New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-06-13

Neu 0rleans Bully Grestert.
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NUMBER VII

THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NUMBER VII.
I come now to one of the Patres Conscripti Of
the Senste-the Oldest Senator the floor, and "the
noblest Roman of them all'-the Hon. John J. Crit
tenden, Of Kentucky.
With the exception of Mr.. Clayton, who has since
died. Mr.. Crttenden has done Senatorial service
than any member Of the last Congress. He entered
the Senate as long ago as the 4th of March, l917-
more than forty years ago. But his services in that
body has not by any means been continuous. In less
than three years from his first entry, be resigned his
seat for the purpose of dsyotng himself to the prac
tce Of his profession nor did he return to the Senate
again until 1885.
From that time until lS49, he continued in the
Senate, with only short interval when his place
vas supplied by Hon. James T. Morehead. At this
period, the Democratic party in Kentucky had be-
come strong that they boasted Of their intention
to carry the State at the next Gubernatora election
The Wings became alarmed, and summoned Mr.. Crit
tenden from Washington to uphold their banner. He
accepted the summons, and after full canvass OF the
State, was elected by triumphant majority.
In July 1850, when Mr.. Fillmore became President
by the death of Gen. Taylor, he invited Mr.. Crtten
of Kentucky to seat in his Cabinet. He accepted
the invitation and for the remainder Of Mr. Filmores
term of service, discharged the duties of Attorney
General with distinguished ability. Retiring from
the Cabinet at the close of Mr.. Flmores adminisra
tion he was again elected to the Senate by the Le
gislature of Kentucky, and commenced his present
term on the 4th of March, 1855.
There is no other man in the Senate whose out
as Mr.. Crttenden According to the usual standard
of beauty am bound to say Mr. Crittenden is very far
from being handsome man, unless we apply to him
the old rule that handsome is that handsome does"
Intellectually giant, he is yet diminutve in physical
stature that is when compared with the other Sena
tors, most of whom are large men. His countenance
betrays none of that blandness which distinguished
his great compeer and associate Henry Clay, except
when you engage him in conversation. He was edu-
Gated among sturdy people, and in perlous times,
and he details to this day, with graphic energy,
of the OF Indian border warfare which he wit
messed, and in which he participated
Seated in the Senate chamber, he may be observed,
generally, writing at his desk reading some public
document Occasionally he will look up if to catch
what is going on, and, if it be nothing in which he
feels particular interest, he will quietly subside to
his work again. But if any question is before the
Senate which he proposes to discuss, he is the gu
uire Immediately. He sits immovably in his seat
and hears patiently whatever may be said. After a
while he will rise, and modestly addressing the Presi
dent, proceed with one of his sudden, impromptu
speeches, which have made him as an orator and To-
gician the foremost man of the country.
There is this popularity about his speeches. that he
invests every subject he discusses with dignity ant
importance, no matter how trivial the subject tse
may be. It would be just as impossible to listen t.
him for five minutes without becoming interested il
the subject he was discussing as to listen to Parod
or Lind without approaching the melody of music
Ofhim, more than any other living American orator
may it be truly said, as Johnson said of Goldsmith
i" Mill tetigu quod non ornarit.''
But, woe be to the Senator who touches his visol
or violates, in discussion with him, the rules of
high-toned courtesy! Terrible is he as an army wit
banners when his lion spirit is aroused. have see
/ Wilson and Seward tremble and cover beneath h
fierce philippcs like guilty things, as they wer
until they bore the appearance of condemned culpr
rather than of Independent Senators. l saw Stuar
of Michigan, one day provoke him, by series
petty annoyances in debate, until the old Senate
could stand it no longer, and came down upon hil
with such terrible sarcasm and such crushing inve
tive that Stuart had absolutely to plead for mercy.
y saw Wilson day, in mood of rash impudenc,
deny some statement the old Governor had mad
when he turned upon him and lashed him with sue
remorseless cruelty to excite for him feelings a
of pity and contempt.
1t tish his manner much as his language which make
him so terrible in his denunciatons. When replyn
to Senator who has excited his anger, he turns fu
upon him, nor does he remove his eye until he hi
d finished. His sentences are short, compact and CO..
elusive each one in itself. At the close of each sci
tence he remains fixed and rigid as an iron statu
not moving muscle of his body, and with his ey
full bent upon his opponent, for considerable leng
of time, until he begins again. It is during the silen
of these intervals that the offender suffers the mo
acutey.
Nevertheless there is no one whose temper is mo
IS genial or with kinder heart or more tender sem
bilities. Until aroused by some affront, no Senat
n bears himself with more knghty courtesy.
His speech on the Naval Board question was pc
haps the most eloquent as it the most elaborat
of any he made during the last Congress. But Ii
At speeches in reference to the complications of kans
J. affairs, during the first session, may hardly be co
Il sdered inferior to that. Especially did his remar
ii on the proposition which he had himself made,
send Gen. Scott to Kansas to restore peace, breathe
e, spirit of lofty and generous eloquence. 1t would
l. difficult to find higher compliment paid to any
ri than he did to Scott in words at once concise tOuc
I. ing and effective.
+, heard him one day. in the Supreme Court, NAL
/. argument which strongly illustrates his ingenui
as a lawyer. The this Some town on t
Mississippi (Grand Gulf, believe) had divided Il
levce into three divisions, regularly marked by prop
II dividing lines. One division had been assigned
y the landing of steamboats, another for atboats al
d the third for some other purpose which now torg
20 This regulation had been observed for several yea
by the various craft navigating the river, until
K occasion a steamer coming down the river passed
her own landingplace, ran into the fatboat landn
place, and sunk flatboat lying there, laden with
cargo of flour. The latboat brought suit for damag
to boat and cargo and Mr.. Crittendeu was employ
i. by the steamboat to defend it.
1t seemed to me to be clear case that the tlatbO
On was entitled to recover and was curious to he
es what sort of argument Mr. Crittenden could p,
be- sbly make against it, But he did make an argumel
nd and plausible one, too. His points of defence We
three: First, he sad by the treaty of Louisiana t
free navigation of the Mississippi was guaranteed
>, all the States and people alikc-and that no insig
E.o,t trill ',,lp hal,