The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-07-11
S1acshane In vvashington.
LErTER NUMBER SEVEN.
Hon. .Inhn Coro<7s

Hon. John C0Uode.
This very distinguished individual demands
more than passing notice, and rhalI dedi-
cate this letter entirely to hisservice. Ira
dition has not handed down much about his
parentage. or even his early life. The first
we hear of him we find him engaged in the
scoot business-a vocation for which he still
has strong attachment. SO much so. that
it is said be has himself been a little aooollg
several times. He did not assume very
much status, politically, until that highly
intellectual organization, the Know Noth-
ings, made him one of its sturdiest cham
pions, and he has literally "held his own,
ever since.
cars at Lockport, and travelled via. Harfiss
burg and Baltimore to Washington citv.
1t is intimated that he was mistaken in the
character of the first boarding house he
adopted. Be this as it may, he soon became
q character.
Nearly every Congressman had some pc
culiarity of person or mind-some distin-
gushing mental or physical feature Long
John Wentworth was the tall member Of
Congress, Ed. Nj M'Pherson was the slightest.
cfiitenden was the oldest. The peculiarity
of the great Daniel Webster was the size oI
his head. and it was matter of notoriety that
he could purchase no hat in Washington
large enough, and was compelled to have his
hats made to order.
The great personal characteristic of Co
yode was that. in the language of sbluff7'
players, he s'carTieG a monstrous hand p
After he found that gloves were worn as an
article OF dress IN tie Federal city he sought
to purchase a pair, but after a full search
among all the glcsers, he could not find q
pair of kids that would be .sdrawed on. y
So he 6oasted that if Webster had the larg-
est head he hadsth largest hand in Congress.
When it was suggested by some disloyal
scamp that Coyode had not left Congress
with clean hands," Old Abe humorously
retorted that no one man could keen a pair
of hands the size of Coyode's clean all lhe
time. g
Mr. Covode, though ready iebater. has
only delivered one speech, but he has made
that one great many times His style is
very free-neyer trammelled by the Queen 5
Engiish-and he occasionally says a good
thing by playing upon language. In reply
ing to some charges of the opposite party he
boldly proclaimed. IL deny the allegation :
care not who the alligator is. y And again.
when discussing the liberal views of his par
ty, he warns with. his theme, and. sshis
eyes IN fine frenzy rolling he enunciates
fact that cannot be gainsayed in regard to
great many radicals. when he asserts. Il
am as good friend of liberty as any man
livIng-so are all republicans-we are all
IibertiHes" 50
Though having no great claims to author
ship, DIR. Covode modestly admits that he
has acrlt one of the largest books in the Eng
lish language" This Is the Report of the
celebrated Kansas Investigating Committed.
Is has been pronounced very entertaining.
but have never met man that has read it
through.
his style, on ordinary topics, is free and
lntelliglble. Take the following: Governor
Curtin is addressing meeting in Covode's
district. and refers to the fact that the demo,
Gratis are importing votes. With admirable
strategy Mr.. G. twitches the skirt of Andy,s
coat. and hands him the following penciL
sketch: "Guvner, I guess It's best not to
say much on that subjick. It's corn toppin'
time, and think can beat 'em at colDn:z-
IN. accordin' TO my fggers, about. three
hunderd votes.v
E His attack on B. F. Butler, when he al
legged that articles which he had sent TO our
prisoners through the care of Butler never
reached them, was very pointed. 1t was
doubted. however, by many whether Covode
had ever sent them, for while all agreed that
Butter was thief, IT was equally certain
that Covode was liar. and where only one
Of the two could be guilty of his favosite
failing. public sentiment was much divided
as to which it was
Covode, though wealthy. is sparing Of
capital. and spells God with a small e. Ills
exclamation, in the commencement Of one
OF his letters GLORY 20 god 20 like that OF
honest, " has been often ironically prefixed
to his name. When the pious Wilson was
asked the cause of his aversion to Covoae.
the Yankee replied that sshe never could ad-
mire man who spelt God with little q,
and blowed his nose in his fingers
MAoSHAEE.
TO s,OwCUr~ ~mC1--.