The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-15
CONGRESSIONAL SKETCHES.

The Washington correspondent of the Penn
syIvGnian occasionally furnishes sketch" of
some of the many distinguished members of
the present Congress. After illustrating the
old saying that appearances are often decep-
tive, he thus sketches the wel-known Alexan-
der H. Stephens of Georgia:
"And yet this ungaiuly looking Individual
with head and face constructed contrary to all
rules of physiognomy and phrenology-is con-
sidered by many the ablest member of the
House, and of 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 his head is
small and fiat; his forehead low, and partially
covered with straight black, lustre-lacking
hair and his cheeks thin wrinkled, and of
parchment texture His walk, his features, his
figure, bespeak great physical emaciation. You
look in vain for some outward manifestation of
that towering, commanding intellectwhch has
held the congregated talent of the whole coun-
try spell bound for hours. 1t is not in the eye
for it is dull and heavy Ii is not in the face
for it is meaningless. 1t is not in the voice, for
it is shrill and sharp. But still you feel con-
WINGED that the feeble, lettering being before
you is all brain-brain in the head, brain in
the arms, brain in the legs, brain in the body
that the whole man is charged and surcharged
with the electricity of intellect-that touch
would bring forth the divine spark"
Gerrit Smith is sketched and framed after
this fashion
Mr.. Smith is generally admitted to be the
most attractive speaker in the House AS you
look upon his tall, commanding lform-his
broad, expansive forehead, his open, honest
countenance-as you watch his soft winning
smile, and see his mild eye kindle with emo
tiOn, but only emotions of the purer and better
kind-and as you listen to the full, round
tones of G matchless voice, swelling and swell
ing with the tide of feeling from an overflow
ing heart, you feel assured that the man be-
fore you can have no lot nor part with such
miscreants as Sumner, Giddings Phillips, and
Parker. He may be the unwavering opponent
of Slavery; but you know that he belongs not
to the numbering abolition mob of Boston.
While the Summers, Stewards and Giddingees,
Of Congress, are Stunned by their fellow-mem-
bers, as beings utterly unworthy Of personal
association, Gerrit Smith enjoys the respect
| and even good will of all"
The correspondent of the New York En-
press says:
Mr. Smith, of Va, Extra BillyD passed a
glowing eulogium upon Gerrit Smith to day,
In the course OF his remarks upon the New
York Hard Manifesto. He gave him a cordial
invitation to visit Virginia, and even to discuss
there the subject of Slavery. On the conclu-
sion of Gov. Smiths complimentary notice of
Mr.. Gerrit Smith, Mr. Clingman, of North
Carolina, warmly shook the latter gentleman
by the hand, and assured him that he con-
cured with all the gentleman from Virginia
had said. If Gerrit Smith is not on his guard
| anl afraid he will be seduced from his ALE
glance to the cause in which he has been long
enlisted He is evidently great favorite with
the Southern members, on account VI his gen
tlemanly bearing, and the originality and nov
city of his opinions. He is a greater abstrac-
zionist than old Mr. Tszewell, or the late Dr.
Cooper, or Mr.. Calhoun, and never addresses
the House without commanding the closest
attention. While Messrs. Sumner, Chase
Seward, and Giddings are regarded with great
aversion by the Southern delegations in both
Houses, Mr.. Smith, who is more ultra Abo-
litionist than either of them, is caressed and
admired. The reason for this singular appar-
ent inconsistency is to be found, conceive, in
the belief that Mr. Smith is an Abolitonst
from moral and religious convictions the 9TH
ers from political motives and hatred to the
South. Smith discusses the subject Of Slavery
in the spirit of a philanthropist and Chris
tian-they, in the spirit CT demagogues and
greedy aspirants for power and place.