Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-04-27

The late Senator Phelps, of Vermont. gra-
duated .. at old Yale in the year 1911, and is
which that College has sent out. with her
official imprimatur, since Mr.. Calhoun. These
men were both very eminent in thei. way.
but they were almost the precise nn.ipodes
OF each other. Calhoun was grave. solemn
thoughtful, severe Phelps, impulsve, off,
mana, reckless, undigniied often, but ALWAYS
pointed, plqnant, generous and never IL re-
FORMER While his great antithesis vas al
ways studying some reform, some vain rhan-
tasy OF the Imagination, winch no man ever
had or ever could reduce to practical opera
ton.
Our first knowledge Of Senator Phelps was
III the legislative council of the State. If the
year 1851. lie was then comparatively
young man, and was associated with olass
"no hau no prior reputation to herald them
ihVo once, ana came before the public under
the doubtful patronage of the first anti-na.
sonic council of the State. Can any GOOD
thing come out of Nazareth We haonened
10 DC ~ the lobby of the House Of Assembly
on tle DAY Councillor Phelps made his de5nt
III addressing the joint assembly of both
houses pom upon some constitutional oues-
tion' The effect was electrical, CARVING tho
house by coup de man Nothing was snoken
OF but the surprising, wonderful talents Of
the young Councillor for most of hi, asso-
crates were his seniors. lie was that session
promoted to the Bench of the Supreme Court
the House of Assembly reccding from a
proposition to reduce the number Of Judges
SO as to leave place for him
>. AS Judge he was always useful. often
ulsplaying surprising ability, but more, as a
GENERAL thihg' IN pronouncng his opinions in
Hourt' than IN writing them out for the press.
mnrb nj I.
OF genius to render the plodding process of
tracing out refined and latent nnulopies an
ehduraole labor. After few years of emf
hehtiy useful service upon the Bench, he was
transferred to the United States Senate.
"here ne remained two full terms and mart
Of another lilo was here one of the most
useful as well az, perhaps, the very aLlest
member, II we except Daniel Webster and
John T. calhoun. But he was never stulious
or watchiul OF opportunities, for making
favorable impressions. lie made many ahs'
and learned speeches, and one in
particular upon the tariff, in reply to Mr.,
calhoun which was regarded as the rreat
speech upon the subject, and in many respects
d most nhished and eloquent production. His
peroration was truly thrilling, a thin, meyer
to be forgotten when once read But he ,yas
above the little arts by which common men
are constantly striving to climb into poto-
riety, and which the most distinguished sell
dom disregard altogether
lie was genial, compauiunable man willie
IN health, iull OF frolic ard fun. But latter
y, MS long hot Summer at Washington lad
ierahgHd the functions of life To such an e,-
tent, that ii was sad to see him in his mill,
TO those who had known
him intimately in his full strength Two
months since, he argued two important Cases
n dlherent Counties before the Sunreme |
curt IN which he manifested much Of his /
usual AFFINITY and discrimination, So as to /,
make himSeit exceedingly interesting, and in /
'no OF 'heh r'rPetratrd one of hi, haprv .
which brought down the bo,,snii11
complete roar in the midst of the grave ,I's.
'ussion OF dry law point. His arguments
'cfore the supreme Court of the Tnitsd
states, at Washington, were listened In Win
ne greatest admiration by all who heard
hem Mr.. Webster, soon after he le(t the
'ehate' was employed in the argument of an
important Patent case before the Cnurt
where a large number of the most distin.
ulshed counsel IN the Union were engaged
pom both sides. Senator Phelps made The
hadlng argument upon the side upposeJ 4,
lr Webster After the case was Submitted
o the Court, Mr. " ebstcr said TO SOM. ,ne
bout the bar, " Senator Phelps is one of tLc
bleSt advocates TO whom | have ever liz
encd he might, if he knew his STRENGTH
ontrol the senate, and immediately hcc"me
he acknowledged chirf there" Mr. Chonte
ald him similar compliment in the arm
rent OF an important cause before the Dir
MT Court OF the United States, where ,bev
ere engaged upon opposite sides The nts
lr, Justice Thompson, Of th" Surrsu {, arr
the 'nlird NtHt"', r'gr'od uim. 100. man.
ears, az on" "l the Yer, ATTEST alto,..r,, M
Is Jndlciai circuit, including thr >t.t,,or
ew York, Connecticut, aud Vermont.
but he Is gone from the scenes Of lisrnrtL-
'Ill ana has left few equals in the country.
G had special contempt for pretensia22
I'd upstart Young Americanism ia all ior'ns
hlch, once or twice it was said, Threatened ,