Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-01-22
+" That Old Hall

We know not when We have been - much
interested in reading anything from Wash.
inston. as We were N perusing letter in
the Ashtabula sentinel, from the pen Of the
Hon. Joshua Il. Giddipgs. Anything from
the voice or pen OF that great apostle Of
American Liberty, brings with i,an interest
deep and abiding Fore more than twenty
years has that great aud venerable states
man bc,n At hi. Po-' In the " old Hall
Its majestic columns and towering
e. dome " have often, in byegone days, "
sounded with the bold dcnunciatiOn, i'm.
FASHIONED eloquence. aud lofty defamation
thA, has come from the lips Of the old hero.
Mr.. Gliding. is most emphatically one o;
the graf men Of the age. ~ long as men
hate tyranny and lave libery, io,, 50 long
wall future generations love and 'encrats
the name Of Joshua Il Gidding.-even down
to the latest posterity. Ill, memory will
live. and his name b. Transmitted down the
long line OF future gsnera,ions-long. long
after the memories Of bis defamers have
sunk into an eternal oblivion.
wAsniScroN. Dee. Is. 1857.
This l. the last session to b. held in the
Old Hall Of Representatives. Tomorrow We
occupy the new building, and this will BE-
appropriated To other purposes. look
around upon is ma ts,ic columns. iis light
ed dome. it, spacious galleries, its faded
tapestry. ITS gray walls, with emotions of
sadness. They have long bcen familiar to
NV view. have become attached 20 them.
They seem 10 have been companions OF my
better days. look at the figure Of the re-
corting angel, as be sits upon the clock OF
time, with pen recording those passing events
which will long live in history, after we
shall have passed from our prcsen, state OF
existence. They will tell for good or for
evil ON coming generations. There, high
elevated above the Speaker chair, sands
the Genius OF America, holding forth thu,
scroll which contains our past history, Of
which members take 80 little notice. He
and the recording angel look down uPon US
with eountenance cheered with hope for the
future, rather than with satisfaction with
regard to the present.
90 The Speakers seat, the Clerks table,
the mace, the old armed chairs, the writing
desk. are dear TO me. They have for twenty
years been my companions. With them |
have spent the best, the most active part Of
my life, and am now panied a, the scpara-
ton.
"IIersl have spen, -lecpless nights and
anxious days. we'll recOllect the time
When, for thir,y.one consecutive hours the
Old Man Eloquent, maintained his seat,
now n,ar me. during one Of those conflicts
which often marked that period Of our his-
tory. lie has long since passed from thosa
scenes. TO the peaceful climes Of the spiri,
land. Yet. methinks see hIs venerable
form, with his pen in his hand, watching
transporting events, as in days Of yore. He
was the connecting link between the reyo-
lu,ionary and the present age.
with thrilling emotions call to mind
the period when he was arraigued by the
slave power before the House, for presenting
the respectful petition Of his constituents,
| now see him in memory, as he stood at the
time Of hrs celebrated reply to Marshall on
that memorable occasion. His aged form
seemed to rise with bis subject islanguagC
became impassioned. and his inyectiyes NOR,
and more terrible, until many cheeks wer,
bathed in tears. Reporters laid aside their
pens: the vast galleries seemed filed witt
inanimate beings .hent forward in thsat,itud,
Of sndeav0ring 10 catch each syllable thai
fell from. his lips. A friend now Occupia
the seat at which he stOod-the seat at which
he sat when the angel Of death kindly sum
mOned him to happier realms. l helped t.
bear his lifsless form FROM the hall w
placed ham in the Speakers room. when h'
babe adieu to the last Of earth
Several political generations hare ap
pearSd In this legislative temple since frs
took my seat, made their obeisance to man
kind, pronounced few words. and ther