The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-02-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1878.
THURMAN.


The debate on the reconciliation of
silver promises to be one of the most
famous in the annals of Congress.
On Wednesday last the Sen
ate Chamber was filled to lis
ten to Allen G. Thurman
of Ohio, on this subject. One
thing notable about these occasions is
that the Senators fix themselves up so
rs to he presentable, when they know
the crowd Will be large. Thurman's
nature is the same, the world over,
under all circumstances. When COM
Dany is expected the children have
their faces scrubbed and noses cleaned,
and fresh bibs placed under their
chins When the lover goes to see his
inamorata, he does himselfup in hand
some style. So, following this law of
our common nature, the Leader OF
Leaders" in the Democratic Party,
made his appearance i'll the Chamber
which is the theatre OF his renOwn, in
Il full suit of black, with neat peck
tie and bosom, faultlessly white,
without single diamond glistening
thereon. For a few minutes before
fiie time, he was going here and there,
among the Senators and chatting
with thpm. lie went over to COnk-
Iing'S desk and invited him, to the
rear of the seats and introduced him to
"a gentleman; and then went back to
hie own seat and turned full around
Iruun Eaton who sits next to him and
Iaughingly twitted him, about the
way i'm which hc proposed to chaw
Him up. Before, he started Eaton got
AWAY from there and took the seat Of
HamIin, next to Conkling. | sup
pose he did not want to be so near the
fire 1t may have been that he wanted
10 fix himself for the better hearing of
the great Statesman.
The old War Horse, took out his
new red silk handkerchief and laid it,,
conveniently before him-toOk apinch
of snuff and stated, that he did not
propose to make II big specch-nOr i'll
dTIge in filings ut anybody-nOr use
passion, but to state plainly, why he
was going to support the bill for the
renOnetiZation of silver. He spoke
about three-quartcrs Of IN hour. 1t Is
conceded by all TO be the speech of
This debate. When you take into con-
Slderation, that for years, he has been
.t vayia!fcc with his own party upon
the financial question-that he II a
Democrat. without Il blot upon his
record. there can he no wonder, that
VOORHEES, and the Democrats crowded
around him and listened TO him, rs If
an oracle were speaking. As soon rs,
he finished ' OOrhCCs, who had been
sitting nearest to him walked up with
.rrcat dclibcration and slipped his hand
into one of .he hands of the grand old
man, who WAS quietly arranging his
Sins of paper, apparently unconscious
that he had delivered speech remark
able for its compact force and clear
ness Of statement. Others followed
Thcu he and Voorhees, retired TO the
cloak-room. Thurman Is about sixty
five years old and is about hNs. fef'
nine inches in height. There is nc
,orlhativencss about his appearance,
Int 4 uuict expression about the whole
man. which seems to say, 81 am
right" lie has that cube-root look
about his temples, which one remem-
hers to have seen ia tii0 physiOgnomy
of his uncle, William Allen. He has
u smaller edition of his mcle's celebFa-
ted nose. In bis everyday attire he
dresses as plainly AS any well tO-do far
nter and puts on no airs whatever, HC
i easy of approach aud a general fa,
vt.rit6. There is no jealousy in the
senate toward him. He towers Sc
bjph above ats members, that his supe
riority il recognized and the llomocrat
,rr ni,nud OF him. There has been
fine. ou account of his aHti-intlatiol
sentiments To-day, he feels grateful
" the warmth from the heart OF tn
mighty West, pouring In Ola him, lik
gentle sunshine. The old Warrio
stands with one foot in the stirrup an'
lis hand on the name of the Presiden
tiaI horse and the great bulk of tn
Democracy shouting To him 80
mount" When he is seated-tha
,teed's neck will he clothed with thun
der and he will be shod with light
ming. When | gazed upon the fornt q
This descendant of the best blood il
old Virginia and remembered, that il
single combat, he had siaughtere
,-osts of Philistines Ia behalf OF the qp
nre sscd South that during the dar
da1-z. when the two-thirds majority {
Repul'Ucan rule, pinned down ths
fair land with bayonets and turne
her DeoDle over to the british rul
nf the carpet bagger-that never frOr
his Iips escaped one word of reproac
for The South-that during the lon
and weary years Of her oppression an
amid the night of her Voc and desC