The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-19
Parson Browniow at Washington.


ton-trom which place he has been sending
letters home describing scenes at the Capt.
toll. The following paragraphs will give
our readers taste of his qualify.
! | have a seat IN the House, as a reporter,
with free pass, signed by Speaker Win
throp. And since it is understood that am
not one of the fifty and large odd thousands
| of creeping sycophantlc, and unfortunate
office-seekerS, with which the city abounds,
! am regarded as rather clever sort of a
man than otherwise.
! Ihave been present during the discussions
( in the two Houses, and am sorry TO say
that the tendency of men and manners, is
downward! Especially is this the case in
the Senate, more so in the Senate than in the
House. Great confusion prevails in both,
while that order and digniGed department
which characterized these bodies in the bet
ter days of the Republic, are numbered
with the years beyond the food. The SEN
ate is the most contemplate body of the
two. There are hut few fine and imposing
looking men in the Senate. Benton, Badg-
err, Bell, Mangum, Underwood, Webster,
Calhoun, Phelps, JIpham, Metcalf, Johnson
and few others, look like Senators, and
will command respect. Most of the re-
manning Senators are young looking men, in
a great degree inexperienced, and of dis
gusting nein and little carriage. Many of
them are under size, and in their manner
! foolish. Douglass, Of Illinois, weighs 400
lbs, and wears dirty clothes.
! The members Of the House are a more
imposing body in their appearance. Take
them upon an average, and they are in per-
son, as they are in mind, degree or so
above the Senate--leaving out, always, such
I 'bn
markable man in the House, is Horace Gree
| ly, New York Editor He speaks tluently,
but without the manners and gesticulatons,
common to public speakers. He is an odd
looking specimen of mortality. AS he walks
from you, you are struck with his STOPPING
shoulders-his bald pate-his sandy whis-
kers-his hopping gate-he looks to be
seventy years of age while he Is really a
young man. He has deep set, but beney-
client eye-a constant but simple smile plays
upon his countenance. He has no com
mon sense speaks TOO often, and upon tri
val subiects--and has no influence in the
House.
| Writing letters, reading newspapers, and
smoking cigars, behind the bar, is the order
of the day. But this habit Of paying no at
tenton to member, while speaking has
been CONTRACTED, in good degree, from the
fat %; .ss ,toii.l., impossible To hear a man
distinctly owing TO the peculiar construction
of the Hall.
| President Polk is twenty years older in
appearance than when he last canvassed for
the office of Governor in Tennessee. Cave
/ Johnson looks grey, old, dry and feeble, aud
stranger would suppose had seen better
| days! Amos Kendall looks, lean lank,
stoop- ahouldered, aud like the latter end of
an li-spent life. Old Marcy glooms up as
usual, and whether drunk or sober, may
! fity be denominated the upper crust of all
political abomination! George NJ. Dallas
is the finest looking man in the Locofoco
ranks, and is the best specimen of an Eng
( fish Nobleman TO be seen IN Washington
Peace to the ashes or them all, Willard
! Fillmore is the finest looking man in the
Wing ranks, and speaker Winthrop Is next
hest in appearance. Mr.. Calhoun is sink
( ing fast, under the weight of years, and of
mental labor. Any man who ever saw Gen.
Jackson n his last years would be struck
with their similarity of appearance. Mr..
Webster is rapidly declining, and never will
/ be the physical or mental man he has been.
SO we go, both great. and small.
a very large party Of gentlemen and Ia
dies dined with Mr.. Polk on yesterday, upon
special nvitation-among whom were old
lack Gen. CasS, Col. Bell, and Mr.. Marcy,
/ Fillmore and others. A very liberal spirit
presided over the entertainment, and the
whole amounted to a real jollifcation. Gen.
Taylor was as familiar and playful with
Marcy, as if he had never given hin .jessy
in the Gaines letter, and as polite to Cass,
as if neither of them had ever created any
s. noise and conflson; in the country
Mr.. Polk met Col. Bell very cordially in
deed, and expressed his qualification at hav-
ing him present. 1t was a scene, am told,
of great interest. | was not present, my
name having been overlooked (no doubt un
intentionally in the hurry of issuing the
tickets of invitation. Having e,togs- ed the
Presidents grand father, :" Old Zeke.' - in
former days, it is certain that the President
intended me TO be present!
OF the Inauguration ceremonies he says:
While fancy was administering the oath,
Old lack looked him right IN the eye, and
when he kissed the Bible, he did it 10 that
hearty manner, that a Tennesseean kisses
lady. He looked just like he was swearing
the truth-like he would preserve, protect
and Defend our sacred Constitution and
Laws. Polk, Richie, and Cave johnson,
standing by, looked like they believe him;
but from Cass' countenance, | take it that
he had no faith in any thing the Old General
said or swore! Cass stood on the platform,
witnessing the scene, and looked worse than
any man in the crowd. He is excusable
fer this. because the Sc noise and confusion"
were so very great, that be could not but
look bad!
4.