The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-07

thas aseouhly, vhish, ~ u woA known snaree
laixaly 18th in he legislative an4 executive pow
ers Of ~ ConstilutioR, " grsve AID decorous.
The Hosss Of representatives. be more PopulA,
branch of The 0evernnaent, reussg,sd by universal
sufrpge, assemble in chamber Of very imposing
anpearanee, arranged rather Ikks theatre, IN
shape like the arc VI . bow: bat IL 10 the worst
room for hearing ever was In. We hear COM
plants occasionally Of our Houses Of Parliament,
old and new; but they are fautless IN comparison;
in parts of the house il is impossible to hear any
body; IN others, it answers all the purposes OF
whispering gallery; and have heard members
carry on a continuous dialogue while debate
was stormng around them. Both in the Senate
and the House every member has most cosnrnO-
dious arm chair. = desk for his papers, ana
splitting box, To which he does not always conhne
himself. came very often, and il was impossi-
BILE TO surpass the attention received. Some
members seat in the body Of the house was al
ways given to me, and was at liberty TO remain
there during the whole Of the debate, lsien to
what went on, or write my letters, as ! chose.
The papable distinction between their and our
House Of Commons, should say to be this--we
are more noisy, they are more disOrderly. They
do not cheer, they do not cough, but constantly
several are speaking at time, and they evinced
contemptuous disregard for the decisions of
speaker. They have no recognised leaders OF the
Inherent parties, the members Of the Government
not being allowed TO have seats in either house
of Congress, and the different parties do not ocs
cupy distinct quarters in the chamber; no thai you
may often hear furious wrangie being carried on
between two nearly contiguous members.
While was at Washington, the question Of
slavery, or at least points connected with slave
ry, gave the chief color and animation to the dis
cussions in the House Of Representatives. Old
Mr.. Adams, the OK President ofthe United States,
occupied, without doubt, the most prominent po
sit'oni ne presented very striking appearances,
standing UP erect at the age Of seventy five, With
trembling hands and eager eyes, in defence of the
right Of petition; the right to petition againn the
continuance of slavery Ia the District ofCoumbia,
with a majority of the House usually deciding
against him.. ayd portion Of il dashed into noise
and storm. thoughtit was very near being, az
TO some extent it was. quite sublime position.
but rather detracted from the grandeur Of the ef.
fepAat least that his own excitement was 20 great
as to pitch his voice almost into screech, and TO
make him more disorderly than all the rest He
put me in mind Of "a fine old game cock, and oc-
casionally showed great energy and power Of sar-
casm. had certainly an opportunity offormlng
my opinion, as sat through speech of his that
lasted three days, but then it 10 fair to mention
that the actual sittinss hardly last above three
hours, day. About four, dinner is ready, and
they 60 away for the day, differing much herein
from our practice; and, on this occasion they fire.
quently allowed Mr.. Adams to sit down and rest.
All the time believe he was not himself for the
y
Columbia, but he commended that the Constitution
had conceded the free right of petition. One morn
ing he presented petition for the dissolution OF
the Union, which raised great tempeat MIR.
Marshall. of Kentucky, u fine and graceful speak
or, moved vote Of censure upon him. Another
member, whom need not name. who was the
abIest and fercest champion whum heard on the
Southern or Shareholders side, made most saw.
age onslaught on Mr. Adams; then up got that
"od man eloquent" aud no one could have re-
preached him with not understanding how to
speak even daggers. Nothing came OF this stir.
Amer seeing and hearing what takes place in some
Of these sittings one is tempted to think that The
Union must break up next morning. but the fame
generally to shoulder almost as quickly
as it ignited. The debates in the Senate during
the same period were digni6ed, business like, but
not very lively, so it may be Judged which house
had most attraction for the passing traveller.
heard Mr.. Clay in the Senate once, but every
one told me that he was laboring under feeble
ness and exhaustion, SO that could only perceive
tbs great charm in the tones of his voice. think
this most attractive quality was stiiI more per-
ceivable in private intercourse. and certainly
never met any public man, either in his coun-
try or NINE, always excepting Mr.. Canning,
who exercised such evident fascination over the
minds and affections Of his friends and followers.
as Henry Clay. thought his society most at.
tractive, easy, simple, and genial, with great
natural dignity. If his countrymen made better
men Presidents. should applaud their virtue in
resisting the spell If his eloquence and attractions;
when the actual list is considered, nv respect for
the discernment elected by universal suffrage does
not stand at high point. Another great man,
Daniel Webster, 1 could not hear in either house
OF Congress, because ne then filed, as again he
does now, the high Office Of Secretary Of State;
but it Is quit enough to look on his juttng dark
brow, cavernous eyes, and massive forehead, to
be assured that they are the abode Of as much. if
not more, intellectual power, than any head you
perhaps ever remarked. For many, IL not for oil
reasons. am well content that he should be ae ain
at the head OF the American cabinet, for feel
sure that while he Is ever intensely American he
has an enlightened love of peace, and a cordial
sympathy with the fortunes and gories OF the
old, as well as the new, Anglo-Saxon stock.
The late Mr.. Calhoun, who impressed most of
those who were thrown in his way With high
opinion Of his ability, bis honesty, and, may
add, his impracticability. had not the good for
tune to hear in public, or meet in private society
II 10 well known that his attachment to the main-
tenance of slavery went 80 far az to lead him TO
declare that real freedom could not be maintained
without IL. Among those who, at that time con-
trbuted both to the credit and glory of the society
Of Washington, cannot forbear from adding the
name Of Mr.. Legare, then the Attorney General
OF the Union, now, unhappily, like too many o!
those whom have had occasion to mention, no
longer living. He appeared to me the best scholar,
and the most generally accomplished man mel
IN all the Union ! may feel biased in his favor,
for find among my entries, (" Mr.. Legnre spoke
tonight Of the Pope as he ought''
have not mentioned what might be thought a
very prominent objection at Washington--tbe|
President Of the United States. He resides for
his term OF Office ut a substantial plain building.
called the White House. Mr.. Tyler filled the Of
ice when was there, and appeared a simple, un-
affected person. Washington 10 the head quar-
ers Of another branch of the Constitution. which
works, perhaos, with less Of friction and censure
kan any others--the Supreme Court of Judca-
lure. The large federal questions between State
and State give great weight and interest to its pro
seedlings. heard an interesti q cause between
The States OF Maryland and Pennsylvania; il was
an action to try the constitutional validity OF an
act Of the State Of Pennsylvania, which gave a |
rial by jury to the fugitive slave Here this sub
ect pursued and pervaded every thing. 1t was
,rgued with great ability both sides: it was uI-
imately ruled against the power OF the free States
% pass such an act, and the recent Fugitive slave
aw may probably have arisen out Of some such |
question of right; at all events, it has
'ntlrely swept away the intervention Of jury.
The last day Of my abode at Washington was
pent becomngly at Mount Vernon, the residence
md the grave Of Washington. II il we'll placed