Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-09-04

J~"AS W NaS SSA WV eh"e putty was III
power in the body. Many important
questions were debated, and during the
winter Of 1s76-77, pending the electoral
count, the scenes were tempestuous,
surprising in excitement perhaps those
OF any former time. Col. House was
conspicuous and influential member
from the first session. During his con-
gressional career, several Democratic
members from his State were his elders
in age and OF longer service, and their
preferment in the organization of the
House Of Representatives, to degree
excluded him from that character OF
Advancement to which bis conceded ca
pacity would otherwise have promoted
him.. But he was at once assigned to
leading commttees--the judiciary, cleo
tons, the Pacific railroad, the Texas
Pacific, civil service reform, and the
special committee on the laws relating
TO the election OF president and vice.
president. He served as chairman OF
the Democratic congressional caucus,
and in 1879 was prominently consider
ed for the speakership OF the house,
many discreet members OF his party
urging him as more judicious choice
than either of the recognized aspirants.
With characteristic modesty he gave no
countenance to the movement His
committee work was promptly and ei-
ficiently done in all its stages. While
not ambitiously frequent in speech
from the floor, from his first effort he
always commanded the attention and
interest Of the body, and his participa-
tion in brief current debates was al
ways pointed and forcible. His more
formal speeches were always full expo
sitions Of the subject, pregnant with
thought and suggestion, expressed in
vigorous and eloquent diction, and de-
livered with the animation and fervor
OF the genuine orator His first speech
in committee OF The whole, in 1876,
was on delicate and difficult question
at that juncture to southern represen-
tative--the relations OF the North and
South. 1t was treated in considerate
and mastery manner, and was pro-
nounced by many of his southern col
leagues competent to discriminate, the
most statesmanlike utterance drawn
forth in the long discussion. It gave
great satisfaction to his immediate con-
stituency, and secured his position as a
leading exponent OF the manliness and
conservatism OF the southern Democra-
cy. Other notable speeches during his
congressional service were those on the
Louisiana returning board, whose
matchless scoundrelism was vehement
ly denounced; on the tobacco tax,
subject Of great interest to the region
he represented; on the state Of the I'm
ion, involving a discussion Of the rela-
tions Of capital and labor and the bur
den OF the public debt; on the policy of
the government toward the Texas Pacif-
ic Railway; on appropriation measures
generally, and equality before the law
of the different sections of the country;
on civil service reform; on the election
OF delegate Cannon, of Utah; and on the
question OF claims against the govern
ment He also delivered eulogies on
George S. Houston, of Alabama, and
Benjamin II. Hill, OF Georgia, who
died members OF the Senate OF the Unit
ed State. Both were models OF chaste
and tasteful allusion in that.most diff
cult line OF oratory, and the latter glow
ed with admiration OF the splendid
character it portrayed His service in
: Congress was so useful and distinguish
ed, that his retirement was not only
cause OF regret IN Tennessee, but
throughout the country. The with
, drawa! Of such men from public en-
ployment often gives rise to the rehec-
tion that our system should, perhaps,
in some manner, offer greater induce
ments for retaining to the use OF the
} government the superior qualifications
} they possess, and the valuable expert
} ence they have acquired.
In May, 1880, at the centennial cele.
! bration OF founding OF Nashville, he was
2 selected to deliver the Grafton at the
: unveiling Of an equestrian statue ol
r Andrew Jackson erected on the grounds
e of the capital, and in the presence oI
| the thousands assembled on the occas
4 sion, he pronounced an eloquent eulo
: gy on the great soldier and statesman
: Since he has been in private life ant
y immersed in professional engagements
C he has only appeared in public to sery,
s as delegate to the national Democratic
9 convention OF 1884, anu was chairma
OF the Tennessee delegation in tha
i body. Perfect franl1ness and unchal