New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-04
LORD MORPETH ON AMERICA.

country by his former title OF LORD NOR
prrH, has lately appeared in the character
of a popular lecturer, with great success
at the Mechanics Institute and Literary
Society of Leeds. 1t is certainly good
SIGN to see a British Peer and Cabinet Min
lister in so novel a position. His Lord
ships first lecture was on the Works OF
Pope. He avowed himself warm adj
mirer of that poet, and gave a detailed and
appreciative critique of his works. The
next evening the subject was America.
We copy the more prominent portion Of
the lecture as follows
II ismv wish to touch very lightly upon any
point which among u.s. among even some OF Us
now here may be matter OF controversy l. now
ever honestly think that the experience of the
United States does not as yet enable them TO de-
eide on either side the argument between tue
established and voluntary systems ia religlon'
Take the towns by themselves and l think the
voInntsrv prnciple appears fully adequate to sat
isfv ali religious exigencies. Then 1t must be
remembered that the class which makes the nam
dsl4ionlty elsewhere. scarcely, II at al, eAsts ia
America. Ii is the blessed privilege OF tue Ohteu
terbalauee any draw backs at which may nave
TO hint. that they really have not, as class, any
moor among them. A real beggar is what you
never see On the other hand over their IN
mepse tracts Of territory the voluntary system
has not sulced to produce sufficient religious ac'
commodation. 10 may, however, be truly ques.
toned whether any establishment would be equal
10 that function. This IS, however, one among
the many questions which the republican expert
ence has not vet solved AS matters stand at
present Indifference to religion cannot fairly be
laid 10 their charge Probably religious extremes
are pushed further than elsewhere. There GER
taipiy is breadth and universally OF religious
liberty which DO not regard without some de-
gree Of envy. Applause
The House of Representatives, the more popg'
lar branch of the Government, returned by uni
versal suffrage, assemble in chamber of very im-
posing appearance arrangedrather like theatcr
In shane like the arc Of q bow, but 10 IS the worst
room for hearing ever was in we hear COM
ulaints occasionally OF our Houses OF Parliament
old and new, but they are iasltless IN comparison
In parts of the house it is impossible to hear any
body. in others it answers all the purposes OF
whispering gallery, and | have heard Members
carry on n continuous dialogue while n debate
was storming around them. Both in the Senate
and the House every member has mOst COM
modious arm chair, desk tor MS papers, ana
shifting box to which he does not al
ways conine himself. | went very often, and II
was impossible to surpass the attention received
some Members seat In the body of the House was
always given to me, and was at liberty TO remain
there during the whole Of the debate, or write my
letters as chose. The papable distinction be-
tween them and our House Of Commons | should
say to be this, we are more NOISY and they are
more disorderly. They 90 not cheer they do not
cough but constantly several are speaking at
time, and they evince a contemptuous disregard
for the decisions of their Speaker. They have no
recognized leaders of the different parties, the
members of Government not being allowed to
have seats in either House Of Congress, and the
different parties do not occupy distinct quar-
tiers in the Chamber, 50 that you may often
hear furious wrangle being carried on between
two nearly contiguous members. While l was
at Washington, the question Of Slavery, or at
least of points connected with Slavery gave the
chief color and animation TO the discussions in the
House Of Representatives. Old Mr. Adams, the
exPresident Of the United States, occupied with
out doubt the most prominent positions he pre-
sented very striking appearance, standing up
erect at the age Of seventy-fve having once filed
the highest post attainable by an American citi
zen, with trembling hands and eager eyes, in de-
tense of the right Of petition-the right 10 petition
against the continuance Of Slavery in the District
Of Columbia, with a majority OF the House usu
ally deciding against him, and & portion Of it
lashed into noise and storm. / thought it was
very near being, and 10 some extent it was, quite
sublime position; but it rather detracted from
the grandeur Of the effect, at least, that his own
excitement was so great as to pitch his voice
almost into screech, and to make him more dis
orderly than all the rest. He put one in mind of
fine old gamecocks and occasionally showed
great energy and power Of sarcasm. | had GER
tanly an opportunity Of forming my opinion, az
sat through speech Of bis that lasted three days;
but then it is fair to mention that the actual sit.
tiDgs hardly last above three hours a day-about
four dinner is ready, and they 60 away for the
day, differing much herein from our practice
and on this occasion they frequently allowed
Dir. Adams 10 sit down 10 rest. All the time
believe he was not himself for the dis
continuance Of Slavery, even IN the District
Constitution had accorded the free right of petit
tion. One morning he presented petition for the
dissolution OF the Union, which raised a great
tempest. Mr. Marshall Of Kentucky, fine and
graceful speaker moved a vote of censure upon
him. Another member, whom need not name,
the ablest and hercest champion whom heard on
the Southern or STAKEHOLDER side, made a most
savage onslaught on Mr.. Adams then up got that
" old man eloquent and no one could have re-
preached him with not understanding how 10
speak even daggers. His brave but somewhat
troublesome spirit has passed from the scenes
upon which he played 40 conspicuous a part bat
he has left behind him some words Of fire. the
sparks OF which are not yet extinct Nothing
came OF all this stir | used to meet Mr.. Adams
at dinner while it went on, very calm and undis.
turbed. After seeing and hearing what takes
place IN some Of these sittings one is tempted 10
think that the Union must break up next morn.
ing bat the fame appeared generally to snlou
der almost as quickly as it ignited. The debates
in the Senate, during the same period were dig.
nifed, businesslike and not very lively soft may
be Judged which house had most attraction tor the
URasIUg traveller | heard M Clax, IN, tb., Sc
once, but every one told me that he was aborng
under ieebleness and exhaustion, so that could
only perceive the great man in the tones of his
voice. think this most attractive quality was
more perceivabe in private intercourse, as Ger.
iainly never met any public man. either in his
country or in mine, always excepting Mr. Can.
ming, who exercised such evident fascination over