Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-06-06
CONGRESSIONAL SKETCHES.

|
The Washington correspondent of the Prnnsy'r0
man occasionally furnishes sketch" of some
of the nNny distinguished members Of the pre-
sent Congress. After illustrating the old saying
TINT appearances arc often deceptive he thus sketches
the we'll known Alexander II. Stephens, Of Georgia
And vet this ungninly looking indiviunl-wtl
| head and lace constructed contrary tH all rules o
pllvsognonly and phrcnolugy-s considered by many
the abcs member of the House. and ~ House. too
hut can buist of some n the best minds Of the cOnn
try. Mr.. Stephens is slightly above the medium
height and painfully thin in appearance His hcad i'
small and fiat his forehead low and partially covered
with straight, black, lustre-lacking hair; and hi'
cheeks thin, wrinkled, and OF parchment texture
IIs walk his features, his figure, bcspca great ply
sicul cmacation. iou look in vain fur some outward
manifestation Of that towering, commanding intellect
which, has held the conSrcgarcd talent "i the whole
country spcl-bouud for hours II Is not III the eye,
or ii s dull and heavy 1t Is not IN the iace' Tor -
meaningless 1t is not in the voice, for it is hrll and
sharp: but still you feel convinced thai the feeble,
tottcriucr being before YOU Is all brAln-bra!n III the
hea brain in the arms, brun in the ec4, brain III the
bodv-tha :hr whole man s charged ami surchargcd
with the electricity OF iutccc-tlInt touch would
bring forth the divine spark"
Cierrit Smith is sIsctcled and framed after his a-
shOn:
Mr. Smith is generally admitted to be the most a,-
trnctivc speaker in the House. ~ yuu look upon his
tall, commanding torm-his broad, expansive fore
heaCl-his open, honest councnance; as you watch
his soft, winning smile, and sec lis mild eye kindle
with emotion, but only emotions of the purcr and bet
ter kind and Ms you listen 10 the full round tones of
matchlcss voice, swelling and swelling with the tide
ut feeling from Overlooking heart, you feel assured
that the man before you can have lot nor part with
such mscreants ns Sumner, Gidt.ilss, Phillips, nn
| lurler. lie may be- the unwavcriilg opponent OF
slavery; but YOU know that he belongs not to the
| mur,lcrin. abolition mob OF Boston. While the Sum
ncrS Stewards ind GiddnSscs Of Congress nrc siun-
ned by their fellow members, ms beings utterly unwor-
,lIv uf personal assucia:nu, Gcrrit Smith enjoys the
| respect end even good will oi ali.
The correspondent of the New York Express suys
Mr. Smith of Va Extra BLY, passed II gI"win=
rulo..ium upon Grrrit Smith to-day III the cours,' "i
his remarks upon the New York linrl ManIi,sto.-
he rnvc him cordial invitation visit Virginia, and
even to discuss there the subject ut slavery On the
| conclusion of Gov Smiths complimentary notice of
Mr. Cicrrit Smith, Mr. Cmgman OF " Carolina, warm
" shook the uttcr gcncmnn hy the hahl, anu lssu-
rcd him thut he co,currcd with all the gentleman
from Virrnin hnd eaid If Gerrit Sni; is not lis
.ruurt am afraid he will be seduced from his allie
gia,cr To the cause i'll which hc liar been long enlist
ed He il evidently great iavore with the South
cru ,urmbcrs on account OF his .cntlcmnuly bcnrng,
aud ,in oriuinnljtv and novelty OF s opinions. He
il orcater ab.:rac,iust than old Mr.. TnZewell, or
the late Dir. Cooper, ar Mr. Calhoun, and never ad-
dresses the House without commanding the closest Mt
| ,rnti,u While Mrs-ra. Samncr. Chase, Seward und
GiIiings, are regarded with great aversion by the
Southern delegations in both Houses, Mr. Smith, who
10 . more ultra ubntoniar than either nj them, is
rc.scd and admired The reason fer this singular up
rsrput ncn-istrrcY is to be found, conceive, i'll tha
hcicf that afr. Smith an aboifonist from moral and
rolirous CONFERENCE.-The others rom political mo-
tiyrs md hatred Tie South. Smith discusses The
snbicct Of envery in Tie spirit Of philantlropist and
a ;hrisan-they, in the spirit OF deina&oguca AMI
greedy nspiran,s Tor power ana place. W.