The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-04-08

6uu law UoOho, duu, IhoIlSelFcS
to their full measures in their soft-cush-
Toned chairs, prepare for some healthful
expansion and cachinnation. Jacks
speeches are funny and mirth- provoking
even when read, but to be fully enjoyed
they must be heard, as delivered in his Pc
culiarly dry style, with his broad Kentuc-
ky brogue, and a slouching independent,
Indifferent air of utter contempt for time,
place, occasion, or any thing else that
might circumScribe the freedom of fun.
Jack, too, has broad, jolly, red, good
natured face, and wears an ancient red
vest, of rather more modern pattern
than Colonel Dick Johnson's famous gar
ment His speeches are always off hand
and quite unexpected, for Jack, neither
in his oratory OF politics, appears to have
any regular plan or system. He pitches
in whenever the spirit moves. Jack has
one vice and weakness as an orator: he
is slightly pedantic somewhat too prone
to air certain old law Latin phrases, which
he has collected in the course of rather
dssultery range of study and law practice.
Whether, however, this is intended as
sly sarcasm on the old dry bones
around, or not, we are unable to say.
But this Is the only departure from the
general tone of Jacks speech, which is
one of undertaking jollity, fun, ridicule
and humor.
At the/last session of Congress, Jack
loomed out grandly on two subjects, in
which his peculiar qualities were very con-
spicuously displayed; they were the Sub
marine Telegraph and the Minnesota
Bill. He was very felicitous in his de-
scription of John Bulls shrewdness in
circumventing Brother Jonathan, by get
ting him to help build a telegraph line
across the ocean, between detached parts
of his own empire, and predicted that
quarrels and difficulties would grow out of
it, as tedious and difficult as the Clayton
and Bulwer imbroglio. His tributes to
"the bloody old Bruiser " who had boxed
the whole world into peace, submission
and good manners, and then set quietly to
work to head the Yankees in. trade,
were very racy, and his paraphrase of the
celebrated definition of angling, by Dean
Swift, applying it to the Marine Tele-
: graphic line-a line with fool at one
end and worm on the other-were very
. amusing: "Sir, know there is fool at
this end of the line, and if there is not
: worm, there is a snake at the other. "
Jack was also opposed to the intrusion
: into the depths Of the ocean, to the great
annoyance of the coral reefs, the mer-
maids, tritons and conch shells, and grew
quite poetical on that theme But what
could equal the grandeur Of his eulogy Of
General Jackson?
7 eyes, Mr.. President, General Jackson
was great man. I have fought against
him as bitterly as any man, and didn'l
: stop fighting him until l found it was nc
f use. He was a great man. First, he
! whipped the Indians, as they never were
f whipped before; next, he whipped the
: British, and that was no small exploit
: but, the last and greatest of his victories
S he whipped the gallant old Wing party
e with Henry Clay at its head and myself
r at its tail; and, sir the man who could
n do that was hero and a-horse!'"
e 1t was, however, on the bill of Mr.
n Douglas-to bring Minnesota into thu
Union as State-that Jack Thompson'
' oratory took its boldest flights. He wa
v bitterly opposed to this hot-house system
!. of making new States and forcing then
e into the Union on an equality with venera
. BILE Commonwealths, like Virginia and Ken
4 lucky 1t was not natural growth
If These new States were puffcd ont, a
v Austrian horses were, by arsenic Infusion
|. into their food, to give them proportion
!. that were not natural and healthful HI
k was for treating them as they did boys il
e his State, who grew too big for thei
+ breeches-subject them to wholesome dis
it cipline, and make them behave themselves
J. He would send to them Proconsuls, as tn
# Romans did to their colonies to rule then
n in the name of Julius Caesar or FRANKLIN
|. Pierce. He was opposed to any furthe
e division or dilutlon of Senatorial honors
"a The body was quite large enough for al
Is useful purposes.
ID Besides the Senators from these ne,
J. States were the most pretentious and eS
le acting when they came there. Three
st fourths of the time of Congress was EN-
" ployed in measures relating 10 their inter
le ests. Admit Minnesota now, and in tn
ly records of the next session of Congres
n. the name of Minnesota would occu
ut oftener than the name of the Lord Go
n in the twentieth chapter of Exodus Whi
of too, particularly disgusted him with thes
y, new States, was their ingratitude to tho:
SIS who had served and created them. Aft,
I'd alluding to the ungrateful return whe
c. California had given for the faithful Sc
A vices of Senator Weller, he proceeded,
ne very pathetic style, to notice the case
he the venerable Senator from Michigan, wi
as sat in his place enjoying the humor of tt
st. KentHekian.
Id There is that venerable gentleman, fro
eh whose loins some half-dozen of these ne
eS States have sprung; who has devoted ;
ei his life to their rearing and developmel
&c in Iii, ,,,hap ax,.;