New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-05
TELL THE TRUTH.

psssase-at words TOOK Place III INC naassSSuu
.e,ts Senate which, as it indicated the dawn II
not the daylight of legislative modesty, is worthy
Of attention. Our readers know the Chesterfield
ian poI,h with which it becomes the highly-trs,ned
lie pisstor to play the bear the susyity with which
he should dash his most subacidulous speeches;
how, when be has occasion TO call man tnief'
he must ayow his firm faith in that mans honesty;
bow, when he is proyiog his antagonist to be an
ienorsmus and Ounce, he must speak OF the
learned and intelligent gentleman upon his rshI;
and how, when he is limiting perhaps at corruption
be must afec.ionately dlsclaim all slluson TO tue
noble Roman upon bis left. There is certain
Mr.. Brannipg IN the Massachusetts Senate VINO
seems to be rather FESTIVE under these ancient ana
h,pblyrespectable conyentionaities, and to relish
civil rigmsrole as little as other men relish regu-
lar roasting. In the course Of a late discussion,
Mr. Branning WAS fallen upon IN the most affection
ate manner by Gen. Benjamin 7. Butler. Ihls Illus
trious hero Of the Lowell militia, who is, like the
Duke of Wellington, both warrior and states
map. AID whose proves has been displayed upon
countless muster fields "could not agree with the
" eloquent Senator" thus abiding to the modest
and bushpg Branning. New, we are not IN a
situation in which we can know whether Gen. But
Ter who is called by bis least intimate friends, Ben
But cry, when he uttered the word eloquent, eie'
vste3his eyebrows, or wDked or curled his Up, or
made some slight. but not meaningless gesture. IL
is only fair to presume that Gea. Butler, whose
pbysicgnomy, when in state of lamb'like rePose
does not resemble that of the Apollo, INDUCED IN
no distortions of face; and that Mr. BranniDg, II
he fancied that he saw something sinister IN the
Generals eyer, was entirely mistaken. Al
any rate, Mr.. BrsDning did not Ike
to be called " eloquent" He was suspicious, and
spied big beard under this rhetorical muller
Had be been called an ass be would have been pre-.
pared for the compliment. Had he been called a
fool. he could have demonstratedhis wisdom TO the
Senate. Had he been called rssca, he could have
smitten Gen. Butler midway between the eyes, If
be could have found that locality. But here he
was in the most outrageous and anmltigated man
ner declared to be eloquent AS the sun OF
Lowell set Dir. Branning arose. He was not to
humbugged. He feared this Trojan of the NJ. V.
NJ. done ttrtns-briDgng compliments. lie cor.
sdered these compliments ironical. He hurled
Ddck the LnpuldtlOn vi coquchCo ITO "iu n"e
wish to be ironed" in that way. He made the
following distinct, solemn and deliberate stats
ment:
eloquent and do not behave that the Senator De-
ieyes that am"
This is the most charming disclaimer. Nothing
but distance of several hundred miles prevents
us from requesting Mr.. Brannipg to extend to US
bis private and personal dtztsr. Let him not dis
trust our compliments, no matter with how much
suspicion be may regard the Generals. We con-
cider member of any Senate or House of Repre-
sentatves who is not eloquent to be prodigy,
marvel a man unique and Black Swan in
| breeches. All Senators are ez c6icio "eloquent"
until they have proved that they are not; but when
they have been at the trouble Of proving this and
have honestly ard perhaps tediOusly convinced their
fellow members of the truth Of it, gentleman has
Do more right to call Ihem eloquent than TO call
them .tupid-nay, not 20 mach Most of US, if We
are to be butered like to select the particular but
| tee to be used in our bllmage. Nobody wishes to
be called clean. limbed when he is handy or elo-
duent when he shutters. When vigorous members
ssall say plumply-"t the honorable and stupid
"scoundrel who has just brsyed Gen. Butler
ail have 40 chance TO AIR his baoinsge