Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-12-02
The Legislature and its Debaters.

AlthOngh the materials composing the Legis.
lature which has Just closed its session, were 10
great extent new, and, to use a medlcul ex
preston, not vety we'll assioiIared yet it exhib.
tied no lack Of mnd or general intelligence.
These very tlaits, indeed, with the natural ieal-
,ousies Of men Of independent thought when
placed in new situations, may have operated 10
prevent them from agreeing on fewer important
results taan usualg But whatever they have
done, or Iettundono, this year, It would hardly
be fair we think, to attribute it, as often might
justly be done, to the undue influence of leader
ship; for though each party had its leaders, and
able ones too, they did not effect enough TO
make tho vocation very encouraging ono.-
Though their arguments could not be answered,
their propositions could be voted down; and in
some instances, it appeared 10 u.s. the more con
elusive their arguments the less likely they were
to carry their favorite measures, They worked
we'll, however, and as their efforts. observe to be
known to the public, and as they cannot be
known through any reportsdE debates which are
made these days, we will venkaro to sketch
few of the nlOst conspicuous in each of the
three partes-leavng to the reader to make all
-wdue allowance for any political bas-wN- be-
" usy' re iriSiug or those not belong - sf''
party with wbfot' ptodd to be associated.
or the Wing party, as skful debater, tacti
clan, and we-intormed Legislator, the claim of
leadership clearly. we think, belongs to Mr..
dnUn F NJ, .l.t.. :.
cations Of ominence he exhibited last year. AID
therefore need now only add that be has IN this.
his second session, obundantiy made good the
promise of his first.
Speaker Powers, the Champion of the LiQuo,
Law, though less versatile, aud less versed in
legal information aud political tactics PERKINS,
than some Of bis equally prominent assocates
yields, nevertheless, 10 nos OF them in lntpllcc
ua power and tits, with his eartustness and
honesty OF purpose, bis moral Courage, and HI,
utter indifference to all the usual considerations
of present popularity, make HIN, norwnhstand
ing his occasional ronghness, "A man 70 be It
spectcd and an opponent to be dreaded
Among the other Wing members who have
taken prominent parts IN the discussions Of the
session are, Mr.. Dean OF Cavrndish. shreu d,
independent man Of democratic tendencies NJ q.
Barrett Of Middlebury, an uureenung Wbp
but man Of considerable mind Mr.. Reed OF
Montpelier, an able fnaucier and safe Ieqisa
tor; Mr. Hayden of St. Adams, young mem.
Der of education and talents. but rather impnl
sive al present: Mr.. Wardner Of Windsor. Mr..
Hlkock Of Burlington Mr.. Page of Rutland all
of whom have done no dscredt to themselves
or their constituents.
OF National Democrats, Bradley Barlow of
Fairfield, was the undispued leader in all party
tactics while his sagacity. practical knowledge
and ability and tact in deoate. placed HIM among
the most influential members Of the House He
is one OF the radical kidd, but by n, means in
waterbury, Should also be named ,uihis connec.
ton, pointed, pithy remarker in debate, and
ajudicous legislator
In the ranks of the Free Democracy, who in
reality, were never brfnre 50 well represented in
respect to either numbers or ability, there were
four or FIVE who need not have hesGted to con
trast the nscves with the very ablest Of the other
parties. And though ~ opportunity, as we
could have wished, was presented them to make
any exposition oil their distinctive political prn
cpes yet their action in the ordinary business
OF legislation, in whichtbey largely participated,
was abundanty sufficient to ensure the n a
standing equal with the ab'esl in the House.
Among these, it is no diSparagemcnl to the
others, or to the leaders of the other parties, to
say, that William c. Bradley, of Westminster,
stood here, like Saul among the people, head
and shoulders above al! others in the House.
He seldom spoke, but when he did 6 he bore
not the sword in vain" His speeches on the
Death Of Webster, and on the bill for the patri
otto object of erecting monument over the stlll
preaching bones of the murdered French, the
first martyr Of the American Revolutio4-ap oh
ect which Vermont will yet be ploud to realize
his speeches on these we're OF character to
do honor to any legislative body N the world
The old lion appears to be in the full possession
Of his great Intellect; and we can only bnt hope
represent them ugoia,
We should next, perhaps, considering age
promise and progress, under so limited ~ cXpe
ri ence in public life, mention A. ]. Rowell, o.
Troy, who was said by some to be the handsom.
est speaker in the House. Though he came into
the Assembly, pale and wasted, from danger
M gus.s ckdess, some DAYS after it ha commenced
@3tseesson. and though much confined to biz
lodgings during It's continuance, by returning
illness, he has nevertheless appeared to fine al
vantage in all the debates in whoa he has par.
ticpated, and added handsomely, we think, &c
the reputation he had previously won as al able
and brilliant deba;er.
HoratiO Needham, of Bristol, the remaining
Of the trio. who at the beginning Of the session
were mainly relied On as leaders OF the Fee
Democracy, is perhaps too well known to equ.rt
say, that his great experience lie Legislation. h..
rare common sense. and his lnpurtabe guoc
nature, make hun, not only general favorile il
the House, bur one of It's most useful and in
his influence is nearly always given 10 the ngh
side.
There are several other members who have
been brought ont during the discussion OF the
different questions Of the session, and who have
given promise Of becoming prominent acrors il
future legislatures. Among these Is the Hon
james NJ lo!chkiss, Of WalerWiIIe, who though
an entirely new member, has, by his powers II
debate, his FAIRNESS, and enlightened views
made highly favorable impression, and b. CONT