The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-23

what otherwise would have been COLI
spicuous figure, and he was popularity
known as 1.-The Little Giant His large
round head surmounted massive neck,
and his features were symmetrical, al
though his small nose deprived them of
dignity. His dark eyes, peering from
beneath projecting brows. cleaned with
energy, mixed with an expression of sly
ness and sagacity. and his full lips were
generally stained at the corners of his
mouth with tobacco juice. His voice
was neither musical nor soft. and his
gestures were not graceful. But lie
would speak for hours in clear, well-enun-
ciated tones, and the sharp Illinois attor
ney soon developed into the statesman at
Washington.
The debates in the Senate on the treaty
with Texas, providing for its annexation,
were very acrimonious. Mr.. Benton.
while he denounced the scheme for the
admission of Texas as the work of specu-
lators in scrip and lands, and of political
intriguers, showed that disunion was at
the bottom of the machination. Under
the pretext of getting Texas into the
Union, the scheme was to get the South
out of it, and to establish q Southern
confederacy.
Mr.. James Buchanan had always since
he had been member of Congress, acted
with the Southcnels. and he sustained
the treaty. as did Mr.. Levi Woodbur>. Of
New Hampshire. and Mr.. Robert J.
Walker, a PENNSYLVANIA by birth. who
Sippi. Messrs. Buchanan and Woodbury.
were ponderous speakers, who alwaA )
displayed such an unhe>ltating air OF be
ing irreirasahly i'll the rishl tic, pa
ceeded with their elaborate arguments
that every wore; they uftrr'.', >rnnitd
like the pronnuncemeut y! ALI ,,,.cic.--
Mr.. Walker WAS small. active. ready Ia
retort, and always prepared to produce
an array of statistics in support oil his
position which no one in the Senate could
contradict.
In the House Of Representatives. the
venerable ex-President. John Quincy
Adams, headed the opposition to Texas.
while he maintained his defiant attitude
on the right of petition. This so exas-
perated the SouthernerS that several of
them openly INDUCED in hostile threats
towards him; and one day, when the
House was in session, a Nirginian named
SangSter had 1.-THE old man eloquent"
called out into the lobby by page
When Sangster saw Mr.. Adams, he said:
You are wrongful kick you" and
made an attempt to seize him, which the
old gentleman endeavored to prevent by
grasping the wrists of his assaiIant-
Sangster, disengaging one of his hands,
then tried to slap MIR. Adams face, but
was prevented by the somewhat tardy
interference of the by-standers. and later
in the dav he was arrested. but not pun
iShed. Mr. Adams, nothing daunted by
these brutal demonstrations. pcrSevered
in his demonstrations against Southern
despotism. displaying the traits which
Thackeray has told us We're possessed by
Fielding: " He has an admirable love of
truth, and the keenest instructive antip-
thy to hypocrisy. His wit is wonder
fully wise and detcctive,-it flashes upon
rogue and lightens up Il rascal like :,
policeman lantern.
Joshua r. Giddings was one of the
first who came to the aid of Mr.. Adams
in the House. and he soon attracted at
tention as a Stalwart opponent of slav-
cry. He had succeeded Elisha White
Scy. with whom he had studied law in
Ohio, and during the excitement attend
ant on the proposition to annex Texas he
became so out$poken that resolution
was passed declaring his conduct "altr-
gether unwarranted and understandable.
and deserving the severeSt condemnation
Of the country and of the House Mr..
GddngS eloquently protested against the
passage of tins resolution of cenSure with
out giving him an opportunity to be heard.
saying that he would accept of no other
privilege and would ask no other courtesy
The House refused to permit him to speak,
and passed that resolution by Il vote OF
two to one, Whereupon Mr.. Giddings re-
signed. Retaining to Ohio. he announced
| himself Il candidate for recollection, and
| he was sent back to Washington by Il
| majority of over three thousand man,
| Democrats voting for him. In few
weeks after he had been cen>ured he
was again in his seat. indorsed by his
constituents and more defiant oppo
nent of the slave power than he was be-
fore the attempt to discipline him. He
was tainted, rebuked, insulted. and
threatened with ehastisement. but liz
never faltered OF Turned from what lit
believed to be his path of duty.
The House Of Representatives. at thai
| period, could boast of more ability thar
the Senate. Among the most prominent
members were the accomplished Robert
C. Winthrop. who so well sustained the
reputation of his distinguished ancestors
Hamilton Fish, the representative knick
erbocker from the city of New York
Alexander Ramsey, Il worthy descendant
of the Pennsylvania Dutchmen: the loqa
cious Garrett Davis. of Kentucky: the
emaciated Alexander II. Stephens. o
Georgia, who had not apparently montl
to live, yet who rivaled Talleyrand il
| political intrigue; John Wentworth.
tall son of New Hampshire, transplante,
to the prairies of lliinoisi Andrew John
son, of Tennessee, 4 born demagosue ant
self-constituted champion of the people
the courteous Thomas II. Seymour. o
Hartford, and John Shtlell. of New Or
leans: Robert Dale Owen, the visionary
communist from Indiana: Howell Cobb
of Georgia, and Jacob Thompson, of Mis-
sissippi. who were then laying the fuun
dations for the Southern Confederacv
with slavery as its corner-stone;' TIT
portly Dixon II. Lewis, of Alabama, VIII
was so large that he could hot ocGup,
the arm chairs at the Capitol, and had t.
have wider ones made for his use; til,
brilliant Robert G. Schenck, of Ohio
and the genial Isaac f. Holmes, of Soutl
Carolina. who softened the asperities o
debate by many pleasant comments il
an undertone, not recorded by the re
porters.
President Tyler had great faith in TIL
power Of the newspaper press, and st
cured by lavish distribution of tn
advertising patronage Of the Executiv
departments, an "orgaa in nearly ever
State. The journals thus recompense'
for their support of the administrator
we're without political influence, but MI
TYLER priced their support, and person
ailv looked after their interests. Allut
iur to them in letter TO a friend, h
said: Their motives may be seltshi bu
if | reject them for that, who among tn
great mass of office-holders can be trust
edo They give me all the aid in thei
power, and | do not stop to inquire int
motives" In another letter he complain
of an official at New Orleans, saying
Il have felt no little surprise at the fac
that he should have thrown into the BE
Ca most abusive paper) advertisement
of great value. and refused to hand thel