Smyrna times., 1858-04-22
Interesting "reminiscences.

"Gen. Sam Houston is said to be the only
member of the present Congress who was aisC
a member thlrty-ive years ago, when Edwart
Everett formed one OF the three hundred con
stituting that body"
There are some slight inaccuracies in this
statement, although not material. The Con
gress in which Gen. Houston and Mr. Everett
were members together was that of 1825-27
more than thirty years ago, but net thirty-fve
and the whole number of members was 26l, and
not 800. 1t is ofthat Congress that Gen. lIous-
ton was the only member who is member Of
this Congress- But he is far from being the
only surviving member, and there is at least
one member of this Congress who was in Con-
gress long previous to 1925. Mr.. CrtteDden,
the venerable Senator from Kentucky, was in
the Senate in 1917, more than forty years ago.
Houston lett Congress in 1927 and did not come
back till 1916, having been not only out Of Con-
gross, but for the most part out OF the Union,
brought back, if all accounts of his antl-anncXa-
ton coquetry with England be true, rather
against his own will.
That Congress contained a great many men
who have since acquired great reputation and
occupied the highest positions IN the country
Four of lis members-Van Buren,, Harrison
Polk and Buchanan-have since been elected
President. Two-Richard NJ. Johnson and
VIM. r. King-havc been Vice Presidents
The presiding officer of the Senate was John
& Calhoun, then in the zenith of his popularity
and the highest vigor of his intellect. The &C.
centric Randolph occupied the seat which, at
the close Of the term, was filled by John Tyler,
afterwards President. Daniel Webster was in
the House, and Hugh L. White in the Senate
men whom large masses of devoted friends
unavailingly stroyc to elect to The Presidency.
Benton, then giant among orators and states
men; SO was .Hayne, of South Carolina, who
died so young and so deeply lamented; Forsyth,
who never had superior as debater in the
Senate, afterwards Secretary of State and Min.
lister to Spain; Louis McLanc, who became,
successfully, Secretary Of State and of the
Treasury, and Minister TO England; Levi
Woodbury., afterwards Secretary of the Navy,
Of the Treasury and Justice Of the Supreme
Court of the United States In the House, be-
sides Nc Dufic and Hamilton, and Philip p. Bar
bour-men who have left great regulations un-
connected with public station-there were Ed
ward Livingston, of Louisiana, Secretary of
State and Minister to France; Andrew Steven
son, of Virginia, minister to England; and
though we name him last, not the least con-
spicuous there, Mr.. Everett himself, whose name
had already become widely known ior ripe
scholarship, and who became, successfully, Min
lister to England and Secretary of State.
1t was u remarkable body which included
these men. Very few of the members survive,
and of the whole lsst President Buchanan is the
only one now in public life, excepting Gen.
Houston, of the Senate, Mr.. Buchanan was.
however, a man of mark then, Gen. Houston
was only known for some eccentrcties
which soon after made him notorious, if not IA
NOUS and his titles to distinction, whatever
they are, were earned on another field than in
the councils or service of the United States.
In looking over the list of members of this
Congress, as published in Niles Register. of
December, 1925, we notice a curious circum-
stance. The list contains the full names of
every member of the House of Representatives,
but one. There was new member from Ten
ncssee, whose christian name could not be found
out by the compiler, and so he put him down
thus:-Polk. Twenty years afterwards this
obscure gentleman, of whose identity there was
SO much question in 1926, was elected Prosi-
dent of the United States.