Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-04-28
the LATE SENATOR pmELps.

Tie most remarkable mon IN our own state anu
IL the republic, is taken from the New York
Times. We arc sure il will be read with in
,,,,s, hv Tho no,,,o,s G,;onds and aduirer. or
wv uv0'"su Statesman
"Seraior Phelps graduated at Yale College
IN the year 1911, and was coniessodly one OF the
most talented men which that College has sent
out, with her Official imprimatur, since Mr. CAL
houn. These men were both very eminent in
their way, but they were almost the precise an
tipodes Of each other. Calhoun was grave,
solemn, thoughtful, severe. Phelps, impulsive,
ulEhand, reckless, undignifed, often, but always
pointed, %piquant, generous, and never a reform
ct while his antithesis was always studying
some reform, some vain phantasy Of the imagi-
nation, which no man ever had OF ever could re-
duce to practical operation.
Our first knowledge of Senator Phelps was in
the legislative council of the State, in the year
1881. lie was then a comparatively young man
and was associated with a class who had no
prior reputation to herald them into office, and
came before the public under tho doubtful pat
ronage Of the first anti-masonic council OF the
State. Can any good thing come out Of Naz-
areih We happenedto be in the lobby ofthe
House Of Assembly on The day Councillor Phelps
made his debut in addressing the joint assembly
Of both houses upon some constitutional question.
The effect was electrical, carrying the house by
roup de main. Nothing was spoken of but the
surprising, wonderful talents Of the young coun-
%cillor, for most Of his associates were his seniors.
lie was that session promted to the bench ofthe
supreme conI'-'ho House or Assembly reced-
ing from a proposition 10 reduce the number OF
Judges SO as 10 leave a place Tor him.
AS Judge ne was always useful often DIS
Playing surprising aoiity, out more, as a gen.
erai 'nihg' IN pronouncing ms opinions In Court,
'han IN wiillng ihem out Tor the press lie had
too much oil the nervous restlessness OF genius
10 renaer ,ne p'oouing process OF tracing out
Ienneu ana ia'en' anaiog'es an enouraole LABOR
A'er a Jew years OF emineniiy uselni service
upon NJ ocnch' ne was transferred 10 'ne un'ed
STATES SENATE where ne remained iuii Terms
una part OIL anoiheN lie was mere one oil The
most useiuI' as e as, perhaps, the very aolesl
member IL we except DANIEL webster and John
~ Oalhouh' Dut nc was never s~ludious, or
"a'cntul oil opportunities Tor making favorable
Impressions lie made many able, elaborate
ana learned speeches., and one IN particular up
on the iariif' IN reply to Mr. Calhoun, which was
regardea as the great speech upon the subject,
and IN many respects most hnished and eloquent
producnon' Ills perorailon was truly thrilling
a'hing never 10 DC iorgouen when once read.
But he was above the little arts by which COM
mon men are constantly striving 10 climb into
no'orie'y, and which the most distinguished sell
uom disregard altogether.
lie was a GENIAL, companionable man while
IN heaith, iuii oil iroiic and iun. But iatterly,
MS long hot summers at Washington had de-
ranged the functions OF life to such an extent,
tha' II vas sad to see him IN his public efforts
especially to those who had known him init
mateiy In his full strength. Two moths since
ne argued two importantc cases in different coun-
ues' before the supreme court, in which he man.
ifesied much Of his usual ability and discrimin-
ation, SO as to make himself exceedingly inter
es'lng, and in one OF them perpetrated one of
MS happy wii''clsms, which brought down the
mousse IN a complete roar IN The midst OF the
grave discussion oil a Dry law point Ills ar
gnmen's before The supreme Conrt OF the uni-
ted states, at W ashlngton, were listened to with
-"
MT "@s'er' soon ai'er he lett the Senate, was
employed IN ihe argument OF an important patent
case before me court where a large number Of
inc most distinguished counsel IN the Union
were engaged upon both Sides Senator Phelps
made me leading argument upon the side opPos-
Gu 10 MI WEBSTER, AMER the case was sub
ml''eu 10 ,he court, MI webster sad to some
oneaoout tue bar senator fhelPs is one OF the
aoies. au'ocaies 10 whom l nave ever listened
70 "ig"'' !, ne knew ms s'renguh' control the
Senate ana Immediately become the acknow-
ieogeu chiei mere Mr. Choa'e paid him q
sihiai compliment IN tne argument oil an I'M
po,'sn' Ease oe'ore inc circuit court oil the Uni
'eo STATES "here 'ney were engaged upon OPP
Posi'e SIDES Inc late Nir. Ins'lce Thompson,
Oh me supreme oour' Oh Inc united states re-
ea'ueu nin' ior many years as one OIL the very
ao'es. au'oca'es III MS Judiciai circuit including
u oua'eS o' new io'Ai Oohhecucui' and YER
But he has gone from the scenes ofhis earthly
toll ana mas left lew equals IN the country. He