Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-06-25
!. D. Drake, U. s. Senator from Missouri.

c. D. Drake, U. S. Senator from Missouri
In 1859 and 1860, this gentleman was one o
the representatives from St. Louis, in the Mis-
souri, Legislature. He was then a brawling
demagogical Democrat He was particular,
noted for his propensity to ''gab," his pragma
teal arrogance, his interruptions cunning, hi
illlberality, and unfairness in debate, and fo
the merciless tomahawking inflicted upon hin
by Frank Blair, in the hall of the Senate, ane
the Quaker-like meekness with which he bore
it.
It was during the discussion of the "Bil
making final grant of State aid to certain
Main Trunk Roads," that Col. B. ii. Jones, o1
Marion, gave Drake the following thrust, which
had the happy effect of cooling the gentleman
ardor for several days:
Sir, call public attention to the fact, that
Notwithstanding this bill has been pending in
this body for some ten days, not single mem
ber has dared to raise his voice in advocacy o1
its provisions in detail. Where, ask you,. is
the man who has had the nerve to rise in his
place, and attempt to explain this bill, and
make regular argument in favor of its pass
age? Its friends evidently seek to avoid dis
cussion, as if conscious of its inability to with
stand the ordeal Of honest investigation. Who
does not recolect the course of the gentleman
from st. Louis, Mr.. Drake, Thursday even
ing? How illiberal, how ungenerous in ham, to
move the previous question" when he saw
that the gentleman from Andrew, Mr.. Hud-
gins, desired to address the House Who, sir,
has consumed so much of the time ofthis body,
as the very loquacious gentleman from Saint
Louis? Who, sir, has bored us oftener, or
bored us longer than he? And, upon this iden-
closing, who has been heard more fully and
more patiently? And now, after all this indul-
gence ON the part of the House, he, the gentle
man from st. Louis, has the hardihood to move
the previous question. Sir, that gentleman
owed it to himself, owed it to this body, to have
been the last, the very last man on this floor, to
have made that motion. But he is evidently
impressed with the idea that he is entitled to
special and peculiar privileges in this Legisla
ture. He is to speak when he sees fit, and as
long as he sees fit, and then he is to apply the
gag to each and every man who has the temeri-
ty to attempt reply. I, for one, feel disposed
to disabuse his mind of some of his peculiar no.
tlons. His course upon this foor and the plan
that propose to adopt in regard to him, / will
illustrate by an anecdote.
During the Shanghai and Bramah Pootra
fever in our country, there was a certain gentle
man who embarked very extensively in the
poultry raising business-so much so, that he
found it necessary to employ man to attend
exclusively to that department. Patrick o.
Flaherty was the man employed; and one of
the express stipulations Of the contract was,
that one fowl should not be allowed to put so
much as one grain more in his crop, than an
other. A failure on Patrick part, to faithful
ly carry out this stipulation, was to be followed
by an instant dismissal from service. Profound
ly impressed with the dignity and responsibility
of his position, Patrick at feeding time, repair
ed, basket in hand, to the poultry yard, and
was instantly surrounded by his feathered
charge, including venerable MuscovY oauke
Patrick at once proceeded to scatter his grain
broadcast upon the ground. and his indignation,
when he saw the old drake shovelling up, with
his broad bill, half dozen grains at a time,
can be better imagined than described The
contract was evidently being broken, and he
was in danger of losing his place. What was
to be done? The monopolizing capacity of the
aquatic gentleman, must be restricted Patrick
left the ground thoughtful; but, by the time
the hour for feeding had again come around, a
happy expedient had suggested ITSELF He
sharpened his penknife, and again wended his
way to the poultry yard. No sooner had the
corn ratified upon the ground, than with flap
and quack, the drake pitched headlong into
appropriate about ten shares to himself
Bad luck to ye We broad -mouthed spal-
peen, says Patrick, an its meself that'l be af-
ther taching ye betther manners than the likes
O. that! So, saiSing the unfortunate fowl, and
placing him securely under hisleft arm, Patrick
drew his penknife from his pocket, and after
deliberately whiting his drakeship's bill down
to sharp point, threw him upon the ground,
with Now botheration to the likes Of Ell
Take yer chance with the bobbed tail roos-
ters! Roars of laughter, and cries of
"good, good" from all parts of the House.
''Now, Mr.. Speaker, [ think it high time
our brakes bill were whitfield down, in order
that the bobbed-tail roosters may stand some
chance on this foor!' Renewed laughter and
applause