Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-01-28
EEEMINIsCENCEs.

Il
|
The following extract Of letter from
the Hon. J. 3. Gid'Iirgs. to the editor OI
the Ashtabula Sentinel, will be read with
| peculiar interest:
WAsHIBeroE, Dec. Is. 1857.
This is the last session To be held in the
old Hall Of Representatives. To.mOnow
we occuTy the new building. and tbis will
be appropriated TO other purposes. Hook
around upon its majestic columns. its light
ed dome. its spacious galleries, its fadel
tapestry, it. gray walls, with emotions oi
sadness. They have long beeR familiar
10 my view. | have become attached to
them. They seem to have been compan.
ions Of INV better DAYS. | look at the & :.
ure Of Ofthe recording angel. IS lie sits upon
the clock Of time, with pen, recording
those passing events which will long live
IN history. after we shall have plsse. from
our present state Of existence. They will
tell for good or for evil on coming gene.
rations. There, high elevated above the
Speakers chair, stands the Genius Of Amer
icS; holding forth that scroll which con.
tains our past history, Of which members
take so little notice. He and the rec ,rd.
ing angel look down upon US with cuur
lenancs cheered with hops for the future,
rather than with satisfaction with regard
to the present.
The Speakers seat, the Clerks table;
the mace, the old armed chairs, the wri.
ting desks are dear to me. They have
fr twenty years been my companions.--
With them have spent the best, the most
active part of my life, aud am DOW pain
ed at The separation.
Here | have spent sleepless nights and
anxious days. well recuilect the time
when, for thirtv.oue consecutive hours.
. the Old Man Eloqsent," nsntaine'! his
sest, now near me, during one Of those
cortiIets which often marked that perioi
Of our history. He has long since passed
from those scores, TO the peaceful clime'
Of tie spirit land. Yet metbinks | see
hs venerable form, with his pen in his
band, watching transpiring events. rs in
lays Of y0re. Tie was the connecting link
between the revolutionary and tue present
'ge.
With thrilling emotions | call to mind
he period when he WAS arraigned by the
slave power before tho House, for present
ing the respectful petition of his constit.
uents. | now see him in memory, as he
stood at the time of his celebrated reply
To Marshall on that memorable occasion.
His aged form seemed to rise with bis sub.
ject; bis language became impsssiOned, and
his invectives more and more terrible, un.
I'll many cheeks were bsthed in tears. Re-
porlers laid aside their pens; the vast gal
leries seemed filled with inanimate beings,
bent forward in the attitude of endeavoring
to catch each sy liable as it fell from bis
lips A friend now occupies the seat at
which he then stood-lhe seat at which
he sat when the angel OF death kindly sum
moned him to happier realms. | helped
to bear his lifeless form from this hail. We
placed him in the Speakers room, where
he bade adieu to 'the last Of earth"
Several political generations have ap.
peared in this legislative temple since l
first took my seat, made their obeisance to
mankind, pronounced a feW words, and
then di'appeared' Many have gone be
fore me to the unknown land. Some have
climbed to higher honers, and some have
in the mass Of human beings
who throng the earth.
What scenes | have witnessed within
these walls! 1t were perhaps we'll to draw
The veil of obscurity over them. There
Garland and Bynum fought. On my
left, near the door, White and Rathbun
came into conflict. Opposite to where |
,it, Harrison and johnson exchanged |
blows. But time would fail me. were | tp |
describe the re-enacLments Of WIer and
Stanley aud Bel, and Others who figured
n these unworthy affrays. The flourish
ng Of canes, the show of wie-knives,
md cooking Of pistols. with the apparent
purpose Of assassination, all rush upon
he recollection as l call to mind those
Genes which marked the early history of
he cause Of Freedom.
Here, too l have witnessed the highest
of patriotism. have been
with the most sublime elo.
luence, and have laughed to perfect ex.
lausiinn under the facetious powers of Cor
win, Starkweather, and others. But here
,omes the message from the Senate. au-
the death Of Senator Bell, of
New Hampshire
Another friend is gone. He was my
unior in years and in service. Hon Ma
on W. 1appsn has risen to pronounc= an
.ulogy upon the dedeased. In few mo-
nents we shall resolve to 60 inlo mourn |
ng for my deceased friend. AS place
he sad emblem upon my arm, departed |
Genes and departed friends must occupy
ny thoughts.
w Hiram Paulding comes honestly by
lis skill in arreetiug unlawful expeditions
His father was that celebrated John Paul.
4 N L L.