New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-22
GERRIT sM1TH-EDWARD EVERETT


correspoudesee Of The Nj Triburs
WASHINGTON. Tuesday, Dec 90 1854.
Tie friends Of Gerrii Smith have reason % be proud
Of the impression he has made upon rhe House of Rep
resenatves focay. He has avaied himself oil The irst
opportunity II Committee OF the Whole to address, the
House on the Kosza aar and to contrast the conduct
81 lie Government in reference 10 that fugitive from
oppression with lite course toward the fleeing victims
81 our own oppression. will not attempt sketch If
LIS speech hut viii merely say that il was eo1uently
ard bra ely spoken and that be was listened 70 with
profound attention. There are those even among the
friends OF freedom who will condemn the unnecass,-v
introduction Of the subject Of Slavery into the deber
ailons OF Congress but the worst enemies Of Abolition
Ism were deeply impressed with the ability and elo
quence Of the speaker.
member from Maryland interrupted him fo- a M
ment by inquiring Of the Chairman what wastbe srb
ect before the House. On being told that the House
had resolved itself into Committee of the Whole an
tie Presidents Message, he said that tho oenern,n
was making an Abolition speech 4" am" said NJ
Smith in very firm and energetic voice and with
con preston Of the lips which showed that he was NOT
to he brovbeaten from bis purpose Tie dignity and
firm ness with which be sustained himself evidently con-
cilated The respect Of the members who listened "a
the most whitening denuncations Of Sayerv without
any OF tie usual signs OF passion and irritation TIE
House Representatives has before listened at
tentiyely respectfully and patiently to an Abolition
speech Members seemed awce into respect When
would occasionally look around to witness the brew
ing OF storm OF indignant passion, saw in every
Wien the Speaker preached the subject of Slavery
for the frst time which he did after adyerting to the
particulars OF the kOszta affair * some length and pay
ing qualified compliment to the Administration there
were manifest indications of uneasiDess, and as |
thoupbt disposition to show contempt for him b.
moving about But the attempt was bootless. Such
ricid attention given by all parties that the few
restless individuals were awed into silence.
Though deeply ard strongly opposed to Slavery myself
! was not prepared to approve the severity OF Mr.
Smiths language occasion which seems not neces
sarily TO can them forth but it is impossible not to
admire the manly courage displayed in the assertion OF
truth in tie presence Of its enemies. How patry AMI
contenp;ibe are the brave speeches OF demagogues
who assa tyrants on tie other side Of the Atlantic,
comTarcd Will this manly defense OF freedom IN the
face OF tie champions OF slavery.
Nj Preston If Kentucky. replied 10 Mr. Smith IN
respectful language, c0mpimentng his eoquence and
ability, and according to him the possession OF honest
ard benevolent intentions. Dir. I. has line, clear
voice and is good speaker, but is no match. even with
n better case for Mr. Smith. He is evidently we'll
bred gentleman and di.dans the language of bully
and bracgart which is generally the weapon with
which AbOlitionists are assaled The point insisted
on hy Linn is that the States have made compact for
the delivery OF Fugitive Slaves to each ether, and that
honor ard GOOD faith requires is uhllment This IS
strong position and am enyi0us 10 hear Mr.. Smith
reply to it. What would he do
Mir Preston is no champion ofperpetual Slavery-he
only apologies for IL Is an existing institution wnch
tine viii wear out-but he asks rather too long stay
of Judgment His heart like those OF all gallant Ken
tuckians is in the right place, but ne needs live coal
from the altar o liberty to warm his lips with its sacred
FIRE.
Mr. Smith is said to be an impracticabe, and he may
want tie tact and address which essential 10 a
leader; hut lie has talent, eloquence aud above all
courage. without which leader cannot command the
respect OF friends enemies. No man in the House,
not even Mr.. Benton, is capable Of impressing
stronger mark in single speech than has been made by
Mr.. Smith to-day
The National Era states that NJ. Everett objected 20
placing Mr.. Sumner, his colleague. on any OF the more
IegDCnsibe Committees. and contrasts his conduct in
this particular with that of Mr. Dickinson OF your
State who always insisted that his colleague, Mr..
Seward, should have the rights of Senator the
Democrats said to have acted with more magnan-
unity toward Mr. Chase, and know that he is well
satisfied with tie positions that have been gned him
Tie litteness OF Mr. Eyerstts conduct in this case
was dictated b. excessive devotion TO tie South. His
position would have enabled him to act the with
out sacrificing the confidence Of his Southern friends.
But toadyism. like ambition, sometimes Oyereaps IT.
self PrOslayery intolerance in a Northern dOugh-flce
is cOnlemptible enough at any time but when it pro-
coeds Goni man Who has himself been almost victim
lied by it, and only bis escape to the magnaniln
ty OF q STAKEHOLDER, il becomes peculiarly odiOus.
Your readers may not remember that Mr. Everett was
objected TO Minister TO England in the Senate
account Of his supposed antiSayery views, ami that
Nj Clay CALAMITY came 70 the rescue. He insisted.
ii remember correctly that it Liberal and anti
national to exclude man from Office on account Of his
entertaining such views.
Washington is rapidly improving. Within the last
two or three years number Of large stores, with the
large and brilliant Windows such Broad
way have been opened On the other hand, the hotels
seem to be poorly patronizcd this winter The fact is
probably attributable to the high prices charged which
Ias driven the travelling public to the boarding houses
Poor as Washington is the splendor Of the public
buildings and the presence of the Government make it
one of the most attractive places in the country In
public grounds il lie unrivaed G.