The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-15
From the Philadelphia EUening Bulletin
The Earthquake In Congress.


A Senator sat in his cushioned chair,
His head on its back and his feet in the air,
The true Senatorial attitude;
Grave and serene was his honored mem,
No sleeker Senator was ever seen,
And he felt himself that he never had been
In a greater state Of beatitude.
He thought Of his good eight dollars day,
or the six good years he had there to stay,
OF his mileage and countless "perquisites,"
His pickings and other Congressional sweets,
His last great speech and his next good dinner,
A nd he thought TO himself, "As am a sinner,
This Washington City's snug old town,
And mighty great man is Senator Brown"
The hour was one, and all was still,
When suddenly shook the Capitol Hill!
Senator's shook with fear as with cold,
The earthquake shattered the nerves Of the bold
And upset the wits Of the weaker;
Some called out " order :" and {" slencel' some,
While others we're struck by agony dumb,
And sat, content to remain quite mum,
But implorngy eyeing the Speaker
Down on his knees dropped Senator b.,
Disturbed in his dream Of felicity.
He thought that the final hour had come
That the earthquakes roll was the roll OF the
drum
To summon sinners, to strike them dumb,
And with terror dread appal them;
For he hadn't very distinct idg,
Whether drum or a trumpet should he
The instrument to cali them.
While looking, in a horror OF fears,
And expecting the walls about his ears,
Before his mind, like Fash, appears
A vision Of all his misspent years
A vision dim Of phantoms grim
Who had pressed their claims with prospects slim
or getting redress--in the interim,
They died worn out in patience
And now before his mind they swim,
Some shaking their private claims at him,
And some French Spoliationsl
Each with grin the Senator mocks,
Each ruined Congressional claimant,
And he thought, II once get out Of this box,
IN 90 in for their speedy payment
But little he thought, poor Senator B.,
That he should e'er be permitted to see
The bright tomorrow sun come,
And he trembled to think, so was he unnamed,
Of his own little speech for the good Of the land
And his ninety-nine for Buncombe
He trembled as no one e'er can tell,
As he tried TO think if he had spent well
His loved eight dollars day
And he thought with dread unspeakable,
or the liule he'd done forprincpe,
And the vast amount for pay,
Mixed with his fears was a shade Of regret,
For he could not altogether forget
Ills greatness ~ the nation
But he somehow thought that there might be
found,
Even in the world TO which he was bound,
The honor aud pay of his ytation
Still might lie get his eight doIlor fee,
IND still be honorable Mr.. g.,
nd mileage too now, who could tell,
The journey was very long lowell
But then the earth gave another shake,
nd set poor u. in a terrible quake,
II a.,k ~ n hnf ths .stk lii
And the Senator'S gathered in right good will
And stretched him out on a pallet:
But by and by his senses got back,
And he woke to a speech Of Senator Clack
And the noise Of the Speakers mallet.
He rubbed his eyes and he rubbed his nose,
And an anxious glance around he throws,
On the floor and up at the ladies';
For he fancied he smelt both sulphur and smoke
And wasn't quite sure that he hadn't awoke
To morning session in Hades
| He rose to his feet an altered man,
| Home 10 his lodgings he almost ran,
And TO Mrs. Brown he wrote It's said,
| The lovingest letter she e'er had read. G..