New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-21
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
sunBE Err x1.

! AAo AISoAS ucxt Claims our AtEe0-
tiona man Of remarkabe physical tructnre, having
plenty OF head and body, but deplorable tenerity
of leg. Until recently (snce his late marriage) he
was distinguished for general rowdyism, both Or
manner and appearance. OF late, remarkable
change for the better has been noticeable about him.
He may be occasionally seen, now dressed in ceanly
manner quoad that peculiar garment which, in ancient
story is said, to have given one Nessus 40 much
| trouble
Judge Douglas was born in Vermont and emil
grated to the West as Mcawber did to Australia in
the hope Of something turning up by which he might
establish his personal fortunes His success was easy
and signal Being made Receiver Of the Land office,
he had plenty of opportunity Of specializing in West
lands which he not slow to avail himself Of
He has become, by the increase in the value of his
lands and by successful speculation Of the richest
men in the West. His property is estimated at over
a million Of dollars in value. Besides his North
western lands he has also estate in North Carolina
He soon became prominent in the politics Of ILL
nos, and was successfully made Judge and Represen
tatve in Congress. He was next elevated to the
Senate, and is now serving ont his second term in
that body. +-
l do not think Judge Douglas is statesman
that is, in the in which that term applied
to Mr.. Clay and Mr. Calhoun. That he has abilities
no one can dispute. That he has remarkably vigor-
Gus and acute mind, is evident to any who hears
or reads his speeches. But he does not appear to
possess that enlarged and comprehensive view of all
subjects apperaining to the welfare Of the nation,
which make up the character Of a complete states.
man. He has been accused, too, of consulting more
the interests of his party than the interests Of the
ton at large Certainly, no one is more constant and
steadast in his party eaty If he has uttered views
at all inconsistent with the established creed of the
Democratic party he has made haste to retract them
at the first opportunity. Thus, he may have advo-
Gated doctrines among his constituents in Illinois
which he would not ayow in the United States Sen
I ate. He may have enunciated squatter sovereignty
in Illinois, but he has been always chary of doing
in Washington. In fact, when pressed on one occa-
sion in the Senate by his colleague, he evaded the
sponsibility of an opinion by affirming that it
Judicial question, to be decided by the Supreme Court
and that he would not orestal the decision of that
tribunal by an opinion of his This is certainly
new device for escape from unpleasant position.
That he should be popular at the South has been to
me always matter of surprise. His supposed devo-
ton to the constitutional rights of the South, in
respect OF the Institution of slavery, must be the
only reason-for there is no other question which
his political views accord with the predominant sent
ment of the Southern people. He is, VIGOROUSLY the
advocate of liberal appropriations by the Federal
Government to the Improvement of rivers and har-
bors. He is equally as well known for favoring the
grants OF public lands to the railroad corporations Of
the Northwest. He is avowedy, an advocate of
the Homestead Lava measure to which the people
of the South without division of sentiment are in
ftexiby opposed. He is in favor Of alien suffrage in
the Territories " monster of such hideous men'
that even Democratic Senators in the South opposed
it almost unanimously. What there is, then, to COM
mend him to the affections of the Southern people it
is difficult to understand. The abuse heaped upon
him by the Abotionists may be the principal cause
but that constitutes valid reason, of itself, that
the South should cherish him with peculiar at.
lection.
| While Judge Douglas is man of remarkably
acute and subtle intellect he is no scholar at all He
| knows nothing Of the cassics-is unfamiliar with
history, except that portion of modern history which
has come under his immediate observation. He is
not even grammarian-and his best friends have
been frequently mortified at the gross grammatical
soecisms which he commits in his speeches.
| AS Chairman of the Committee on Territories, the
| whole Kansas imbroglio committed to his man
agement during the two last sessions of Congress.
He discharged this duty with fearlessness and firm.
ness. Frequently thrown into collision with the
acutest intelects Of the other side he held his own
with rare ability and address, But where argument
was lacking, he at no loss for the weapons OF
phistry and special pleading. Though endorsed in
the tourney, ne was always to fall his feet.
The object of his ambition for the last eight years
has been to achieve the Presidency. He will never
succeed in it, unless he become an ayowed Black Re-
publican. The election in 1860 will be the last time
any party calling itself national will ever succeed-f
then. In 1864, the overwhelming majority of the
North in the Electoral College, arising from the re-
apportionment of representation, and the admission
of half dozen free States will enable that sec
ton to dictate the President at its own will and
| pleasure
The seat adjoining him will be empty at the next
session of Congress- 1t was filed by the manly form
of Thomas J. Rusk of Texas. The echo of the cry
that Rusk is no more has scarcely yet died upon the
popular ear.
The early history of Gen. Rusk-hs gallant partici
patton in the struggle of Texas for independence
the love and affection in which he was cherished by
the people of that State are all familiar as household
words. There office in the gift of the people
of Texas, which Rusk could not have had for the
asking. The highest Office of the nation would have
been his, had Texas been able to direct it. That be
suoulu nave ldeu, ny Ills own naGQ, IN the midst OIL
his fame and usefulness, and when at the zenith of
his popularity, is indeed distressing as well as mys-
terous circumstance. What private grief may have
unbalanced that calm and powerful intellect it is not
given us to know. 1t must have been something of
terrible weight that could crush the herculean spirit
! of Rusk.
| As Senator, he was held in universal esteem. No
one ever ventured to impeach his patriotism. Calm,
quiet, dgnied, earnest sincere, and manly in every
thing he undertook, he commanded the respect il not
the admiration of his associates. Often when excite
ment high in the Senate, and Senators were losing
their dignity in the heat of the moment the massive
form of Rusk would be seen to rse and oil would i'm
medately cover the troubled waters. The confidence
reposed in him attested by the last act of the
Senate in electng him the presiding officer of that
| body in the absence of the Vice President.
His latest effort was an earnest advocacy of the
appropriation to the Atlantic Telegraph. It was
assaed by Thompson of Kentucky, with all the wea-
I pons of argument, ridcule and wit-but he held his
position with cool irmness and ability until it was
| placed beyond all danger of attack.
Gen. Rusk was Chairman of the Committee on Post
Offices and Rost Roads, and discharged the duties
with fidelity and energy He seemed to be warmly
attached to his colleague, Gen. Houston-the latter
being his principal associate With Clayton and But