The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-18

ants--while all, the aged and the young the lofty
and the humble, the meek woman and the brave
soldier, the little child and the great statesman,
delight to do them HONOR
Adieu GRACE GREENWOOD.
WASHINGTON, JNly 6, 1850.
GENTLEMEN: The coming Of the 4th has some
what interrupted the proceedings Of Congress this
week-national legislation giving way to national
glorifcation.
Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday were princi-
pally taken up with speeches on the Compromise
Bill, from Mr.. Cooper Of Pennsylvania, and Mr.
Upham Of Vermont. Mr.. Cooper is rather an
agreeabe-looking man, and doubtless man of
ability, but, as "a speaker, he is dull, prolix and
mechanical His principles and prepossessions
are said TO point to the Southern quarter Of the
political compass Mr. Upham, on the contrary,
is Of the North, Nortby His speech was true,
think. TO the sentiment Of HE asctio~ "s ~ -
:. Sef A,canded ssthSs,-- $780, - v.~s, AZ
acknowledged, very nsively and unnecessarily,
that he prepared it three months ago-and be
certainly read as though he had never looked at
1t since. His manner was without ardor and
earnestness-cold and monotonous, and like Mr..
Cooper's, his speech seemed stretching itself out
to the crack Of doom. By the way, just subject
for agitation and animadversion is the frightful
prolixity Of honorable gentlemen, who, having
prepared speeches in the cool Spring weather, de-
liver them in the dog days with rcmorseless res
olution, looking gium if their audience do not
take it coolly. There rises Northern States
man, who, with the desire Of favoring some South.
ern policy, hath the fear of being oashiered by
his constituents-who must steer slowly and care
fully between Scylla and Chary bdis-or rather,
like crcus-rider, must mount and manage two
steeds at once or Southern alarmist croaks out
tho pv,lo NJ agitatiop--lorto0 tho
ate with his evil augies on the fate Of the Union
Honorable Senators read newspapers, frank let
ters-receive their pay, and write receipts at
their desks-fans snuff boxes, paragraphs, and
caricatures, 20 round-there are elevated a pair
of slippered feet, which may have done execution
in an Alabama bsll-room-there is bowed a head
bald by the friction Of many lsurels-nods and
wipks most nlal-gpropos, and out Of character are
on the increase, and yawnS S1d stre,ehings grow
frequent and contagious. Yet flows on, unceas-
jpsskhs upheede5 nratnry-a drizrling strean Of
legal argument or stsristieaf sta,.meht--or a
foaming current Of patriotic sentiment in q weak,
wordy solution, bravado and balderdash for Bun
combe II Is too much--there are bounds to hu-
man endurance-Senator after Senator rises with
slow dignity from his armchair, and quietly
slopes through the northern doorway, for an
hours siesta in the snte-room-the galleries grow
unquiet and thin off momently; even the gra-
cious smile of the handsome President grows Ian
guild, and his appealing glance calling to his seat
some charitable substitute, he yields the post of
honor, with his own peculiar grace, and glides
forth, smiling as he goes benignantly to the last.
Yet still flows on, unceasing, the unheeded orato-
ry in bewildering eddies Of sophisticsl reasoning
over shadows of thought, with now and then
small bubble Of wit or soft gurgle of sentiment,
and sometimes though very rarely, Of course,
slight muddine0s of meaning.
Mr.. Bell of Tennessee has been ringing loud
and sharp for two days, in the Of the Senate,
and will probably toll through the morning to-
day. He is fine speaker in some respects but
too fesrfully Understanding all his strong
points by repetition. He is most earnest and en-
ergetic at times, and wonderful is the power of
his lungs, If not the force of his logic An elo-
quent defence of the President and his policy was
very interesting portion Of this interminsble
speech
The speech of MIR Seward of New York, de-
livered on Tuesday, was an admirable effort
strong, straightforward, clear, and condensed,
yet not without the ornaments Of true eloquence
and poetry. The manner of this Senator does
not correspond with his matter. His voice does
not vary greatly, and he never seems powerfully
excited even when uttering the most radical sen-
timents. He ia characterized by quiet holiness
q cool, I had almost said a calcnlating audacity
in the expression and support Of his opinions.
y - -
On the evening Of the Ord, the ladies of the
National Hotel held a reception. Miss Lynch
seemed the presiding genius and she was a host
as well as q hostess in herself with the ease,
gaiety, and kindliness Of her manner. Fredrka of
Sweden was also herewith her simple, retiring
manner, her kind words and her sweet voice,
making herself feh as presence Of gentle great
ness. Forms Of manly beauty faces Of fem-
nine lovelness, were around her that night, which
the authoress may yet unconsciously reproduce
in her vivid word.painting. Yes-we had fair
women and brave men, and some brave women
and fair men-we had music, we had dancing
Ay, honorable members, Senators, Judges, and
Generals chasseed and dos-a-dosed with bellies and
blues, in blissful forgetfulness Of all the cares
and dignities Of State Immediately behind where
| stood, sat the Vice President, Mr. Fillmore, ia
with the heroic wife of the heroic
Fremont, and almost expected "the Chair TO
cali us to order, in bis own bland and half-depre-
eating manner, when snything went wrong in the
dance. We had laughing and TESTING over ices
we had tstea-stes in window seats, and promenades
along piaxzss-all the usual concomitants Of
pleasant evening party, except compliments and
firtations. Statesmen and suthoresses, of course
know nothing Of such thngs-and then, most Of
the company were married!
On the 4th, were the usual parades, ceremo-
MES, and festivities Senator Foote delivered, |
from the Washington Monument, an GRAFTON |
which has been much commended. IL was brief, |
simple and in passages eloquent 1t breathed q !
patriotic, truly national spirit
must not forget to record It's great and pecu-
liar distinction. Ii was the first Fourth Of July |
address had ever heard or read, heard Of or read
d. having no quotations from no slluson to the he
roe', poets, orators, and philosophers, of Greece
and Rome. had supposed general sort Of pro
en-. resurrection Of those old worthless necessary
part Of the programme Of our annual gloriscs-
ion. This forbearance was the more commend
able, as the Generals fine classical attainments
place under his command q most effective brig
.de Of able bodied ancieuts
Mr.. Clay bears up bravely against the extreme
heat of the season, the wearying delays TO which
bis favorite measure is subjected and the oppo-
sition with which II is met by prominent repre-
sentatives Of both parties, North and South. He
may be seen every morning at his post In the
Senate, sitting quiet and erect, now and then
turning to shake hands with friend, smiling al
ways, rs he does 90, in his own illuminating way
He now speaks seldom and briefly, but his voice
gives out still in its higher tones The same impe-
rial or imprisoned sound-still belongs to its
lower tones the old beguiling music. When in
of excitement be rises to speak, and
stands 20 firm and proud, with his eye all agleam,
while his voice rags out clear ana strong It al
most seems that his apparent physical debility was
bot = sort OF Riohelieu ,nse, and that the hot
blood Of youth was yet coursing through bis
Teins, and the full vigor Of manhood yet strong
n every limb. The wonderful old man.
GRACE GREENWOOD
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE In PHILADELPHIA.