Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-08-09
The Fall Of Great Men.

In the House of Representatives at Wash.
lngton we have seen member from New
Hampshire hanging, Tor hours, across his
writing desk, like bag Of sand, who when
reused from his leihargy, would sometimes
gain the door, and from his powers of mind
and utterance, command the attention of
all. The Hobbies of the House brought the
| alterations Of his moral character 10 ripe
ness and rottennes, so that his constituents
| failed 10 re>elect him to congress, and he
soon after died of mania a pOlu
Who has not seen the tall, drunken mem
| Der from New York, native of Connects
cut: Formerly on the same floor? In the
Legislature of New York and on the foor
Of Congress he was long known, and ac-
knowiedged everywhere as aleading politi>
clan Of strong mind, bat by his pernicious
habit, he vent down 10 old age, victim
Of intemperance.
| The notorious drunkenness and hoFrid
death M Felix Grundv Mcdonnell, render il
| ali1ast SaPerAu0uS 10 name him. except as
a warning to the, coming generation. At
| ter he had reduced himself 10 a skeleton by
dissipation, in a fit Of mama a p0tU, he fin
ishedihe work OF death with his penknite.
The Secretary of War, during a part Of
mir. Madison's presidency. and several of
the Granny Generals" as they were ia
military called, nLder him, were frequently
seen in state of intoxication.
A statesman from Georgia, who once
held a place in our National Cabinet, and
who was candidate for the presidential
chair, had the same fault, 10 such an extent
that he could not write hrs name.
A senator in Congress from New York.
who had been Governor of the Empire State,
and who died suddenly, was accustomed to
drink in Washington two quarts of brandy
Tor his per diem allowance, and yet he had
so strong intellectual and bodily powers,
that he could speak nationally, and walk
straight, when his face was like the sun
turned to blood.
Another gentleman, who had been q Cow
einor Of the State Of New York, of most
while Vice President Of the United States,
was SO often intoxicated that he disgraced
himself and the Senate, while presiding
ever thu august body. Daring several
sessions Of Gong ess he was absent for mos,
of the time, while President pro frnIp"re
occupied his seat in The capitol. He died
premaiurely from inebrialion.
Three of the Senators in Congress from
Pennsylvania we know TO have been drunk.
ards. One Of them had been the Chief
Magistrate Of the Commonwealth, and an
other of them anticipated the nomination
OF his party 70 that high Office, but failing
| 70 receive II, soon killed himself with al
cohOl A third still lives, and has been
| seen BY the boys To crawl like a tortoise
tIom the hack aud the curb stone TO The
door o. has boarding house, while the young
utchins exclaimed, " There's the drunken
Senator frUm Pennsylvania" He is so
heavy q man, that a slender companion
! and half tipsey coachman could not sus-
tain him on his feet. while moving over che
breadth Of the side pavement
We have heard q distinguished Senator
say on Capitol Hill. that he never intro
daced measure until he had resolved on
u iwice-once when drunken, and oOce
when sober
One who very ably filed the Vice Presi.
dents chair In the Senate, not long since
aud Who was the learned juris., the accom>
plished scholar, the (Iiead Of hamanity,
and the decided defender Of Chris,ianitv.
fell victim in the prime Of lite, 10 the
free use Of iHebriating beverages.
| We have heard the silly defamation of
q noble general the door Of the Senate,
and when the presiding officer required
"the senator from Indiana to take his
seat" we saw him fail aat.at his full length,
on The auor, because ne was too much be.
side himself With strong dsiak TO fnd his
large elbow chair. About two years ai,er
this event he died OF the fashionable mania.
and was buried with All due Congress ional
solemnities, not Ear nom the Sena.e Cham.
ber, IN watch he most ingioriOuSiy - took
The f0or."
I Truth might also tell ah Of the election.
4 eerlng campaign OF Governor 0f Mlsaou-
81 who was dTanken ~ neMTly every place
ofpahlic speaking Tn whiGh be heic0k him.
himself, and having been elected, cOntln.
!. usd Ms rolatl0ns, uasli he placed the tElg.
u geE % qua 10 his toe, and the munxie Il
Il nsA NDvehsad, and blew his brains oul, BE-
. lire hsA official term nf once had expired.
Philip g. Waite.