.
What, that one with the watery eye, and
hunchy shoulders%
yes rg
Don't know who that one u.s. returned the
long one. Guess he amt no great shakes.-
Eve watched him this hour almost. He sets
there all the time, with his arms folded, like
marble statty. He Amt got no papers on
his desk. He says nothing to nobody, nor
nobody to him. He don't read, or write,
or fgger, nor seem to have any bust
ness at all upon his hands, like the other
felers. reckon he is some new member
that aint got acquainted here. Some thunder
in Wing cuss that couldn't arm his livin' at
home, and so they sent him here
Just then a youngsh looking man, with
his long, coal black hair parted up the middle
a Ia Signor Blitz, came in from the lobby,
and sauntered down towards the Speakers
chair. The moment he was noticed by the
two Virginians they hurst forth into extrava-
CANT EXPLANATIONS of delight. 'Ah, there he
is That's him = He's a screamer p
He'll give it to 'em ? Don't catch him nap
ping in CongressP and the like. The en-
trance of Bayley, from their own district e.
licited similar set of EXPLANATIONS. At TINT |
moment, tho sharp shrill cry Of mr. Speak
er-r-r,' rang through the noisy hall like the
crack ola rife. The Virginians turned sud |
denly round.
'Je-hos-ophatl- -ef that little shiny-headed
old man amt on his legs! Wonder what he
can say Guess he'll wish he'd sot still eff
Hunter gets OH his track; but what in creation
uStlhSJ uii ooObb ~
don't spect this stone concern can catch fire,
do ye?
Our friends from Accomac were evidently
astonished at the commotion below. The |
democratic members went trooping over to
the Wing side of the House pages were
passing chairs into the alleys, members came
hurrying in from committee rooms, Hobbies,
Supreme Court and Senate chamber, and in
an instant the just now scattered multitude
L., -, ,I,,,
the chair of the little old man.
The Virginians could make nothing of it 4;
all they could see was dwarfsh old man,
who, placing his clenched hands upon the
desk before him, bent his body forward at an
angle offortyfive degrees, end forcibly eject
ed every sentence he uttered with a sudden
Jerk of the head. He used no gestures save
this unpleasant jerk, and his voice was shrll
and unmusical--sometmes almost startling
in lis tone of angry defiance, and sometimes
sinking into low ndistinct murmurings.
Our long Virginianlw wondered for the fifth
eth time who he could be- and all at once
became inspired with the idea that he might
ascertain by inquiring. He did inquire; but
the listeners were anxious TO catch every
word of the sreaker; and many were the
'hists' and pshaws' and pshes' the Acco-
mac man received for his pains. Getting des-
perate, he looked into gentleman's button
hole, after the manner of Captain Cutie, and
tOoatLd have an answer.
That's Adams answered the gentleman
sharply and impatiently. I
'Je-hos-ophet what, not the one that was
President |"
Yes
What not John Quincy Adams of Mas
sachusetts 2 .... snt
Yes yes yes tell you ? snapped their
ruscible listener, turning his back upon his
tormentor.
You, Jeff whispered the long one to his
'that's John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts
who'd have thought it and the couple eyed
him more intently than ever.
This was Mr. Adams famous speech when
he quoted scripture To prove our right TO the
whole of Oregon. The question was one of
magnitude, and his position one of peculiar
interest but he never speaks without draw
ing a crowd. Indeed, lie may be said to be
the only man in the House who can COM
nand its undivided attention. He kept open
house on New Years day, and not withstand
ing the many attractions at the Presidential
mansion, there were probably as many peo-
pie waited upon the old man eloquent as
upon the President himself; many felt, per-
haps, as i did whilst sinking his palsled hand
that 1t might be for the last time.
The Irishman who wrestled
.7.l with a Bear.