Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-07
Celebrities at the Capitol.

earnest men who will do their whole duty.
Celebrities at the Capitol.
A Washington correspondent of the New
York Times draws for that paper. the follow
ing sketches of prominent men at the Capitol
The democratic reader will bear in mind that
they are the productions of an unfriendly
hand:
THE PRESIDENT.
His Excellency. James Buchanan, is an old
gentleman of some seventy years of age,
standing six feet one or two inches, in his
undarned bachelor stockings. of florid and
rather hectic complexion, and with hair white
and glistening as the glass threads in the
glass tails of the glass birds of Paradise made
in Barnum's by an ingenious operator, and
sold at twenty-five cents apiece to gaping
children. His anxiety about this disputed
line of Oregon has inclined his head to the
left at an angle of ffty-fOur-forty or fight;
and his left eye seems detailed from general
service and on permanent secret duty, super
yising the developments in Cuba. He lurches
heavily to the left in walking, and shippers
gossip with ladies through the left side OF his
not regular mouth. In dress he is somewhat
of the diplomatic dandy; and the vast white
linen kerchef worn round his neck, is
intended presume as statesnanike en-
couragement to the fax growers and linen
hleachers, in the mighty prairies of the West.
His manners are extremely courteous and AHA
BILE. more especially to women, with whom he
delights to converse on small scandals ana
bohee gossip of the Capitol. There is some
thing stately and mOurnful in his isolation,
for believe he has not one warm, familiar
friend. (except perhaps, the Pitts of Philadel-
phia. who are more like humble retainers) on
the surface of the footstool. Even his niece is
addressed by him as miss Harriet" and
pridino himself on conscientious GOODNESS he
gets along as best he can without either
sympathy or consolation. Never has there
been in the White House more laborious
occupant; he repOses no confidence even IN
his Cabinet officers, but insists on first read
ing every paper which they put before him
for his signature.
He seldom leaves the house for exercise ana
air, but spends twelve or sixteen hours day
in discharging drudgeries of detail, which
might much better be let TO the care OF sub
ordinates in the departments. Again ana
again on every possible occasion, he disa-
vows with contempt and ridlcule his suppos-
ed aspirations for a second term OF ofhce.
Two old men, he says, myself and Lewis
Cass. if we live so long, will quit this city on
the 9th of March 1861. with much lighter and
less hurdcned hearts then we bore with us on
the tone of these avowals-a bitterness OF
thwarted good intentions and misapprehen-
ded motives. which / cannot find in my heart
either to doubt or not sympathlze Win. In
spite of all mental and bodily pecnllarities,
there is n grandeur of desOlation in this old
mans life.
JEFF. DAVIS.
Senator Davis is by all the odds the most
brilliant conversationalist it has ever been the
writer's fortune 10 encounter. 1hln, wlry,
sharp-visaced seli-pOsSessed, with voice
very gentle and modulated, an address very
pliable and courteous-this great captain OF
the fre-eaters can spit fire with as much ease
and auickness as Douglas showsi in splitting to-
bacco juice and every epigram from his thin
Inns is fatal to the reputation of lifetime.
Never was the rapier of polished wit more
dazzling or more mortal in its exercise. Name
after name may be brought up in discussion,
and every candidate for the notoriety will stag
ger back with a silver Minnie ball lodged in
some tender part OF his intestines
DOUGLAS.
Senator Douglas-all facts. habits. and ap
pparances to the contrary Notwithstanding -
impressed me on the whole n the most
gigantic intellect, next to Nehster's, mat
your correspondent has at any time been
placed in contact with. a general dwarhng
process takes place amongst all surrounding
competitors, and the shadow OF the massive
brow stretches far over every scene III which
the great Democratic rebel uplifts his vigorous
and shaggy head.
SPEAKER ORR.
Speaker Orr has been lately with you in
New York, but some of yonr country readers
NAV not have seen that solid chunk OF Jollity
good humor and good living, standing four
teen inches higher than Douglas, Falstatiian
In configuration. rubicund in feature, merrily
philosophical in the twinkle OF his two black
beaded eyes-a man to speak well OF every
one. and never to scold human except his
cook when favorite joint is not done to his
palate- courteous and just in all personal
relations with political enemies, but too
easily Welding to dictates Of party power IN
his official acts.
BRECKINRIDGE.
About forty wears of age and in the neigh
borhood of six feet high, weli-proportioned,
dark-haired dark-eyed-with bilious com
plexion, and a closely shaven face-his mouth
Is Indicative of a firm, deliberative will, and
his head of well-halanced thoughtfulness.
CRTrTENDEN.
Senator Crittenden is not handsome man
moi by any means; and II gift d IN any re-
markable degree by nature, as we have nc
reason TO doubt, that capricious goddess has
taken special pains TO conceal her jewels N
his head His forehead, almost hidden under
a shock of silver hair, is both small and nat
row, the cheek bones are very prominent, the
mouth large and irregular. the nose without
definite shape, and the whole expression in'
tensely Celtic.
ToUCEY.
Secretary Toucey, of the Navy, has very
striking appearance, and powerful phreno
logical DEVELOPMENT. His forehead, half con