The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-04-06
Hon. JIM. How. rdin the Senate
" AsEISGTOS. D G..
March a4Ih- lkf4.


March 24th, 1854. |
Editor Of the Lan,ing Republican. This
has been proud DAY fer Achigan in the United
States Senate The wisdom o; te Les stature
Of that State. for 1861 >. which dzreearded al
questions Of locality AID voted ii1s'i8s atssiy to
place the hon Jacob NJ Howard 10 tbs Senate
Of the United States. has been fully demonstrated
on more than one occasion since he has occupied
seat ia that body. The argument be made,
ard / think il vas his first speech after be en-
tered the Seuate) showing that Congress had the
right. under the Constitution, to make treasury
notes Il" i>gal tender in all monetary traussc-
lions. decided the vote OF that body on that oc-
oa.on This Is admitted by .ho.e Who opposed
that measure. His speech On Coudscat.on.'
which carried conviction TO the MUD OF every
one who heard il, a. well as those Who read it
will not soon be forgotten by hepeope ct thi-
county. Mr. Howard had long .nce been &C
knowlecged as the ablest debater, and most log
ical reasoner in the Senate by al odds; even
the old door keepers, Who seldom listen 10 the
speeches OF Senators, call him the Webster o.
the SENATE" But the greatest a glmeut he has
made before, here, when he held T., the galleries
and all spell bound, for three hours, is lst fu-
ished His logic was irresistible. HIS satire
most whitening and cutting tie thrust BIS
probing knife TO the Hit IL stripped The mask
from the mock neutrality OF Kentucky, in man
ner that made her too dislosal Senators hide
their faces for very shame.
The occasion which called Mr.. Howard ont,
was furious onslaught by Senator Powell a ie"
days since, in speech which occupied nearly
tWo days in its delivery in which he attacked
the Government OF the United States, aud the
administration OF President Lincoln, in every
conceivable manner poss. ole. A fercer TRADE
against the Government and the Administration
could not have been made by Jefferson Davi-
himself. GMret Davis-Go Powel's colleague
- ad also been splitting out his venomous cop
perhead poison against the Government Tor sew
era weeks past; at all times and on all occasions
when opportunity offered for him to hiss and
strike his poisonous fangs into the heart of the
Government, he Judas ike" is pretending to
serve. Davis is Of 100 little consequence TO &C
cupy the attention Of any Senator, in anything
more than a temporary lsshing, such as Mr..
Howard gave him a short tine since, il an ex-
tempore talk of about twenty minutes duration.
But Governor Powel Is quite different charac-
ter He is a man Of talent-hghly educated
an eloquent speaker-a man Of Influence among
bis fellow men, which certainly must be the
case, or he could not have risen to tie high po
sitons he has so often occupied in the State OF
Kentnckv.
When a Senator of that character and stand
ing, makes deliberate ard premedtated attack
on the Government at such q time a. the present
it is absolutely necessary that be should be an
swered, and not go unrebukei; and this Mr..
Howard has done effectuslly.
| cannot but call to mind a remark made bv
Mr. John Quincy Adams in 1912, when he and
Mr. Howard we're members of the House OF
Representatives. Mr.. Howard had just finished
a well prepared argument in support of prOtec
i've tariff. when Mr.. Adans-who had been all
attention. during its delivery-sa:d TO friend OF
mine, a. remarkable young man sir, is this
Mr. Howsrd. II lie lives, he will one day stand
- 20
great defender OF the American Union, now
stands" The old man eloquent" seems al.
most TO have been gifted with a prophetic Wis
ion Webster had met and anuihil4ted Hayne,
Of South Carolina in the United States Senate,
in az argument in defence of the Union, which
will live a. lorg as time shall last and this
"goang man OF whom Mr.. Adams spoke, has
lived TO meet 2 second Hayne. in the same Forum,
aud grind his teachings of the reasonable doc
trues Of bis prototype, as it were, to powder,
and scatter item to the winds of heaven.
If the patriotic members OF the Michigan Leg
islature, who had the courage TO disregard all
petty local jelloses as they old, aud place Mr..
Howard in he American Senate-could have
heard this great speech-they would have been
proud Of their State. proud of their nation aud
justly proud OF themselves, for that noble act.
The speech will undoubtedly be published, when
you will, Of course see it; but yon should have
heard it delivered to fully appreciate its force
and the effect produced