The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-02-28
Ripples at the Capital.
WASHINGTON. Enh l6lh-


| JErF. DEM.:-Beforc we go again tc
the gallery. lei us take good look al the
Speaker Galusha A. Grow. You have
heard Of him long time. and have a per
feclly well defined picture in your own
mind Of how he looks, which, of course,
is exactly wrong in every particular. lie
is the gentleman. you remember, who
Knocked down Keitt-Nho, by the way,
was too drunk to stand well alone-on
pleasant morning, in front OF the Speak
er's and Clerks desks, which would lead
10 the delusion that be must be a muscu
lar man. at least. MIR. Grow, the Speaker,
is very slight, well-made man, about
five feet seven, with a dark, salow face,
entirely hid, except the large black eyes
and well-formed nose, in black moustache
and beard, which together, by covering
the mouth, give muffl-d, fuzzy sound
10 his voice, which is the case OF most
men "in like cases offending" as OBJ
serve.
He is good presiding officer looks a
little diminu;ive; is often formal and fussy,
as most spins,ers Of his age are ap. 10 be;
is familiar with the rules, aud very pop
ular.
At his right hand. ard near enough 10
communicate readily, stands -,
{ forget the name, handsome, intel
ligent looking youth, slender and we'll
made. He is the "familar spirit" of the
Speaker ard the good genius OF puzzled
Chairmen Of Committees OF the Whole
House. He was, de fdcto, the speaker Of
the last House. Nursed almost in the
American House Of Representatives, and
learning its ru'es which are complex and,
to ordinary parlmentarians, wholly mex.
picabe, as he did his mothers language;
familiar with all their intricacies and ex.
pedients with his large, open eye. ever
watchiul, there he stands and even so
accomplished presiding officer ms the
present Speaker drops his ear anxIously
10 his informing lips. in all cases Of doubt
or perplexity. II he still hesitates, the
ready Page lays before him the text Of
the rule, and the precedent under it.
II Speaker, Page and book fail, the
never.yet.falling source Of inspiration sits
just below at the Clerks desk that large,
ilorid, well looking, elderly man, usually
at the extreme right Of the Clerks desk |;
and what he "does not know" or cannot
suggest, in this branch OF learning, prob.
ably has no exis,ence-at least, here.
"What is that thing standing at the
Speaker'sright .on that short column Of va
riegated marble? From here. it looks to be
about four feet long, bound with silver
straps. surmouneG with spread silver
globe, on which is perched small silver
eagle ?" That, JET. is the immortal, i'm.
maculate mace---tbe embodied emblem OF
sacred authority. The staff part is bum
die Of rods and an axe, in imitation Of the
badges of the elderly Roman Lictors.-
When the House opens, the Sergeant-at.
Arms reverenily bears it from his room,
and places it on its pillar, and, in the
event Of disorderly storm on the floor,
that defies the Speakers voice and ham
mer. this same functionary solemnly bears
this emblem into the mids, Of The chaotic
elements, which, in its presence. are sup.
posed a. once 10 chrystalize back 10 par
iamentary order and Congressional de.
corum, such as they are. .....
By the way, the principal Clerk, for a
marvel, is at his nomina! place, and we
must linger moment TO look AT him,
not so much because he is Clerk, as on
his own account. That is he, at the left
OF the Clerk's desk-Emerson Etheridge,
of Tenn.--well known 10 you and your
readers, long time leading member OF
the House from bis State, and now, like
Andy Johnson and Maynard, an exile
You see he has remarkably fine personal
advantages-is wei made, full chested
and sonable"-rather more than
good looking, with full blue eye, light
complexion and fine hair, large, we'll.
formed head, with the easy, half devil
may care, aoneh0lant air, which so well
becomes the easy, careless South western
gentleman. or high class OF talents
and requirements, Etberidge has remark.
able conversational powers, is fine
speaker, and has that indescribable mag
netism which attracts ordinary mortals 10
him al once, every one Of whom, in five
minutes, feels on terms OF confidential in
timacy with him. His personal sorrows
and the desolaton OF his State have lhro Sn
a dash Of melancholy over him, that takes
nothing from his individual attractions.
The neai termination OF ''the morning
hour" must prevent our contemplated
pen-sketching from the Ladies' Gallery,
this morning. Indeed, the dullness Of
the pen, and the listless. unnerved con-
6itlon Of the hand, with the distrait in
difference of the sketcher generally, ae-
monish him TO venture on nothing further.