The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19
Washington Affairs.
Correspondence ofthe Dubuque Times.

correspondence oltne Dubuque Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1859.
The first man in the House, in point of
talent, in my judgment, is TuADDEUs STE
VEINS ofPennsylvania; but do not by any
means intend to say that therefore he will
be the most influential or popular. Indeed
think directly the reverse will be the case
among his political friends as well as among
his opponents. He is man of noble pres
ence and when he speaks will always COM
mand attention. His voice, his gesture
indeed everything about the man is calcula-
ted to rvet the attention of his auditory !;
and did he possess little more suavity of
manner towards his opponents he would be
one ofthe most powerful members of the
House. But with all his noble qualities he
is possessed ola scorpion tongue. He evil
IDENTIFY has, or thinks he has many old scores
to settle with persons in or out of Congress,
and merely bides his time to pay them off,
AS an instance of this bitter and sarcastic
turn ofmin1, will relate little anecdote of
him that occurred just after the adjournment
of the House on the first day of the session:
In conversation with several Southern Men,
bers of Congress in the hall of the House, and
while speaking of the execution of old
John Brown. he said Old BRowN was id
old fool and ought to be hung anyhow, and for
my part am glad he was hung" "Why
Mr.. STEVENS" replied the Southern gentle
men, but only think, that old fool was crazy
enough to invade Virginia and seize upon
the Arsenal at Harper's Ferry with only
seventeen men Why, sirs, he ought to
have taken with him thirty at the very least !"
Of course the manner, the tone of voice, the
GESTURE of the hand and the motion of the
head were all his own, and such as no living
man can initiate. It's needless to say that
the remarks produced not only profound
sensation but quite an explosion on the part
of his Southern auditor. 1t was thought for
time that they would pitch into him. and
doubtless they would have done so If they
dared. STEVENS fears no such demonstra-
ton. 1t is said by those intimate with him
that he probably never experienced the SEN
sation of fear. A stranger would come to
very nearly the same conclusion from his
personal appearance. He generally comes
into the House by one of the side doors,
near the Speakers desk As he enters he
sometimes stands for time near the door or
takes one of the nearest seats. SO calm is
every motion that one almost takes him as
one of the fixtures of the hall; yet with all
this self possession, there is eveidently pent
up fire within of irresistible power. Biting
sarcasms fall as naturally from his lips as
Jokes from those Of his distinguished COM
patriot, CoRwIN Of Ohio. ] shall be very
much mistaken il there is not many stormy
debate between him and the Southern Fire
eaters before the close of the session. He
is evidently longing for it, and many ofthem
appear equally ready for the fray.
There is another member from Pennsyl-
wanna who is far more prominent in the
House and before the country than Mr.. Ste-
vens, but with hardlya 1.-THE of his native
talent That gentlmen is GALusHA A. Grow.
The latter although young man, not more
than thirty five or forty, is an old and very
influential member. He is entitled to all
the confidence of his colleagues and the In
fuence he enjoys. He is man of great in
dustry and untirng perseverance in what
ever he undertakes.