Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-07
Conversational sketches

The Washington correspondent ofthe PennSH-
panian occasionally furnishes "sketch' of some
of the the many distinguished members of the
present Cong6ss. After illustrating the old
saying that appearances are often deceptive, he
thus sketches the well known Alexander IL. Ste
phens, of Georgin:
And yet this ungainly looking individual
with head and face constructed contrary to all
rules of physlognomy and phrenoogy-isc onsid-
cred by many the ahest member of the House,
and of n House, too, that can boast of some of
the best minds Of the country. Mr. Stephens is
slightly above the medium height and painfully
thin in appearance. Ills head is small aud fiat
his forehead low and partially covered with
straight, black, lustre-aeking hair and his
cheeks thin, wrinklod, and of "A parchment tex
ture His walk, his features, his figure, bcspeak
great physical emncintiun. u on look in vain for
some outward manifestation If that towering,
commanding intellect which has held the congre-
gated talent oil the whole country spell bound
for hours. 1t is not in the eye, for it is dali and
heavy. 1t is not in the face for it is meaningless
1t is not in the voice, for it is shri aud sharp
but still you feel convinced TINT the feeble, totter;
ing being before you is all brain-brain in the
hoad, brain in the arms, brain ia the legs, brain
in the hody-that the whole man is charged aud
charged with the electricity of intellectual
touch would bring forth the divine spark
tterrit Smith is sketched and framed after this
! fashion:
MIR. Smith is generally admitted to be the
most attractive speaker in the House. As you
! look upon his TALL commanding torm-hs broad,
expansive forehead-his open, honest couute-
nance; MS you watch his soft, winning smile, and
see his mild eye knde with emotion, but only
emotion of the purcr and better kind and as
| YOU listen TO the full round tones of nchess
voice swelling and swellin with the tide of feel
ing from an Overlooking heart you feel assured
that the man befoie you can have no lot nor part
d, it'll such msoreants rs Sumner Giddings, Phil
lips, and Parker. He may he the unwaverng
opponent of slavery but you know that he be-
longs not To tho numbering abolition mob of Bos-
ton. While the Summers, Stewards, and Gid
dingses of Congress stunned by their fellow
members, as beings utterly unworthy of personal
association, Gerrit Smith enjoys the respect and
even goo, will of all"
The correspondent of the New York Express
says
Mr.. Smith Of Va, Extra Billy,) passed glow
ing eulogiun upon GeIrit Smith to day, in the
course of his remarks upon the New DIRK Hard
Manifesto. He gave him cordial invitation to
visit Virginia. and even to discuss there the sub
iect of slavery. On the conclusion If Governor
Smiths complimentary notice of Mr.. Gerritt
Smith, Mr.. Climghan of n. Carolina, warmly
shook the latter gentleman by the hand, and as
sured him that he coneurred with all the gentle
men from Virginia had said. If Gerritt Smith i,
from his allegiance to the cause in which he has
been long enlisted. He is evidently a great ia
vorte with the Southern members ON account Of
his gcntlemahly bearing, and the originality ant
novelty of his opinions. He is greater abstrac
ZIONIST than old Mr.. Tazewe the late Dir
Cooper, or Mr., Calhoun, and never addresses
the House without commanding the closest at
tenton. While Messrs. Sumner, Chase, Sewart
and Gddings are regarded with great aversion
by the Southern delegations in both Houses,
Mr.. Smith, who is u more ultra abolilionist thar
either of thom, is caressed and admired. Tn,
reason for this singular apparent inconsistency
is To be found, | conceive, in the belief that Mr.
Smith is an abolitoni>t from moral and religious
convctons--the Others from political motives
and hatred to the South. Smith discusses the
subject of slavery in the spirit of philanhropist
and a christian-they in the spirit of demago-
CUES and greedy ospirants for power and place
W.