Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-02-05
SKETCHES OF THE CONVENTION.

late visit to Richmond, and noticed win some inter-
oct the men who constitute it. We saw the Conyen-
,on Of 29 and listened for weeks TO It's debates
The contrast is marked In point oil talent, dignity,
and of imposing pretensons twas the amphyctlonlc
council of the Greeks and the barebones parliament
of Cromwell The one was the eliminated wisdom
of that generation which founded The Republic
Willis. the other though composed OF sensible ana
intelligent gentlemen lay no claim 10 those hgh
qualifications, which were universally conceoeo 70
their illustrous predecessors.
In casting our eve over the Convention we were
surprised to see so few Old men. lhe most Sehefa-
ble looking and one whose appearance issmost i'm
posing is member from this district uen bra1.on
has tal and commanding figure, erect as an Indian,
. full head Of hair, and white as the driven snow
He is the grandson of Garter Brax!on, who signed
the declaration of independence, and in many respects
brars a resemblance 20 his ai,.-oioss ancestor de
is gentleman of pleasant manners, socialhabits, and
belongs emphaiically 10 that class, known as the sold
Virginia een,lemen' He rarely speaks and never
more than few words.
The best looking member Of the Convention is
James Lyons of Richmond. He has an exceedingly
fine person, and well does he understand the mode
of shelving il to the best advantage. He dresses with
singular neaness and taste has an address, speaks
with great fuency, and is altogether an elegant gen.
tleman and good debaer. Near him is his distn-
uushed son-hi-law, not unlike him in person, with
The execution that he seems 10 years his senior in
ape. The two united illustrate the cardinal charac-
terislcs of all accomplished orator the "suavl!er in
modo" and the "fortiler in re-"
John Minor Bolts, we are inclined to believe, will
be the master spirit of the Convention. tie speaks
with great power and ever with effecI-has striking
person. making an impression from his remarkable
physiognomy. The contour OF his head resembles
Napoleon, nor is he unlike him in the features of his
character He is ambitious, ntolerant and relentless
He has talents OF the very first order, concelyes him.
self .born TO commands" and woe to the wight who
crosses his pathway to glory. The objection to Mr..
B. is suspicious and uncomfortable temper he Is
rash in forming conclusions and obstinate IN main
tanning them. He often thinks wrong and is just as
impe,uous in defending error as truth. He has warm
friendships and bitter resentmen,s He has friends
who adore him and enemies who fear and admire
him. Such is John Minor Bolts, who has talents
equal to any emergency, but Is impotent for good,
because fthe many unenvabeq qualities he possesses
His colleague, r. c. Stanard, is another of those
members who is entitled and will maintain high
stand in the Convention. He is a gentleman oi tai
ents and experience in legislative nalters-Mr. 5.
speaks often, and always sensibly. He inheriis to
some extent that impediment of speech which pre-
vented his father from occupying the very first place
among the most brilliant speakers Of the State. It's
only slightly percapli6e in MIR. 5. lie is useful
member.
Mr.. Faulkner of Berkeley will act prominent part
in this Convention. He is gentleman Of talent, and
ough, now to hold much higher position than ne
occupies. Eighteen years ago he was member oi
the Legislature and considered al the time, one
al, c., Gorh ~ aoC q
was one of the gentlemen who participated in the sla-
verv discussion before the Va Legislature in 81, 32,
and took ground which he has long since abandoned.
Professor Dew in his inimable and unanswerable
essay upon slavery, in review Of this debate dslin-
uuished Mr.. Faulkners argument as the strongest on
that side of the question. From honest convictions
Of its mpolicy or other causes Of which we are not
apprized, Mr. F. has since become strong pro-sla-
very advocate. His report to the Legislature few
winters since upon the fugitive slave law, sustained
by powerful speech ranked him as one of the abes
champions of Southern institutions. He is unforlu-
naely white basis defender, which 10 some extent
impairs the lusre of those deeds which have signal
lied his efforts irpbehalf of The South
In person Mr. F. is small, with rather too much oil
the dandy in his general appearance. tie IS very
wealthy, perhaps the richest member OF the Con'en
ton, all of which have proved obstacles to his ad-
vancement in popular prelerment.
Mr.. Janney, of Loudoun, is decidedly the pre!iiest
speaker in the Convention. Henol only speaks hand
somely but sensibly. His language is chase, his Pc
rods we'll turned his voice euphoneous and Ills eio,
cuton exceedingly attractive. He is the only miAeo
basis representative from Loudoun win ior'y u'pes
the capacity of his two colleagues united ne VIII
make figure, We predict, before the convention aa-
Journs. =,
Richard C. L. Moncure will be leading member
of that body. He is the Chairman Of the Judiciary
Committee, and is assiduously engaged in dges!ing
and preparing judicial system worthy OF Virginia:
Mr. M is known 10 most OF our readers as one OIL
the ablest lawyers in the commonwealth Al 'he oar
he ha. few EQUALS and no superors. we have never
heard him in deliberave bodies,b Judging his pow
ers from what we have seen in the court room ne
will stand pre-eminet as debated Of Constitution
al law, He has one of the clearest he ads and IS one
of the profoundest thinkers in the State.
Henry A. Wise all know. To enumerale his quail
tiles is to deal with household words He is the same
man he was in Jackson's day, the greatest popular
orator Of his me but eccentric. .mpetuos and uncer-
tain. Wise has some noble qualities. He has The
bandest and kndest manner in social intercourse
one of the warmes hearted fellows on ear!h and is
altogether one of the most pleasant parlor compan-
ions with whom we have ever met. No one can
mnple long in his society without becoming more or
less attached 10 the man. The part he will take in
the Convention no one knows. upon Nor!hern
aggression he goes as far the farthest He is an
Ii ticompromise, an-Bayey, and every other anti that
true Southern man should be, SAVE THE WHITE BA-
Sis BORDER. But he is the same Henry A. Wise of
'4O-44, and hence the mysterious change which has
passed over the spirit of his dreams-Fred. .Ns'0s.
g Amin Bey and suite passed Evansville on The
Belle Key, on their way to New Orleans. 1t is said
that Mister Bey smiled with great qualification when
he came in full view Of our city, thinking it was
New Orleans. He was heard distinctly to say
"Bolovori snitz top'em squawk Louisville, snIggle
fritz lie hoowaw walapum Cincinnati"
Which being translated TO us while Mr.. brown
held his pipe we understood to mean in that poe'I-
cal imagery of Turkey