Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-16


HIS CHARACTERISTICS, APPEARANCE AND pprs.
ART or DRESS IN CONGREss-ToIfrrs or ~.
NASDo woop SUNSET cox, GENERAL BuRYsIpF
AND EX-GOVERNOR wAtKER-THF nrprnItc,x
LEADERS OF TITr HoUsE-TIIRrF Nor M :, 80
ING coNGREssMRN.
WAsuISGroS, d. C., February 12 1876
Mcs1s Editors The principal event OF tho
week at the Capitol has been the speech of NJ,
Blaine on the financial question This speech ho.
been expected all through the session, and much
interest was felt in lis delivery The wide-spread
fame which the gallant ex-speaker has gained of
late by the remarkable ability displayed by him
during the debate on the amnesty bill, has made
him the chief attraction in Congress Since tha,
debate he has hardly risen in his seat in the
House, and this first opportunity TO hear him
since his greatest triumph was seized upon with
avidity. Tho House was filed from pt 10
dome" The speech was, without doubt. a pre.
sentatlon Of the ablest arguments for specie nav.
menis that have been offered during the presen,
session lie cited the causes which led TO tho
issue OF paper currency, and said that while per.
haps there was a constitutional provision for such
a course It was issued in the midst Of sectional
war, when the unwritten law Of self-preseryation
was even higher one than constitutional enaet.
ments The speech occupied an hour in lis de.
livery, and was listened to with close attention by
the members and the large audience which filled
every, available space ON the floor and In the gal
enes Mr. Blaine, whenever he gets on his feet
is bound to make a success. As an orator he 4.
iorcible, earnest aud rapid in delivery, and Dos.
sesses an abundance Of magnetism which never
fails 10 draw the undivided attention Of his
hearers Ills presence is commanding, and there
is a consciousness Of power that cannot be over.
looked His fgureis prepossessing and, although
bordering towards the condition sometimes known
~ fluffy" IL is well knit and thoroughly and
compactly rounded, while his face, though hardly
to be called handsome, has a look Of great power
and honest nobility. IFS movements are sur.
prisingy quick and he has the appearance Of be.
ing always on the Qii rire, whether addressing
the House, walking about the lobby or reading a
newspaper, he seems always prepared for any
emergency and gathers inspiration at seconds
notice for the evigencie. Of the occasion
In dress Mr. Blaine is thoroughly up to the
modern standard lie wears the double-breasted
frock-coat which gives him a compact appear
ance that never fails to impress a loosely dressed
crowd lie generally wears two buttons buttoned
and allows the rest Of the coat 10 roll 50 AZ to show
very neat shirt There is, also, dignity about
closely -buttoned double-breasted rock coat that
can be found In no other article Of a mans ward
robe Fernando Wood would lose nine-tenths Of bis
| impressive dignity were he to put on a sack coat,
like that worn by Sunset Cox for instance, and
lounge about in the way assumed by some Of his
Western brethren lie always wears long black
coat that buttons tightly up 10 his throat, and
looks as II he were melted down every night aud
run into his clothes every morning He is always
| easy in his manners, however, and IN this respect
he has worthy follower la Ex-Governor Walker
Of Virginia " the handsomest man In the House
The latter j. about the same high, as Fernando
has fnely-shaped head, promaturely gray, a
smooth face and kindly eye, and loves to walk
about the aisles aud chat with the members, as he
is a great iavonte with them, as well a. the chief
admirats Of the ladies IN the gallery. Probably
the worst dressed man In the House is Sunset
Cox He always wears a bobtail sack coat and
bobtail sack coat never fails to damn little
uan. Ills clothes would not bring ten-and-siH-
pence at an auction store in the country but he
has the rare faculty Of making the general public
forget the deficiencies Of his dress in the sparkle
and wit Of his agreeable conversation. The beet
dressed man in the Senate is General burnside
lie affects the undress military style and in his pc
euliar cravat waistcoat and original colors, never
/
was once tailor, we believe in his early days
and his training tells for bin. in many nice point.
Of art which escape oth-r men.
Turning FROM this somewhat desnltory dis
QUESTION on congressional dress, let US look for
moment at the present Congress. as to tile
E record Of its promised leaders In the House,
E it was generally conceded at tie beginning Of tile
session, that Blaine would be the leader Of the Re
E publican side, which has been fully verified.
That side Of the House has certainly brought for
ward more ability than has the democratic side.
Much OF this has also, been Of an unexpected
kind Judge Wheeler Of New York, is without
doubt, without superior in the House. In poin,
Of learning or sound statesmanship. but, rs yet,
: he has had bat little to say, this course he can
afford, however, as his reputation is safely esab-
lished in as well as out Of Congress Gen. Gar
field is Of too nervous temperament to sit still
under any circumstances, and has, therefore,
been among the foremost in almost every debate
Of the session. 1t is, We believe, generally admit
4 ted that he has added 10 his former reputation,
during the present term, despite his great volubil-
ity. Hoar Of Massachusetts, has done very little,
while Kasson, Of Iowa, has done great deal and
4. shown his experience and ability to good adyan-
tage. OF the other old leaders In the House there
is the Oldest Of them ALL Judge Kelley. who is be-
q coming more and more fayorite with the de
mocracy, for his advocacy Of amnesty and paper
currency Hale, Of Maine, is somewhat premi-
, men; In debate is man Of much learning talks
a little too deliberately for the House and is also
noted as quite a ladies' man. The Republican
who has made the greatest hit Of the session, and
that, too, at his debut in Congress, is Martin l.
! rownshend, of New York His wit, as well As
his other abilities Of head and heart, is bound to
wear well, and he is sure to be prominent in the
councils Of the Republican side so long he ~
mains Then there Is McCmry, Of Iowa, who is
talked quite strongly for the Presidency, and
, is rising member
1t has often been remarked In tke hearing OF
your correspondent that, out OF the many whc
were not returned this term, there were three
who are especially missed in Congress this winter
and those three were Matt Carpenter Luke Po-
land and Ben Butler From the especially promi
nent position which each OF the three held in Con
gress, it could not well be otherwise, and it is ne
depreciation OF their successors that the fact is gen
orally Acknowledged The latter has been much
DETAINED for his radical propensities, but it Is nov
admitted by his old defamers that such principles
are just what is needed in the House, under IL
present democratic rule. Ex-senator Carpenter Is
, now temporarily located inWashington has opened
an office on I street and is busily engaged in
practice before the higher courts His great legal
abilities are in constant demand before the highest
/ tribunals OF the country, where he is recognized
Of the ablest Of his profession. His success
sor in the Senate, Mr.. Cameron is mentioned for
the Yice-P Presidency, which causes many OF the
warm friends and admirers OF the ex-senator to
predict his return TO the Senate at an early day.
e This may be the case, even II such contingency
should not arise SOL
r GnEAr FIRE IN NEW York CRY, A destrue-
tive fire occurred In New York city, on Tuesday
/ the Sth instant. It originated at about hall past
I six O'Clock in the evening, in the block bounded
a on the west by Broadway, on the east by Crosby
4 street, on the north by Grand street. and ON 'he
r south by Howard street. The Continental hotel Is
heap of ruins and about thirty other houses are
reduced to ashes. The fire commenced at 40
A Grand street, and burned down to Crosby street.
+ and then back again, ill the whole block was
| Of thirty thousand