The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-03-03

the whole House. Although daily vsi. |
ting the Capitol, We have known only
one or two instances durlng the present
session, where mcmGcrs have been willing
TO ahardon their diversified occupations
IN order to listen to rousing AMI well
timed speech. To stranger, it would
seem that the. dign!iied representatives of
the American p.op'e are indifferent to
nothing so much Us the great business of
legislation which has called them togeth.
err, but, III coming to this conclusion, ne
would con,pit a great olunder. Ii he
We're admitted withip the bar, and were
permitted for an hour Of any day to list.
Ell to AL tha, Ia uttered IN the ears of
members under Lrea,h, he would ascer.
tam that there are methods Of achieving
the great ends Of American legislation,
other than what are supplied by loud
toned haranguers. There is always II
secret agency at work that operates more
etiectualy than any outside dcmonslra
tiqas
The Speaker, Mr.. Orr, fills his chair
with great ability. it is admitted, on all
hands, that never since the origin Of the
Government has the House b cen under
the direction OF a Speaker who unites the
essenti 'ls of urbanty aud dignity, Of Il
quick apprehension and readiness Of de
crSion, III Il higher degree. Presiding over
the d"iiberaiion OF IL body in which par
ties arc nearly equally balanced, and him
self party man, he has, thus far, dis
charged the duties of his difficult and del
ica'e position with fairness and Justice
that have challenged the admiration and
open approval both Of friends and foes.-
No Speaker has ever been known to ex
erciSe control at once more persuasive
and powerful over the action of so large
and usually FESTIVE an assembly. A sin.
gle word uttered bv him firmly, but with
out arrogance, often acts more etfectualv
than any sergeant:a arms could do, in
reducing the Louise to order. When the
Speaker temporarily abandons the chair,
and it is occupied 10y any other member,
the difficulty of maintaining order in the
meantime becomes apparent, aid the ab
sence OF the governing head is most sen
slby ie|t. But when the Speaker re.
sume> his seat and exclaims, while h.
brings down his ballet; "The House will
come 10 order! Gentlemen will please to
resume their seats !" the tumultuous
waves in&tas.tiy Subside and there is II
calm.
Public speaking, for reas oos already
stated, is not ordinarily a commanding
power IN the House Of Representatives.
1t eXers less influence there than either
At the bar or in the Senate. Still it is
sometimes resorted to with effect, by such
speakers as Messrs. Stephens. of Georgia;
Qntnan, of Mississippi K-tt and Boyce
of South Carolina; Davis, Of MARYLAND ;
and Maynard, of ofTcnnessee. Mr.. Bowie,
of Maryland, practices pantomime with
success. lie is a humoriet and an actor,
and is always listened To with interest,
more for his manner than his matter,
though he is by no means deti,'ient in
ability.
E-.--h, - l,,...- .,.,s ..,.,r ru,-p
araiio"s have been cautiously made to do
great deal. The admission Of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution, tie
bill for the increase Of the army, the cor
rdption cases, the Pacific Railroad pro
Jcct. and various other important ma,ters
are III progress. 1t will be seen in the
end when all the measures are malur.d
ard pasS"d--to have teen one oftbe most
important sessions Of the National Lecis
Iature, that has ever convened at Wash.
'ngton. The popularity Of the President
continues unbounded. Yours. &c,
ID X w