The Kanzas news., 1858-02-13
Davis, Hunter and Toombs.

Ohs u tnc a1LSSouAt s(eHtoI0<, gives lAio lCl-
lowing description of the three great lead
ers of the pro-slayery wing of the Q. S.
Senate, Davis. Hunter and Tombs Il
yesterday; when Hale was speaking,
the right side of the chamber was empty,
Gas il generally is during the delivery of an
anti-slayert speech, with the exception of
a group of three, who sat near the center of
the vacant space. This remarkable group,
which wore the air il, not the, ensigns of
power, authority and public care, was COM
posed of. Senators Davis, Hunter and
Toombs. They were engaged m an earnest
collequy, which, however, was foreign to
the argument Hale was celebrating, for
though the connection of their words was
broken before I. it reached the gallery;
thier voices. were distinctly audible, and
gave signs of their abstraction They were
thinking aloud. If they had met together
under the supervision of some artist, gift
ed with the faculty of illustrating history
and character by attitude and expression,
who designed to paint them in fresco on the
walls of the new Senate chamber, the COM
bination could not have been more appIo-
priately arranged, than chance arranged it
on this occasion. Toombs 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 grayitating TO
it from a remote, the other from a near
point, may be held TO indicate which of the
three is the preponderating body in the sys-
tem-if preponderance there be and whose
figure should occupy the foreground of the
picture, if 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 We
hemenly. Their respective attitudes We're
no bad illustration of their individuality.-
Davis impressed the spectator, who obseFv-
ed the easy but authoritative bearing with
which he put aside or assented to Toombs'
suggestions, with the notion of some slight
superiority, some hardly acknowledged lead
efship, and Hunters attentiveness and i'm
FEASIBILITY were characteristic of his nature,
for his profundity of intellect wears the
guise of stolidity, and his continuous indus
try, that of inertia while Toombs' quick
uterance and restless head, bespoke his
nervous temperament 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 take notice, wears either beard or
moustache. | come again to the traits
which distinguish them from each other
In face and form, Davis represents the Nor
man type with singular fidelity, if my con-
ception of that type be correct. He is tall
and sinewey, with! fair hair, gray eyes,
which are clear rather than bright, high
forehead, straight nose, thin, compressed
lips and pointed chin. His cheeks are hol
low. and the vicinity of his mouth is deep
ly furroWed with intersecting lines. Lean
ness of face, length and sharpness of feat
ure, and length of limb and intensity OF
expression, rendered acute by angular fla
cial outline, are the general characteristics
of his appearances 4z-s
81 should imagine the blood of Pocahon-
tas enriched the veins of Hunter, for bis
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 neither prominent
nor expressive, though his nose is slightly
very slightly-aquiline, His, physiqe
would attract no inspection in public from
either sex, and his quietness of demeanor
on the floor of the Senate would not desig-
nate to the stranger the leading senator of
Virginia, and the triarch of the slavery
party in Congress. The prevailing express
ion of his countenance is that of ex-
haustion, repose, Incidence, Indifference
But his ordinary apathy and immobility
give the measure of his force on extraordi-
nary occasions. 1t requires strong I'M
pulse to move him, but when the motive
power is adequate, his momentum is great.
''Toombs is stalwart in body and vari-
able in expression of countenance: His
black hair is somewhat grizzied, his black
eyes are bright, and his rich olive complex
ion is subdued by thought. He has fire,
energy, vivacity, and fluent animal spirits.
Though not possessed of a regular feature,
he is almost handsome /; or, as the ladies
would say, fascinating. He is equal 10.
himself on all occasions, and seems to be
familiar with the merits of every question
that comes before the Senate. He has
force of character, force of fancy, and the
knowledge reaped from severe and protract-
ed study. OF the three, he is the most
formidable antagonist in debate, not from
superior powers of argument, but from his
emphatic dogmatism and assertion OF his
own personality. His oratory is diseufs-
i've, embracing argument declamation end
characterization, and his clear loud accents,
range the vocal gamut. There is nothing
conventional or artistic in his style. which
is vigorous, natural and occasionally rude.
He IS strong man. expressing himself
strongly and earnestly. a vsrs
Davis voice is what the opera people
call baritone. 1t serves well the purpose
of public speaking, for though monotonous
it is pleasing TO the ear, and fills a large
circle with its eadences. If Teonbs is
discursite, Davis IS didactic, ! He states,
principles and rules rather than facts and
arpIments. He seams mora addicfed 10