Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-01

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ear caught every utterance. The paleness
of his complexion. varied with unhealthy
looking spots is deathlike, aid his hands so
skeleton like that he keeps them concealed
with light thread glove, which he never
leaves off in public. The mechanism of
his invalid chair is so delicate that weak
as he is, he moves himself with apparently
little effort any where over the hall floor,
and while addressing the house constantly
moves the wheels and turns it about from
side to side apparently as substitute for
the gestures he cannot make. His dress
is a black suit which hangs upon his frame
rather than fits him, and by courtesy OF
the house he wears constantly a large silk
hat which you are ever expecting to fall
over his head and shoulders and half cover
him. Only when addressing the house, Mr..
Stevens take off his hat and shows fine
head covered with thick clustering hair,
grey, but not a sign of badness. Perhaps
never in deliberative body before, has
there been seen so much of brain and so
little of muscle, and the Difference shown
by friend and foe alike to this shadow of
great man is absolutely touching. His
memory is as clear as his eye. When the
writer took his hand tenderly for fear of
hurting the poor shrinking member and
remarked II have had the pleasure of
meeting you before SIR ''Y esq he quick
ly replied I'm 1870 at my house in Craw-
fordville, that was about year after my
hurt; but am stronger now than l was
them" and proceeded to talk of his
friend Gen. Toombs and others, had
met at Liberty hail on the occasion refer
ed to. though Icould not pl ce the date
unit! had time to count back to it. His
appearaL ce in the debate and his skillful
management shall have occasion to re-
fer to hereafter.
But the hour Of u had arrived and |
and my Augusta friend repaired to the re-
porter'S gallery, where through the atten-
ton of Col. Gilman, The well-knoWn cor
respondent Of the Richmond "Dispatch,"
we secured an excellent point of 6bserva-
ton just above the speakers chair. On
alancing over the two hundred and
fifty congressional heads below, the first
thing that struck the writer was the large
proportion of bald crowns, and he at once
proceeded to take a census, and ascertain
ed by actual count that there were fifty of
the reverend semi rs bald-just one-fifth OF
those present. Comment is not in order
here; the reader can make it for himself.
SPEAKER RANDALL.
The eye is naturally directed at once to
the Speaker, where it rests pleasantly on
the good figure and handsome face OF Mr..
height, with dark hair and eyes; smoothly
shaved face. which is full and pleasan t; he
wears glasses, which he quickly removes
when he speaks; his words flow with great
ease, and he never seems 10 be at loss In
stating point or giving decision. AL
together his appearance makes an agree
able impression on the stranger, which fur
ther acquaintance does not dissipate.
BUTLER.
The first gentleman on4 the floor who
commanded attention was Butler, of Mas
sachusetts. His appearance is striking,
though not pleasing; the upper portion OF
MS body out Of proportion with his small
legs and feet, and apparently too heavy
for them; his face looks swollen, his cheeks
puffy, and his eyelids droop SO as almost 20
conceal his small, twinkling eyes, and be-
ing very bald he can lay no claims to good
looks, but he is not blind in one eye as is
generally supposed, thou h he has q pecu-
llarity in his vision. one eye being very
near-sighted ami the other long ranged,
which, when reading, causes him to give his
paper comical off and on notion. He was
advocating Oh this occasion the admission
If women to practice in the Court of APP
peals, and carried his point too, most OF
the Southern m, mberS and all the Viz
GINA members, except Gov. Walker, voting
against it.
When the silver bill came up with the
Senate amendments the unusual interest
gathering around the subject caused the
gallery to fill rapidly, and the members
were soon nearly all in their seats. The
effort of Springer, Of Illinois, to refer it to
the conn ittee of the whole. was an in
genious one, and if successful would its
friends thought, virtu lily kill it. Messrs.
| S. S. Cox, Garfield. Butler, and White, of
Pa, came to its support, and they ere
met as earnestly by Messss. Sayler, Ste
thens, of Ca, Conger, Blackburn and
others, and while they debate rapidly and
excitetly What they claim to be the most
important financial question agitated since
the war, will sketch briefly the most pro-
minent among the debaters.
MR.. SPRINGER
one of the best deba.ers in the house,
whom I had previously met in his commit
tee room, is tall and sparely built some
what bald with a singular patch of dark
hair on the top of his forehead, his beard
is thin ana brown, his manners are cour-
teous and his address pleasant, while he
speaks rapidly and positively and it re-
uuires positive convictions to prevent one
from being carried along with him notens
uolens.
S. S. cox, OF NEW YORK
is not unlike Mr.. Springer. He is tall and
thin, clean shaved except a heavy moustache
is more bald than Springer and has too,
queer looking black top knot on the apex
Of his crown. He has the appearance of
feeling himself an injured man and is in
fact so thrown in the background in the
composition of committees Under the hand
of his successful competitor for the chair
that he has not had all opportunity to do
much this term. Being prejudiced against
GEN. GARFIELD, OF OHIO.
[ was surprised to see so pleasantand gen.
tlemanly person rise in his seat, he is IA
Their large and fleshy with a wide forehead,
round face, thin dark hair and full greyish
beard, wearing a neat well fitting suit of
black with the coat buttoned W, and
graceful in his address. He speaks calmly
and persuasivelY aud his tone aud manner
are by no means unpleasant.
Saylor, of Ohio IS good speaker OF de-
cided talents, grey and bald, beard close
cut. with a heavy grey mustache, above
medium height and rather sparely built.
His enunciation is good and his remarks
straight to the point, always securing the
attention Of the hearers.
BLACKBURN, OF KENTUCKY
is one of the best parliamentarians in the
body. and was pillar of strength to Say
lor's position. He is tall and fine looking,
with dark hair and beard and SO qzick in
retort and reply that his opponents came
off second best in every effort to entrap
him. and his'interruptions were frequent
and annoying tho he never lost his temper.
oMER D. CONGER, OF MICHIGAN
was for once ON the right side of the ques-
ton. He is politician of the Sumner
stripe, bitter as gall aud. unrelenting as
Lucifer. He is of medium size and height
has grizzly hair and beard and wears cut
away black coat, his words come short and
quick like the bark of a Spitz dog. There
is man. says '.old Clip 'who is the very
devil, if he bites you, the mad stone itself
would not take out the poison" SO kept
out of the way.
OTHER MEMBERS.
Mr.. Ryan, of Texas. the Confederate