The daily union., 1854-07-23
MECHANICS IN CONGRESS.
The Portsmouth (va.) Transcript says

Inc portsmouth lNa Transcript says
The workshop furnish as good legislators ns the
law Office; indeed we have ever been among the number
who believe that lawyers should be Legislators.
"Smpe justice is the life of society and nations; and
we look for it sooner in the graduate Of the dollhouse than
of the college ia Learning mystifes. Plain, practical
common sense gasps he greatest good to the greatest
number
In the House of Representatives at Washington there
two hatersFlorence of Philadelphia, and Vansant
OF Baltimore men OF the people, who active and un-
compromising in their devotion popular rights, to
glorious Union and to the interests of their immediate
constituents. va f}l l.ll.. ss f.g-.,.II.a. ..s
The Hon, Joshua Vasant the able and deservcdy pop
ular representative from Baltimore took the House by
Prise last week with his forcibe and eloquent remarks
item in the appropriation bill Like the most distin
guished members of the Continental Congress, who were
orkcrs and not takers Mr. Vansant has done the State
service in the morning and midnight investigation
of the committee little side chambersinel
lecua pigeon-hoes in the great Capito-where in fact
nearly all the legislation Of Congress s determined. Al
though handsome speaker-duent rich, and powerful
always ready in debate and convincing because OF
his directnes and sedge-hammerishness Of syleye he
has abstaned from addressing the House. until now, when
practical proposition is presented he out sensbly
and eloquenty TO the surprise and admiration of his three
hundred fellow-members, who know what merit
him overaid by modesty This reminds Of
incident that occurred board the cars returning
from Wheeling on the opening. OF the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, of which Mr. Vansan is one Of the
influential directors. On that occasion, large num-
Der of the members of the Legislature of Virginia
the guests of the Railway Company and they were
placed under the protection of Mr. Vansan who had been
depued the wants of the Virginans not to be
overlooked His attentions upto Wheeling and back
of the delightful character and sincere the
gratitude felt towards Mr. Vansant, that spokesman was
appointed him the thanks of the Virginia deega
ton. Born in eloquenre the Vrgnians there was
difficulty, of course in procuring elegant expression
of thanks The rushing through the gorges Of
the Allegheny at speed of twenty miles MI hour Mr..
Nanant called and placed at end of the car and
the spokesman ut the opposite II was mpromptu affair
entirely and OF without preparations At the con-
clusion of the Virginia address there little
barassment lest they had placed Mr. Vansant in position
of awhwardness in the matter of reply. The asonish
inen and delight unbounded and the applause inn
tence that he used the best OF them to speak
ing in public on the stage" He embraced instantly /;
and doubtless that incident has been repeated and is this
day freshly remembered in almos, every county in the
good Old Dominion
The Evening Star Justly adds
eve know both the gentlemen named in the above cx-
tract we'll OF Mr. Vansant the half that Is meritorous
has not been told but of that, anon. l
"Mr Florence or Tom Florence, he is iamiarly
called by those who intimate with him. is by far the
most popular democrat in his district aud deservedly
He is mechanic-a hatterand since he has been placed
in the position of representative of the people he has
forgotten and passed negligeny by those among whom he
once lived and moved When he is home--it matters
Joyous greeting and kind word for every body When at
Washington he attends promptly to the rhng wants
of the humblest of his constituents He Is seldom away
his post and always ready and speak every
bill and every question that has the least bearing upon
the interests of the topg from whose midst he
sprung. ...ta ~ a
"Party aside the workingmen of the first congressional
district of Pennsylvania cannot have better representative
in Congress than Thomas B. Florence