The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-02-01
CONGRESS-.
CORRESPONDENCE OF
THE BOSTON ATLAS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1913.


wrote this brief letter this afternoon, CIV
ing you an account of the persons who occu-
pied the attention of the Senate and House up
on the grave questions which now agltate the
nation. Mr.. Foote, of Miss, made display
in the Senate, which trust, for the good name
and character of that dignifed body, Will never
be repeated. He is, to use homely phrase,
''the smallest of small potatoes and how IN
the world he ever attained the elevated posi-
ton which he now holds, of Senator OF the u
nited States, is beyond my comprehension
During the two months have been IN the
CAPITAL city of the Union, have heard many
speeches in the lower House, which both IN
manner and matter were sufficient to cast a
shade of regret over my mind that people
should be so led astray as to vote for such
man; but the effort of the Mississippi Senator
was much less calculated to create respect and
command attention than anything ever heard
in the House, and | feel thatI owe an apology
to Mr.. Dickinson, of n. Y, for the assertion
made the other day, that he was the smallest
mind in the Senate, for in comparison to the
Senator of Mississippi he assumes quite re-
spectacle position.
While this exhibition was going on in the
Senate, a scene of very different character was
being enacted in the House. / refer to the
speech made to-day by Patrick w. Tompkins,
Of Miss, the sole Wing member from that
State. Mr. Tompkins made one of the best
speeches that have been made in the House
the present session.
The House was in Committees ofthe Whole
MIR. Tompkins devoted his hour to a review Of
the Presidents message refusing to communi-
cate to the House information in regard to the
admission of Santa Anna into Mexico, and the
instructions given to Mr.. Slidell, our Minister
Plenipotentiary to that country. He was elo-
quent, truthful and scathing. He showed that
Mr.. Polk, while a Representative in Congress,
held, in 1925, opinions the very reverse he
now held, that he was loud in his denuncia-
tions of the President for withholding informa-
ton from the House, although the resolution
asking for it, and the information sought to be
obtained, were widely different from that now
asked for; the difference, however, was alto
gether against himself. In this connection,
Mr.. Tompkins delivered highly wrought and
beautiful eulogy upon MIR. Adams, the then
President Mr.. Adams sits very near MIR.
Tompkins, and appeared to be deeply affected
by the eloquent tribute of the high souled and
manly Msssissippian.
When he sat down he was congratulated on
all sides for the ability he had displayed. Mr..
Tompkins is about AZ years of age, Of middle
size, has pleasant expression Of countenance,
high forehead, and, as they say in the West,
shes one of 'em, ""always in town, with peck
ct full of rocks"
Having devoted so much space to the two
members from Mississippi, have hardly time
left to tell you of the speech made by MIR.
Tuck, of New Hampshire, 1t was not calcu-
lated to arrest so intensely the attention of the
House as the great speech of Mr.. Tompkins-
but it was, nevertheless, a sound and manly
speech, imbued with true New England senti-
ment, and calculated TO command the respect
and attention not only of his own immediate
constituents, but of rejecting men everywhere.
/ understand that the speech will appear in a
few days in full, when l hope it will find a
place in the columns of the Atlas.
Mr. Tuck is one of the most industrious and
gentlemanly members of the House, and is u
Universally respected. He is young man, and
will, l have no doubt, attain, if he has not al
ready, position which will give him great in
fuence. The Wings of New Hampshire have
every reason to feel proudof their representa-
tive; and the position which he holds, the SEN
timents which he offers, and the votes he gives,
show that there is no reason under Heaven
why the Independent Democrats and the
Wings of the Old Granite State should not go
shoulder to shoulder, and work tremendously
together to redeem that gallant State from the
thraldom of utter radicalism. w. S.