Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1858-04-29
Miscellaneous.
CONGRESS Thirty Years Ago.

"Gen. Sam Houston is said to be the
only member of the present Congress,
who wasalso a member thirty-fTe years
ago, when Edward Everett formed one
of the three hundred constituting that
body"
There are some slight inaccuracies In
that statement tsays the N, o. PisGyune)
although not material. The Congress, In
which General Houston and Mr.. Everett
were members together, was that of 1925
-'27, more than thirty years ago, but not
thirry-fve; and the whole number Of
members was 26l, and not 300. 1t is of
that Congress that Gen. Houston was the
only member who is a 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 Congress long previous to 1926
Mr.. Crittenden, the venerable Senator
from Kentucky, was in the Senate in
1917, more than forty years ago. Hous-
ton left Congress in 1927, ard did not
come back till 1916, having not only been
out of Congress, but for the most part out
Of the Union, brought back, if all accounts
of his ante-annexation coquetry with
England be true, rather against his will.
That Congress contained a greatmany
men who have since acquired great rep
utations, and occupied the highest posi-
tions In the country. Four of its mem
bers, Van Buren, Harrison, Polk, and
Buchanan, have since been elected Presi-
dent. Two--Richard NJ. Johnson and
VIM. r. King--have been elected Vice.
Presidents. The presiding officer of the
Senate was John c. Calhoun, then in the
zenith of his popularity and the highes
vlgor Of his intellect. The eccentric Ran
dolph occupied the seat which, at the
close of the term, was filed by John Ty
Ter, afterwards President. Daniel Web
ster was IN the House, and Hugh 1
White IN the Senate-men whom large
masses of devoted friends unavailingll
strove TO elect to the Presidency. Benton
then a giant among orators and Statesmen
was in the Senate; so was Hayne, Of Soutl
Carolina, who died so young, and so deep
ly lamented; Forsyth, who never had
superior as debater in the Senate, after
wards Secretary Of State and minister t
Spain; Louis McLane, who successivel
became Secretary of State and of tn
Treasury, and minister to England; Lev
Woodbury., afterwards Secretary of th
;. Navy, Of the Treasury, and Justice c
the Supreme Court of the United State:
d In the House, besides McDufie an
Hamilton, and Philip P. Barbour-me
who have left great regulations uncor
nected with public stations there wer
Edward Livingston of Louisiana, Secre
tary Of State and minister to France; VI
p c. Rives, Of Virginia, also minister
= France; Andrew Stevenson, of Virgini;
R. minister 10 England; and, though "
name him last, not the least conspicuol
there, Mr.. Everett himself, whose nam
=, had already become widely known f
,, ripe scholarship, and who became, succe
sively, minister 10 England and Secretal
y, of State.
1t was a remarkable body which incl
= ded these men, Very few of the mer
bers survive, and of the whole list, Pre-
ident Buchanan is the only one now
public life, excepting General Housto
Y, Mr.. Buchanan was, however, man
mark then. Gen. Houston was on
known for some eccentricities, whi
soon after made him notorious, if n
famous; and his titles to distinction, wha
ever they are, were earned on anoth
field than IN the councils OF service Of 4
United States.
In looking over the list Of members
= this Congress, as published in MI
> y Register Of December, 1925, we notice
T. curious circumstance. The list contai
!, the full names of every member Of t
a. House Of Representatives, but one
nd There was a new member from Tenne
to see, whose Chistian name could not
Of found out by the compiler; and so he T
him down thus: Polk Twenty yea
afterwards, this obscure gentleman,
whose identity there was 50 much que
tion In 1925, was elected President
the United States.