Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-01-30
DAVIS, HUNTER AND TooMBs,
TUE soUruERN TR1UMvIRATE.
Correspondence Of the Missouri Demoerat.l


Yesterday, when Hale wasspeaking, tue rlgnt
side of the chamber was empty, (as 1t generally
is during the delivery of an anti-Siavery sPeech,)
with the exception of group OF three, VINO sat
near the centre of the vacant space. Ihls re-
mark cable group, which wore the air if not the
ensiens of power. authority and publiccare, was
composed ofSenators Davis, Hunter and IoombS.
They were engaged in an earnest colloquy,
(which, however, was foreign to the argument
Hale was celebrating, for though the connection
of their words was broken before 1t reached the
gallery their voices were distinctly audible, and
gave signs of their abstraction. They were
thinking aloud. If they had met together I'M
der the supervision of some artist, gifted WITH
the faculty of illustrating history and chat acteF
by attitude and expression, who designed 10
paint tEern in fresco on the walls OF the new
Senate chamber, the combination could not
have been more appropriately arranged, than
chance arranged it on this occasion. Ioombs
sits among the opposition on the left, Hunter
and Davis on the right, and the fact that the
two first came to Davis seat, the one gravitat-
Il ing to it from a remote, the other from near
point may be held to indicate which of the three
is the prcponderating body in the system
l-if preponderance there be; and whose hgurc
should occupy the foreground of the picture,
lif any precedence is to be accorded Davis sat
erect and composed; Hunter listening rested
his head on his hand; and Toombs inclining
forward was speaking vehemeutly Their re-
spectiVe attitudes were no bad Illustration OF
| their individuality. Davis impressed the spec
tator, who observed the easy but authoritative
bearing with which he put aside or assented to
Eoombs'S suggestions, with the notion OF some
slight superiority some hardly acknowledged
leadership; and Hunters attentiveness and ini-
possibility were characteristic of his nature,
for his profundity of intellect wears the guise
| of stoliditv, and his continuous industry, that
of inertia; while Toombs's quick utterancc and
restless head, bespoke his nervous tempera-
ment and activity of mind. But though each IS
different from either of the others, the three
have several attributes in common. They are
equally eminent as statesmen and debaterS; they
are devoted to the same cause; they are equals
in rank and rivals in ambition; and they are
about the same age, and none of Them let
young America toke notice, wears either beard
or moustache. come again to the traits which
distinguish them from each other. In face and
form, Davis represents the Norman type with
singular fidelity, if my conception of that type
be correct He is tall aud Sinewy, with fair hair,
gray eyes, which are clear rather than bright,
high forehead, straight nose, thin, compressed
lips and pointed chin. His cheek bones arc
hollow, and the vicinity of his mouth is deeply
furrowed with intersecting lines. Leanness OF
face, length and sharpness of feature, and length
of limb and intensity of expression, rendered
acute by angular facial outline, arc the general
characteristics of his appearance.
Il should imagine the blood of Pocahontas en-.
riched the veins of Hunter, for his complexion,
though faded. is tinted with the warm coloring
of the native race. He is of middle size solidly
built and black haired. His features are Meth
er prominent nor expressive, though his nose
is slightlv-very slightly-aquiline. His ply.
sioue would attract no inspection in public from
e.tner anu ms Queues VI. me
Stranger the Ieading senator of virginia and
the triarch of the slavery party in Congress-
The prevailing expression of his countenanee is
at Oh sx XII repose, aoe1ee mdisr
give the measure of.Iis force on extraordinary
occasions. 1t requires strong impulse to
move him, but when the motive power isade-
qnate, his momentum is great.
ioomoS Is Stalwart IN oou v. ana vafaoie IN
expression OF eountenancc. h's black mar Is
slightly grisied, his black eyes are bright, ana
his ~ rich olive complexion Us suodned by Thought
He mas hrG, energy, vlVaclty, ana nnent animal
spirits Though not possessed oil u regular lea
lure ne Is almost nandS9me; or MS tie !aue IS
would say fascinating. he Is equal 10 hlhseIt
on all occasions ana seems 70 be iamiilar with
inc merits oil every question tnat comes .neiore
She oeilats s ne nas IoIce vi 'oIce Oh
fancy, ana me knowleuge reaped from severe
anu NJ tba tSse" S :: tho moot