Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-14
Some Noted Congrcssmen.

field day in the House Of Representatives
during the last congress, will give one abuu-
dant illustration of this principle. First to
attract attention is Butler, who comes in
with a swagger, gives his hat and cane TO a
page, and marches insolently up to the per.
son who may be speaking upon the floor as
though he were going to resent an insult
If the speech is likely to interest him, he
will stand within few feet Of the speaker
watching, like a bulldog ready for a spring
If he does not scent game he will turn his
back and stalk off TO his desk, or TO hold
conversation with a friend When he
speaks, he stands in the area in front of the
clerks desk, and pours forth to the crowd
that gathers round n torrent Of mingled
sense, sarcasm and personal abuse that tells
OH friend and on foe 1t is somewhat anus
ing to hear him appeal to principle and his
own past record; but setting all this aside,
there is no man on the floor that can say so
much that is TO the point, that is listened to
more intently, or that talks more immon
sense than this member from the Essex dis
trict. Often he willmake his way blythe sheer
force Of argument lie can carry even the
dead weight Of his character and bear down
prejudice. II it were not that he shows the
same front In presenting good arguments
and bad, in telling truth and falsehcod if
il were not that he is known to be unscrupu-
lous, and felt 10 be Enthusiastically in short,
If it were not for his character, he would be
the peer Of every man in the House
When Dawes rises in his seat, another
crowd gathers. You see at once that they
are not attracted by his oratory. Whatever
his voice may once have been, YOU feel, a.
you bend over the gallery, you would like
10 ask him to clear his throat and speak
little louder. Nor is his language specially
brilliant, nor are his thoughts striking. Like
Mark Antony, he is ga plain, blunt man"
and "speaks right on" But every word
tells, for he is the Father Of the House, and
his record is unspotted. lie is rich ia cxIe-
rience, and the rich are always heard lie
commands attention, for he has earned CON
idence. 1t is not the modest man, with the
careworn face, that Is speaking 1t is the his
torical man, who held the Craftsmanship Of
the committee on ways and means during
the war Aud though he may Toe no match
for Butler in repaf.ee, he will come off VIC
torious every time, for, whatever he may say
or not say, the people know that he is right-
aud that hail is as sensitive 70 public opinion
as whispering gallery.
Beck, of Kentucky, one OF the democratic
| leaders, will be sare TO claim notice Young,
strong, active, bold he win demand attention
when he rises, and he win generally have
something to say. But his brief record is
thought to be not without stgiu and his
every movement is so manifesty for party
capital, that his words viii DC largely die
/ counted. That which is unseen aud uuhcad
by the listener in the gallery Is evidently
working against him.
On the Other side rises Horace Maynard.
tall and thin, with his long hair falling
down about his face lie speaks slowly and
with hesitation that is surprising In enc Of
his experience. lie ask FOR information and
raises questions about the law and the few
words that he says are received with a res
pect that is not wholly due to their intrinsic
worth. lie has long head forpolitics, and.
like Henry Wilson, is recognized as a good
party manager; but he has kept his record
pure. lie has behind him the confidence Of
the public.
Aud now a man rises who looks like a for
gotten Senator Of the past age. His over
coat is buttoned tight--if that could be
called tight which seems 10 cover loose
sack Of bones. His black gloves look as
though they concealed the claws Of bird.
lie slowly lifts the silk hat that la. sheltered
his head from draughts in room that has
been kept at summer heat and mounts upon
crutches that have been lying against his
chair. 1t is Alexander II. stephens. Mem
bers gather about without distinction Of
party but the old man is not going TO whis-
per. lie raises his voice almost 70 a shrek, and
pumps out his speech few words at a time,
gaspng at each effort as though itwere his last.
It is about the constitution. where there
is no law, sin is not imputed" Good doe
trine, if the application only be just. But
the old mans power is not in his words. II
is his viii aud his loyalty to his princi-
pies. You are forced TO admire and respect,
even though you may no. love,
One more speaker. 1t is the young and
scholarly member from New jersey. w.
w phelps is an orator. He has aucnoy, pas
sion and wit. He follows Dawes and keeps
the crowd spell-bound. His two years
record is without stain, even though his ac-
ton on the civil rights bill did lose him his
seat lie has wealth and culture. He has
in past years been called the leader of
Young Yale" Only one thing has kept
him from being leader in the House, and
that is his youth. Character is the growth
of years. His growth gives rare promise,
but it is not complete. Emerson gave us a
motto to start upon, and he can give US one
to close. "The persuasion Of mems speech
is not in what they say; men do not con-
vince by their argument, but by their per-
sonality-by who they are, andrwhat they
said aud did heretofore c. M