The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-05-03
A Description OF some Congressional
NOtabilitieS.


A Washington correspondent of the New
York Times, who has been looking at Con
gress while in session, thus jots down his re-
Elections:
1t cannot require any very marked ability
to get elected to Congress, one would think,
judging from the cahbre of the men before
US. And yet here and there, in the noisy
crowd, you may pick out a man whose tai
ents would do honor to any legislative body
that the world has known since the things
called "Parliaments" and Congresses" have
existed.
Yonder is one Of them-that spare, wan
looking man, with a head about the size of a
child's oftwelye years old, low forehead,
with dry brown hair combed carefully down
over it, the salIow and ana beardless face, the
small nose and compressed lips. This is Al
exander FL. Stephens, of Georgia, very in
ferior looking man, you would say, and yet,
as a parliamentarian and debater, he has
no peer in the present House. The first tone
of his shrill, piercing voice, as he shrieks out,
"Mr. Speaker" riyets the attention of mem
beIs; the newspaper is cast aside, the pen
drops from the hand, and every word that
falls from his lips is listened to with breath
less interest. Away there far to the left of
the Speaker, that rough, hardy old fellow,
with the ragged white locks and bulldog
countenance5i Joshua r. Giddings, of Ohio,
the oldest member of the House. Ever preg-
nant with Abolition harangues, ready and
fluent debater, he misses no opportunity to
obtrude his peculiar sentiments on the ear OF
the House; and from his known honesty and
sincerity, he seldom fails to obtain an atten-
tive and respectful hearing. To his left sits
another noted Abolilionist, Gerrit Smith, o1
New York Yes, that is he, in the blue
coat with metal buttons, and the ample and
spotless shirt collar turned down over the
black crayat His countenance is pleasing
and benevolent, but deficient in firmness, and
his style Of speaking chaste and persuasive
although his tone would perhaps, better suit
a camp-neeting or revival than a Legislative
body
Gerrit Smith is a great man among the
motley crew Of "Reformers" now gathered
together at Washington very whale
among minnows. He is a "land-reformer''
and bolitionist-preaches teetotalism at the
Temperance Hall-and, for aught I know tc
the contrary, he may be a believer in vegeta
BILE diet, photography, and spirit rappings.-
On the opposite side Of the hall is a cluster
of New York Hards" l need hardly tel
you who the short, thick-set young man will
red face and coarse black hair is, for every
New Yorker knows Mike Walsh. Beside
him sits Maurice, of Brooklyn-the gentle
manly looking little fellow, with ample nous
tache and stylish dress. And there, imme
diately in front of Mike, is the lion of the
House. with luxuriant moustache and beard
piercing eyes and flowing locks. Observe
the gaudy pink silk neckerchief, and then the
pattern of the pants the envy of Beau Hick
man--an ingenious mingling of snakes and
terrapins, done in black upon gray ground
There is not such another pair of pants
in the House; no, nor in all Wash
ington. Beau would give one of his ears tc
be possessed of of them. That is Caleb Lyon
of Lyonsdale--poet, orator, and traveller
and pleasant, good-hearted fellow, with al
his eecentricity.