Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-01-03
Washington.

DECEMBER 18th.
Though we have still rumors of war.
yet imagine there will be no need of
arming for battle. Our papers are full
of sensational news, that need official
confirmation and are now getting it.
Yesterday in the House, irate little
Sammy Cox made a great bluster
over his theory of belligerant rights,
and the august body did not pay much
heed to his theory. There were pros
pe.:ts of a personal encounter. serted
however, by the Speakers gavel which
came down just i the nick of time. 1t
is no unusual thing, this spectacle of
threatened encounter, between men,
bers who do not love one another ac-
cordlng to the Golden Rule, and the gal
leries at least have become so demoral-
lied as to feel real disappointment in
debate that does not end in general
fisti-cuff.
Mr.. Alex Fl. Stevens 70 GeOrgia)
speech on Thursday, was the occasion OF
q marked ovation toward a man. who, OF
all others, had least reason to expect it.
Mr.. Stevens said that he never expected
| to occupy again a seat in the House, and
| though he cannot now be said to fill
| one, yet he is perhaps, the most remark
ed man, fhe has the least weight of any
| one on the floor. Mr.. Stevens is very
thin, and bent and feeble. He only
| stays few moments of each morning
in the House; and may be said to be a
| fit representative of the lost cause.
| The personel of the House is greatly
changed, by the presence of many ad-
dit ional members. The new apportion-
ment has necessarily increased the num-
ber of Representatives, and among these
there are a few at least who will become
men of mark. Mr.. Lyman Tramaine,
of New York, is sufficiently celebrated
in his profession already, to have prom
inence in the House debate. He is a
stout, good looking, middle-aged lawyer
and in the speeches he has made, exhib-
its sound, practical common sense, ratll-
er than apy briIliancy, or magnetism OF
style or manner.
trict, presents good personal exterior,
together with considerable confidence OF
manner. l doubt if he has much men,
tai weight, and predict that there is as
much of him to-day, as there will be
two or three years hence, perhaps more.
LIN little encounter with Judge Law.
renee, of Ohio, he exhibited want OF
personal control and dignity that will OF
necessity operate against any favorable
impression he hopes TO create in debate
Gen. Garfield IAN old member) made
a thoughtful speech, in which there was
more philosophy than usually falls from
the lips of a member of the House. Mr.
Garfield though, is not possessed OF
much personal magnetism, which, after
all, is a powerful weapon of oratory and
does not possess the ear of the House tr
the degree that his mental excellence en-.
titles him. I. predict of him also, thai
he has reached the extent of his growth
in public estimation.
Perhaps it reflects somewhat upon the
House in various ways, to insist that Mr.
Butler, of Massachusetts,, is it's leader
yet, since Mr.. Blaine is from his posi-.
ton debarred the title, one must accord
it to the indonlitable hero of New Or
leans and Fort Fisher. You have but te
cast most superficial glance over the
debaters upon any question. to see his
influence every where. He holds the
pulse Of affairs in his hand. and times
his action according to Its beats. He is,
perhaps, demagogue, but he knows
the weakness of public men and rules
more through them than through public
sentiment. In fact l imagine that he
cares very little for the people, knowing
that even in this Republic, t'the people,
or twill of the people" to be a very
vague, shatlowy substance.