New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-01-15
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

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WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
Special to the New Orleans crescent.l
a WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 1859.
Editors Crescent The eulogies on Gen. Quitman,
go long delayed on account Of the illness of his sue
cessor, MrIMcRae, were delivered Wednesday last
Both branches Of the National Legislature Joined in
paying tribute to the memory of this noble man. In
the Senate Messrs Davis, Shields, Ward and Hous-
ton, and in the House Messrs. McRae, Bonham,
Wright, Thompson of New York, Moore, Curtis and
Bowie, spoke the sleeping warriors praise The
euogies delivered in the Senate did not hear but
learn that by common consent, the tribute of Gen.
Houston was allowed to be the best of all. OF the
speeches made in the House, that Of McRae was
the most elaborate Wrights the most touching, and
Thompson's the most able, both as regards style and
delivery. Indeed, am more than ever impressed
with the fact, mentioned in my correspondence last
winter that Northern greatly excel Southern mem
bers in the arts Of oratory. Their logic is not
sounder but their voices clearer and more reso-
nant, their composition more Finished and their de-
clamation greatly more impressive. Mr.. Bowe's
speech on this occasion deserves the highest praise
Some consider it superior to all the rest.
Gen. Quitman's fame has nothing to gain from any
eulogy, even the loftiest and most glowing. knew
him well. His character, like bis face, was Of that
antique mold Of beauty which the warmest trib-
utes Of affection or the most thrilling periods of eocu
tion serve but to obscure and impair. scholar,
statesman soldier, he exeeed his compeers in each
of these walks of life less by his superior accomplish
ments than by that innate dignity and elevation of
character which was the immediate impress of the
Divine hand which formed him after the best models
of the heroic ages. Thompson well said of him. that
he was the ideal of nobleness, courtesy and devo.
tion," and Wright appropriately added that he was
J" peculiarly the friend Of young men," These sent
ences sum up his virtues. OF the noblest yalor, de.
voted to his country beyond the most tried
patriot, true his sword to his own State and
section, yet eminenty courteous wthal as to com
mand the respect and the love of bis bitterest
and most fanatcal opponents It will be long ere we
see his like again. The youth, the worthily ambi-
tious the truly patrotic-a that is fresh, strong,
sanguine, daring and high Of principle in the mind
and heart of the Republic have lost in this scholar
soldier their sympatzer, guide and leader their
hope. After Qutman, none is left to point the way
before the oftest aspirations of the South. Hence
forth the boldest and the purest impulses of our
Southern youth lie idle, aimless
If it were not wrong to question the DEGREES of
Providence one could wish that Quitman had lived to
m the Presidential chair. In that position he would
have done greater honor to the Conderacy than any
Chief Magistrate of modern times He had Jackson's
courage and polish without his arrogance the cultiva
ton of Madison and the capacity of Monroe, with
frmness and energy superior to either; and he had
something of wondrous calmness and personal dig
nifty which so distinguished the first great President
As President he would have atoned to the world for
the unftness of Polk the feebleness of Pierce and
the insincere senility of Buchanan.
Quitman had but one fault He loved, perhaps, too
well, the appreciation of his friends
Had he been permitted to remain Governor of
Mexico, what present trouble, what future vexation
would he not have saved this Republic, from what
misery that. But weak and jealous Administration,
unwilling that Qntman and Quitman's country should
enjoy such glory, cast the great conquest aside
thing of price, and left to this and coming genera
tions the fruitful legacy of its olly-a folly unpara
leled in the history of nations.
Only in mperishabIe marble can Quitman's name
be fittingy perpetuated. The State Of Mississippi,
and not less the United States owe it to themselves
and to posteriy that the eges of that soldery form
and the perfect lines of that face and head which did
indeed resemble zone of the Greek gods, should live
again in the creation Of the scuptors chise Sooner
or later the memory Of Quitman will thus be honored
The first ball Of the slavery game was thrown yes
terday. In the House, old Gddings and little Bryan
of Texas had tough battle, both acquitting them
selves with great credit In the Senate Mr. Iverson of
Georgia, started on the Pacific Railroad, ran off the
track and into the deep water of disunionism. He
| administered some tart compliments to Senators
Douglas and Hammond, land gave Mr.. Seward and his
Rochester speech particular attention. BE doubted
If Hammond could mortgage his whole plantation to
Northern capitalist for as much as ten thousand
dollars, Notwithstanding the popularity of his Barn
well speech. He considered freesoil Democrat, like
Douglas, no better than an Aboltionist and Whig
like Lincoln. He was of opinion that more than one
State would secede If Seward was elected President
Mr.. Seward came over to Iyersons side of the Cham
ber took the next seat to him, faced round to him.
leaned back and enjoyed it. When Iverson concluded
Seward jumped up, seized both his hands, shook
them heartily, and laughed in the most congratula-
tory, satisfied and thankful manner Iverson laughed
too Altogether, it was deviish good little play
But Seward and myself seemed to be the only people
who appreciated it. All the other Senators seemed
to be busiy engaged in corresponding, doubtless with
the newspapers.
The obstinates of the Illinois Legislature having
cayed in Mr.. Douglas made his appearance here last
evening in shower of rain, welcomed by crowd
and would have been serenaded If Gen. Henderson Of
the Marine Corps had not suddenly fallen dead Of
apoplexy in his garden thereby rendering it lmpossi
Bile for the Marine band to appear serenaders. Mr.
Douglas made little speech, and then sat down to
big supper given to his friends of the Senate ant
House, who manifested their approval of his course
and welcomed him to Washington, by eating his veni
son and drinking his green seal. He Oougas) die
not come to the Senate this morning, much b
the disappointment of couple of hundred Of thu