Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-30
The Sixteenth Congfess, Painted by Sen.
ator Benton.

This act. Ta bill to authorize the Pres
idcnt to take possession of East and
West Florida-March 1921, now held
by many to be unconstitutional and
void, was reported by committee,
passed by Congress, and approved by
an Administration, which were all be-
licvcd in their day to know something
about the constitution, and also to care
for il. The committee We're: Mcssrs.
James Barbour, OF Virginia, Nathan
icl Macon. Of North Carolina, james
Brown, of Louisiana, William Hunter,
of Rhode Island, and Rufus King, OF
New York-all of them familiar with
the formation and adoption of the con-
stitution, and of them (Mr. Rufus King)
member of the Federal Convention
which framed it. The Congress was
that Of 1S20-'2l, the first under the see
ond administration of Mr. Monroe,
himself the last of the revolutionary
Presidents, and in the last term of his
public life-both the Senate and the
House. impressive and venerable from
the presence of many survivors Of the
first generation, and brilliant with the
apparation of the young luminaries of
tho second generation, then just ap-
pearing above the political horizon, soon
to light up the whole political firma.
ment with tho splendors of their gen.
ius, and to continue shining in il, like
fixed stars, until gathered in the full
ness of time, 20 rest with their fathers.
To name some would be to wrong 9TH
crs, equally worthy, less brilliant. To
name all who shonc in this firmanent
would be to repeat, almost, the list OF
the members of the two Houses: for,
either brilliant or useful talent pervad-
cd the list-cven the plainest members
respectable for the honesty of their
votes, and close attention to the busi-
ness of the House. | entered the SEN
ate at that time, and felt myself to be
among masters whose scholar | must
long remain before | could become n
tcacher-whosec cxampleI must en- ulatc,
without the hope of successful imitation.
There they were, day in and day out, at
their places, punctual to every duty,
ripe in wisdom, rich in knowledge,
modest, virtuons. decorous, defcrcntial,
and wholly intent upon the public
good. There made my first acquaint-
encc with the federal gentlemen Of tho
old school; and while differing from
them on systems Of policy, soon to ap-
preciatc their high personal character
to admire their finished manners, TO re.
cognisc their solid patriotism according
to thcirvicwso Of govcrnment.) and to fee
grateful to them rs the principal found
ers of our government; and in all this
I only divided sentiments with the OLD
republicans, all living on terms Of per
sonal kindness with their political nd
versaries, and with perfect respect foi
each others motives and opinions
They arc all gone-thoir bodies buried
in tho earth, their works buried under
rubbish and their names beginning tC
fade from the memory of maitland /
(who stood 50 far behind them in theil
great day that praise from me woulC
: have seemed impertinence,) | have be
come, in some sort. their historiograph
or and introduced to tho world.
abridge the Debates Of Congress, thos
debates in which their wisdom, virtue
modcsty, patriotism lie buried. res