The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-04-18
AUSTIN CORRESPONDENTS.
w. n. DeIamy-J. n. simpson-B. n. EP-
person-Personnel Of the Fourteenth
I.eVfnl0fure.

Personnel oi the fOurseens
!. LegisIature. y M N. .,
II requires something more than
hasty acquaintance TO form c"rreo
. estimate of men whose mindsour Mas
- - ter nas stamped with the. impress o
Is genius or even pronounced ability. No
% Is it less difficult to select from ninet.
n representative men the leaders II
thought, the moving spirits of our IN
telligent legislative assembly. Tn
9 writer has marked with warm interes
! the prominent men ofthe fourteenth
}, legislature, and proposes to sketch thos'
: men whose influence will likely affec
the interest of this great state, ant
! whose names bid fair to be closely
identified with the political history O
Texas.
On the extreme left, as you enter the
isle of the hall Of representatives, sits
Colonel. w. S. Delany, a man ofnO or
dinary mild. In his personal appear
ance, Colonel Delany is rather strik-
ing; his intensely black hair, equally
dark moustache, brilliant eye, hansome,
clear cut face, coupled with tall, COM
manding form briefly outlines the man.
His manner is pleasing, his conversa-
tion delightful and his speeches uni
formly characterized bya depth of ar
gument and copiousness of diction
rarely equaled In the house. He pos
sesses the rare power Of making him
self felt whenever he addresses the
house. He is a polished lawyer, and
an eloquent and skillful advocate, as is
evidenced by his speech III impeach-
ment and contested election cases be-
fore the senate. He has introduced
many important measures and works
steadily for the best interests of the
state. His appointment as chairman
of the most important committee of
the house is Indicative of his influence
and of the regard in which he is held
by all.
Directly upon the right, as you enter
the isle, and Immediately in front Of
the speaker is the seat Of the member
from Liberty, Hon. j.. B. Simpson.
His appearance Is also remarkable.
Tall, slender, but well formed and
neatly dressed, are but generalities in
his personnel. His face, but for its
calm, grave expression, would be con-
sidered boyish. 1t is smooth, very
pale, very expressive, thoughtful face,
lighted up at times In the heat of
debate with a peculiar and indescriba-
BILE magnetism that I have often
thought would wonderfully affect a
jury. With light hair, dark grey eyes,
and hands as fair and small as a
woman's-high, wide forehead and
jaws rather firmly set, and you have O.
brief description of one among the
youngest, but perhaps most influential
members of the fourteenth legislature.
He is q favorite manifestly with the
house, for his uniform courtesy,
pleasant, quiet, unobtrusive manners,
joined with an address that is certainly
agreeable, ifnot fascinating, deseryedly
makes him SO. He, likewise, is tire
less worker and is stamping many
Of the most important laws with
the impress of his versatile
genius. He is the author of the s'Fire
and Marine insurance BILL" and the
"Life insurance BILL" both of infinite
Importance to the state, and calculated
to save her millions of dollars.
The university bill,n which con-
templates and provides for the estab-
lishment of the grandest institution of
learning on the continent, having for
its endowment over fifty leagues Of
land, and a half million of money,
was framed and introduced by this
gentleman. His bill to "Define usur-
patton in Office, and affix the penalties
thereto,n did more to cause the radicals
of the state to loose their grip upon
offices, than any measure introduced in
either house. The "Public weighers'
bi1," framed in the interest of the
planters of Texas, has given this
young gentleman more prominence
than aught else. His manly defense
against the attacks of the Galveston
News, and bis defeat Of the entire Gal
weston delegation, who sought to sus-
tain that paper, will long be remem- !
heTed. So trenchant was his defense,
and so brilliant was his invective, that
this powerful sheet was at once placed
on the defensive, and forced to fall
back on labored editorials in support Of
its Jeffersonian democracy. i
Further down the isle on the right,
and nearly in front of the speaker, sits
COLONEL h. H. EPPERs0N,
one of the ablest politicians In Texas,
Colonel Epperson has q fine, strong
face, penetrating eyes, q small tuft Of
beard upon his chin, evidently dyed
from 10 blackness. He is somewhat
lame In one leg, being supported while
walking by his cane. This gentleman
is an excellent debater and most elo-
guent speaker. He evidently possesses
that knowledge of men which Is only
obtained by close observers and deep
thinkers. His Judgment, when once
taken, Is accurate and comprehensive.
His voice is distinct and penetrating,