The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-01-29


Banks. His movements are therefore NOR
marked. Sitting, as 1t were, among adverse
ries, his first movements on addressing tn,
House, have a sort of self-distrusting timid
ity of utterance and manner, which fascin
ates attention. So soon as his voice, which
| is not sustained in register, is generally au
dible, he is then sure of complete attention
so long as he chooses to speak, He employed
no notes, but clear, crystal stream of SEN
timent, soberiy toned by. acute reasoning
fell from his lips for just an hour and half
in which more was said than in the previous
seven days on the same subject. He apollo.
giZed for speaking, saying that he had nc
thought of taking part until within shor
time, but that his heart and head approved
OF some words on the pending bill. ani
some questions germane thereto. This was
followed by a rapid. exhaustive resume OF
the constitutionality of the measure. AS hs
went on discriminating with analytical
grasp the constitutional aspects of the ques
cited because of his peculiar position, was
changed into absorbed interest. In vi9or-
Gus equalization Of law, logic and
reason, by. which his faith was iusti-
fed, he appealed only to reason: There
heard with glistening eyes, clenched hands
and grinding teeth, with repugnance, in
dignation, and incredulity, but this man
nursing almost the same themes, asked only
the rational judgment of his hearers, and
tricksfn expression to recommend his rea-
soning !, the House. "A House which had
heard with hostile federation, but without
surprise the foolish State Rights issue ofthe
Virginian Tucker, who argued with the ac-
curacy OF a lawyer and the readiness of a
professor-for he had been both-listened
with amazement to az argument against it
by mana typical Southerner. The Re-
publicans listened in stupefaction. Had
wisdom finally come upon the COnfederates !?
1nr1 wx,1,< 1rad trnf lad frw H..
cause now grounding arms and sho wing
unanswerable cause for the civil as well as
the military surrender. Ready, audaciOus,
his piercing eyes fixed upon
men who opposed his argume nts, he poured
out an exposition OF natfonalism and consti-
tutionalism which equaled in effect ~ a7a
ONE OF wEBsTER's MASTERPIECES,
Remembering this mans place, the real
leader of the South politically. and the sue
cessor of Davis in the Senate; the scene was
in every sense the most surprising re-
Gently witnessed in this House of revolu-
tions and surprises. He went square
to the root of the States Rights argument.
and expressed, in a few vigorous thrusts,
the doctrinary idiosynerasies of Judge
Tucker, revealing to that learned iurist
points of constitutional law, national pres-
edeut and State policy, which even that
overlooked. Not a natiQnP' he asked,
throwing his fine head back and raising his
arms, "a people who repealed again and
again foreign invasion, who equipped ma
vies, who accoutred the most tremendous
armies the world ever saw. who conducted
four years of civil war and who recovered
from it-not a nation Can any man read
the record and deny the majestic sovereign
ty of our nationality l'' The House, which
followed line and precept with, immovable
1t was the testimony OF jurists present
that as an argument the constitutional part
of the speech was the most clearly put and
the most coherent recently delivered in
either House. While the keenest attention
of the House was still fastened upon him,
and the weight of his argumenthad visibly
taken its Intended effect. Lamar passed to
another theme. He singled out Townsend,
who made such acapital speech last week, to
deliver word of reprOach. That gentleman,
conscious of what was coming, began to
laugh com placently as Lamar alluded to his
jocose comments on the personal appear
ances of ex-cOnfederatee, but, his laugh died
out and chagrin took its place as the speak
er, with measured, almost pathetic, accents
reminded him of the mischievous results of
his Preston Brooks illusions. 1t was not
friendly. it was not patriotic, it was not de-
cent. The noble American who suffered
wrong at the hands of Brooks left his SEN
timenis on record and that sentiment should
shame those who seek to perpetuate dis
cords and enmities that were buried ten
CoiS dku. ~ foHCCPeiou "a bLC fSdi cl-
fectiyeness of Lamar's utterances can be
given by the cold language of comment.
Blaine, tightly squeezed between both
hands until nothing but his hair, ears, nose
and mouth were discernible, cplored visibly.
dropped his eyes before Lamar's gaze, and
MOVED REsTLEssLY IN HIS SEAT. 3.
Townsend, whose face is naturally flame.
coughed irresolutely, turned in his seat
and looked the very picture of discomfort
Indy 1eyyt frn Off, nf mr. nd he
comment of the town, the speech was the
most mastery in moderation, exhau tive in
argument, and captivating in method sc
far delivered. 1t told on every soul.