Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-03
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Western 0ratory.

SPEECH OF Cen, RILEY, IN THE HOUSE OF REP
HEsEETATIyEs OF MISSOURI, FEE. 8, 1861.
After n long and heated discussion on the
reference of u till amending the charter of
the city Of Carondelet, TO a standing COM
mittee Of the House, Mr. Riley obtained the
floor, and addressed the House:
IN. Speaker-Everybody is a pitching in
to this matter like toad frogs into a willow
swamp on n lovely evening in the balmy
month of June, when the mellow light of
the full moon fills with a delicious food the
thin ethereal atmospheric air. Applause.
Sir, want to put in a word, or perhaps a
word and a half. There seems to be a dis
position to fight. say, if there is any fight
ing to be doae, come on with your corn-cobs
and lightning buds Applause. In the
language Of the ancient Roman,
"Como one, come all, this rock shall fly
From this firm base, in a pigs eye"
Now, there has been a great deal of bonn
bast here to-day. | call it bombast from
Alpha TO "Omega." Il don't understand
the meaning Of the words thought Sir, the
question 10 refer, is Il great and magnificent
question. 1t is the all absorbing question
like n sponge, Sir-a large, unreasonable
sponge, Of globe shape, in a small tumbler
Of water it sucks VI everything. Sir, the
debate has assumed a latitudinosity. We
have had a little blackjack buncome, a lit
Gle two.bit bGncombe, bombast buncombe,
bungholo b~uncombe, and the devil and his
grandmother knows what other kind of bum
combe. Uaughter.) Why sir, just give
some Of 'cm n little Southern soap and a lit
tic Northern water, and quicker than q
hound pup can lick a skillet they will make
GpouCh bunc0me-lather to wash the golden
flock that roams abroad the azure meads of
heaven. (Checrs and laughter.) i allude
to the starry armament.
The Speaker. The gentleman is out Of or
der lie must conGne himself to the ques-
ton.
Mr.. Riley. just retain your linen, if you
please. I'll stick TO the text us close rs a
pitch plaster to to a pine plank, or a lean
pig to a hot jam rock. [Cries Of ,'go on. ~
want to say to these carLoneriferous gen
tlemen, these igneous individuals, these de.
t~onating demonstrators, these pereginous
volcanoes, come on with your combustibles
I'll suck the gulf Of Mexico through a COOS,
quill. Laughter and applause. Perhaps
YOU think | am diminutiye tubers and SPAR,
in the mundane elevation. You may discov
or, gentlemen, you are laboring under q
great n misapprehension as though you Ia,
incinerated your inner Yestment.
Sir, we have. lost our proper position
Our proper position is to the zenith and ma
dir-our heads to the one, our heels to tn
other, at tight angles with the horizon
spanned by that azure are Of the lustrou
irmament bright with the corruscations c
inpumerable consultations, and proud as
speckled stud horse on a county court da,
6heers) But how have the mighty fallen
in The language Of the poet Silversmith.-
we haye assumed q sloshindicular or a dia,
anological position. And what is the cause
Echo answers ''buncome," sir, 'buncome.
The people have been fed on buncomb,
while n lot Of spawned, splithoofed. diStemp
cred, pollevilled, pot belIied politicians hay
had their noses in the public crib until thel
amt fodder enough left to make a Cruel {
n sick grasshopper. CHEERS and laughter
Sir, these hungry brats keep tagging at II
pap. They say, let down your milk, Suck
or you'll have a split bag Do they thiI
they can stuff such buncome down yo
crawl No, sir you might as well try
stuff cutter in a wild cat with a hot awl.
The public grindstOne is a great instit
ton, sir--yes, sir, . great institution. D