Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-24
T T

WASHINGTON, ID. e., Jan. %, 1876 -dere,
in this great workshop of the country, where
laws are made and mended, where greenbaeks
are ground out Of the National PAPER mill, and
oil for governmental machinery is freely How
ing; where those ofhigh and low degree miDg'e
10 Que iDdistinguishable .hrong, pursuing thai
Fortune, which ever plays hide and seek with
eager hearts; here, in this beautiful, gay, and
busy city, | have come to look and learn.
On Wednesday | had the pleasure OF hear
ing an able speech 10 the House of Representa-
tivcs from MIR. John Randolph Tucker, OF
Virginia. The old State has sent o talented
delegation to Congress this session, where the
weight aod purity of their doctrines WILL l
feel sure, make a due impression.
May Fidelity to Truth, Justice and Modera-
ton chiefly distinguish their service. being
guided by that Wisdom which the sweet uses
of Adversely alone can purchase!
|. had been announced 10 the morning pa
pers that MIR. Tucker would address the House
that day, and by 8 p. H., Notwithstanding the
incIement weather. the galleries were filled
with an expectant audience, impatient of delay.
For half an hour before he rose Ito a close
observer) Mr.. Tucker exhibited unmlstakable
signs of nervous agitation, twisting and turn
ing 10 his chair, folding and unfolding his man
~uscript, taking large potations of one OF Ma
lures best gifts to man, watching the CLOCK,
then the Speaker, and evidently conscious OF
but one thipg-ts.at be was about to make bis
maiden speech 10 Congress, and that be hour
had struck when be must worlhlly represent
"the mother of States and of statesmen" be-
fore the country.
Mr.. Tucker is a man of fine appearance and
graceful maDner. His arguments against the
Constitutionality ottheC Centennial Appropriation
we're logical and convincing, arranged With a
method and ~clearness that attest his acquire
ments as a scholar, his ability as a thinker, and
mis- cleveruess as a debater. Frequently inter-
rupted, be always found a ready response when
challenged, and by wit and better learning
maintained his advantage over those who
sought to weaken his position by raising side
issues and asking irrelevant and, (in bis own
words,) idle questions.
1t was truly gratifying to see a man bold
enough to declare bis convictions of Duty indie
fapce Of popular prejudice, and brave enough
to think Honesty the best policy. IT'S true,
the "Lc g~islative Lion may not regard such
threads of g~ossa1Der as Constitutional ~restric-
tions, but, tbs well for the hand of Truth TO
point to the letters.
Mr.. Tucker represents a tax-burdened and
impoverished people, and be wisely remembers
that Inconsistencies a jewel"
To "be just before We are generous" is a
maxim haze 10 follow, especially When the bur-
den Of personal responsibility can be rolled
upon the shoulders of that old Atlas, PRO
bono publco.
But our orator did not fail to express the
sympathy Virginia feels 10 toe occasion, now
the subject of SO much discussion. He said she
would be present 10 the six fair daughters she
had given to the Union. l thick he ought to
have said the seven" cot Including West
Here I would briefly recall that act of unparaI-
ielled generosity rn the part OF the Old Do
minion when in earlier tim IS she laid an Em.
pire at the feet of Liberty and Union.
A hundred years ago the subject that per.
p~etually disturbed the harmony of our infant
republic was the question of territory, involv-
ing the equilibrium of power. The chief i'm
pediuent to "a new and more perfect union''
seemed to be the vast area of Virginia. For
the public veal she voluntarily dismembered
her fair domain and bestowed upon the gene
raj government all her possessions northwest
of the Onio river, forever dedicating the gift
to the non.slave holding power Of the North,
in whose favor, by this ac;, the balance of
power has permanently settled.
Time fails to tell how the stipulation that
not more than FIVE States should ever be made
out of the coded territory has been disregard
ed, and of how the desire for empire and un.
checked dominion has marked the course Of
the Northern State. for a century. A blight
ing and devastating war has been the painful
climax Of this struggle, and Virginia the
darkest and bloodiest ground Of the conflict.
But, when on the hundredth anniversary of
American independence, Ohio, Indiana, Iii.
nois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Da-
c2tah shall in that grand assemblage of United
States speak Of their broad vallIes and high
mountains, of their teening millions, their
wealth, their Industry, aud their progress, the
Mother of them all will listen from afar with
throbbing pulse, calming, waiting for that more
suspicious day when she will once ore radi-
antly appear, personatl0g her OWL chosen de-
vice, and 10 full possession of her ancient lib.
erty and power.
After this long depression, and before drop
ping the curtain upon the scene in the House
Of Representatives before described, / would
say that every Firginian present must have
been pleased to see in Mr.. Tucker so brave a
defender of the faith.
Frequent reference to his notes marred the
halmoay and effect Of his speech as an aesthe.
tic production, and perhaps when time has
cooled his ardor and Gained bis impassioned
delivery he will be a more finished orator,
bleeding repose with energy, but DO gift of
time can make him more acceptable to his own
people or more worthy of their proud conf
dcnce. POWHATAN. IA
Congress-.
The following proceedings of Congress on
r. - 1 =