Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-08
OUR REPREsESTATIyE.

The readers of the Telegraph would
probably like to know the position
which the editor and representative holds
in the estimation Of the people of other
portions of the State and as he does not
seem disposed to touch upon this mat
ter In his letters, we take the privilege
of copying the following from our ex-
changes, in addition to the extracts pub
lished last week from the Cincinnati Ga
eette and CommercioI with reference to
the speech made by him in the House
on the 22d ult. 1t is thus character
lied by the editor of the Ohio State
Journal, x
A SPLENDID SpEEcH.-Mr. Plants
of Meigs, made noble speech in the
House of Representatives yesterday, in
answer to the TRADE of Mr.. Hutchinson,
of Madison, It was not a mere parti-
san etfort.although a complete rindi-
cation Of Republican principles and
policy-but an exhaustive, philosophi-
cal and statesmanlike discussion of the
grave issues underlying the present dis
turbed condition of the country. AS
an argumentative effort, we doubt if it
has ever been surpassed, if equalled, in
either branch of the Ohio Legislature
In the name of the Constitution loving,
Union loving, liberty loving people of
Ohio, we thank Mr.. Plants for his
manly utterance, no less than for his
conclusive defense of the principles
which are embodied in the Constitution,
which alone make the Union valuable
and which are the only guarantees for
the preservation Of national liberty
Still More of our Representative.
We have already given extracts from
the leading papers in the Central and
Southern portions of the State, showing
the position our Representative holds
among his fellows in the Legislature
We hope We will be pardoned for giving
another from the Cleveland Herald, the
leading paper in the Northern part of
the State It is as. follows: x
The most remarkable speech of the
session was made this morning in the
House by Mr.. Plants, of Meigs County,
upon this paltry bill of Mr.. Shaw's but
embracing the whole subject of slavery
and its relations. With Mr.. P. | am
but slightly acquainted, and what say
of him is therefore not inspired by per
sonal feeling. But, laying my own
judgement aside and taking that of
the House and Senate, (for the Hall was
crowded by Senators and others) it was
one of the ablest speeches ever delivered
in this or the old State House. Had |
anticipated such an Grafton, [ would
have hired a photographer and given it
to you entire, making the Herald the
sensation paper, for the week, at least
Mr.. Plants has always been reeloned
among the best lawyers and ablest men
of the Judiciary Committee of the
House. Often, in cursory debate, hu-
morist, but always uniting strong sense
and invincible truths. Quite idle it
would be for me to attempt any abstract
or synopsis. And Mr. Plants refuses
to aid me in the task He spoke with
outnotes, certainl ly-without premedi-
tation, he says. Yet, even apart from
his main argument. the scintiilations,
like sparks from the anvil, aside from
his discourse, were full of phitosophic
thought and reflection. You will i'm
agire | am dealing in superlatiyes,
when | say, with deliberate considera-
,tion, that Mr.. Plants, as a logical,
unambitious orator, should rank with the
foremost to whom have ever listened
Such too was the Judgment not Of
friends merely, but of opponents Also
Members crowded around. him at the
close, to express, as they might, their
approval and admiration. An hundreds
members signed request for him to
report it for publication
1t would be pleasant to me if [ could
report q single passage, where he re-
ferred to the higher law, and showed
that the Legislature might as we'll, by
enactment, attempt to repeal the law of
gravity, as to contravene by act, the
principles Of humanity which lie in the
heart of every man not utterly devilish.
Mr.. Plants took as his text "Jofer-
sons Notes on Virginia." and elabo-
rated thoroughly the profound thoughts
of the great Virginia statesman, there
expressed.
In the afternoon Mr.. Fiagg, Of Ham
ilton, replied; but l must say, with
about as much effect. as pops guns,
manned by boys, would have on Forts
Sumpter or PickeDs.
And still More of our Representative.
In addition to the complimentary mott
ces by the correspondents ofthe press, we
add the testimony of Hon J K. Ruken-
brod, Representative from Columbiana
County, also editor of the Salem Repub-
ican:
One of the most eloquent, and in ev-
sry respect the best speech that has so
far been made on the subject of State
politics as regards this particular part
Of the subject, was made by the gentle
man from Meigs, Mr.. Plants. He re-
viewed and annihilated the doctrine Of
the Democratic party as he went along,
in all Of its various epartments-every
thrust made, took effect, and the str ong-
est Democrat in the House trembled
from his boots up, as the speaker, one
after another stripped from them the
false garments that clad them, and ex-
posed their cloYen feet and naked, hid
a. to hn h