The Van Buren press., 1861-03-01
From the Helena Note Book
Sketches of the Arkansas Lcgis-
fr1YQ

Mr.. EDIroR You have asked me to give
you sketch of the Arkansas Legislature.
Well. there are some fine, manly faces here
and there. with now and then some green
specimens of the genus homo. l will begin
with the Speaker, Hon Bradley Bunch. He
is gentleman Of fine appearance, about
forty years of age-with kind, genial face
showing heart overfowing with the milk
of human kindness. His patience, dignity
AMI urbanity, while filling the arduous du-
ties of his position are highly appreciated
and will long be remembered by the House.
Immediately to the left of the Speaker S
Chair, at the first desk, sits the junior gen
tleman from Phillips" the boy from Phil
Hips" as he is called, the yoang asld hand
some Key. Though one of the most youth
full members he has shown himself :" a tow
er of strength" laboring necessarily for
constituents and the State, and often car
rying measures over the most stern and de-
termined resistance. He speaks but little
but every word is a point-of the "multu,n
IN porro principle. He is favorite with
tho House and better ar,M the ladies.
BY the side Of the "boy from Phillips /"
sits the very afable and pleasant gentleman
from Washington. Mr.. Crawford In per-
part of the Speakcr-decidelly good-loo
ing He is always at his postSthe most
popular man in his county, he is always en-
deavering to promote the general interests
of his people. Like Mr.. Key he is popu-
lar-decidedly SO with tie fair sex.
At the desk behind Mr.. Crawford you
will see the senior from johnson. Mr.. Rob-
inson. He is a small man. with fine
forehead-a stern, unflinching States Rights
Democrat. 1t is seldom that he addresses
the chair, but when he speaks it is to the
point.
To the left of this gentleman sits the
honorable member from Polk, Mr.. Allen
the gentleman of geological survey"
memory. His speech on Federal Relations
will be long remembcrcd-" have got no
niggers, Mr.. Speaker, but l have a wife at
home beautiful as an Houri and nine child
ren lovely as summer morning"
Look now to the left Of Mr.. Allen and
you will see one of the most handsome fac
es in the hall-that Of Hon. j. NJ. Brown,
of Crawford. A fine form. full six feet
one inch with broad massive forehead-
brilliant, dark eye-keen. penetrating,
searching. He is not u speaker-rarely
ever pddresses the chair. and yet he invari-
ably carries his measures. lie is q Demo-
crat. always true to his party and his State
"A man always true to his convictions,
and one who would scorn to substitute ex.
pediency for right.
To the left, and in the fourth tier of seats
is the very clever gentleman from jackson,
Mr.. Stone. He is good looking man-of
fine form and appearance, lie belongs to
the Union party, but still is cminently
Southern in his feelings. He has many
warm friends, and is deserving Of friend
ship in every respect.
On the seat behind Mr.. Stone is Hon.
Ben. Il. DuVal. of Sebastian. He reminds
you of Roman Senator Of the days of
"the golden age" He is man of gigan-
tic proportions-of great dignity of man
ners, rigid parliamentarian and a good de-
bator. lie is one of the few who survived
and overcamc the "per diem" question OF
5S-9. His report, touching Federal Rela-
tions is an able and elaborate paper.
As you enter the bar Immediately 70 the
left is the seat of the gentleman from Chi
cot. Hon. Bait Jones. He is young, barely
cligible-but yet his influence is great.
Over MS broad, handsome face there is a
look of stern determination and persever-
ancc Although young, he has history,
a glorious history, full OF devotion to the
South in the Kansas wars. 1t was the good
fortune ot the writer to know him in Kan
sas during the troubles. and he can bear wit
ness 10 his chivalry and devotion to the
" Sunny South" He Suffered much there
as we all did, but was always true. He is
a fluent and eloquent spcaker-rcver wand
ering from the subject. but invariably con.
timing himself to the question under dis,
cussion.
Speaking of good-looking men, will
point you to one in the person of l.. +
Boone, of Washington. lie is q gentle.
man of easy, dignitied manncr-is, in fact
a high-toned, courteous gentleman. y,
chairman Of the judiciary Committee hi,
labors are arduous and severe, yet he Away
comes up to the measure OF duty. Deserv
edly popular ut home, he strives by u stric
observance of duty to retain that well de
served popularity. He is always at hi
post. lie is, as he always has been, a stern
untlinching Democrat. Mr.. Boone, as
speaker. is calm, logical and dispassionate
He Was a member OF the Legislature il
1856, and then did good service to til
State.
Behind Mr.. Boone sits Mr.. Van Pattol
of Poinsett. He is a man of mark-quie
and unpietending he is yet ever active il
promoting the interests Of the State. III,
is, in the strictest and broadest sense rep
rese,.tatioe. lie has no narrow views-n,
sectional feelings, but in every instance, b,
his votes and speeches cvinccs lively inter
est for the welfare of the entire State Yol
should hear him speak. Every word tha
falls from his lips has a deep significance
There is precision about him which is re
markable When he sits down, you ar
ready to admit that nothing more could b
apparently .ail-tLat the argument is ex
haustcd. High honors are yet before him
Near Mr.. Van Patton is the seat of tn
Democratic party s" alias Hon. j. e. o
Smith, the senior from Phillips" IL
sits quietly in his seat, apparently iLdiifcr
; ent to everything around, and yet out o
/; the entire number of members there is n,
!; one who has clearer ideas Of every mcasu.,
introduced nor is there C man who ha
a greater influence in the House. This infu
r ence is not exerted by his speeches (for h
: rarely ever addresses the House) but by hi
indeaa.igable efforts in private with tn
members. Speaking OF Mcssrs. Smith an,
Brown. an ppositionist of Little Rocl
1 : 4