New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-20
IN HONOR OF her STATESMEN.
THE HOUSE RECEIVES VALUABLE PORTRAITS or

THE HOUSE RECEIVES VALUABLE PORTRAITS OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sPg cHEs.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 10 (Special.-The House has
been able to perform one act this session without
any flibusterns on the part Of the majority.
This exceptional circumstance occurred to-day
when that body adopted. unanimously, the resou-
ton to accept from the State Of Massachusetts por-
traits Of Theodore Sedgwick, Speaker of the House
in the With Congress Joseph b. Narnum, Speaker
in the Xth and XIth Congresses; and Nathaniel
=. Banks, Speaker in the XXXIVth Congress The
portrait of Robert G. Winthrop, Speaker in the
ANAth Congress- was presented to the House 10y
private citizens Of Boston several years ago, WIN
appropriate ceremonies. Out Of that act grew the
gift of to-day, which completes the tale OF por,
traits of Massachusetts statesmen who have helu
the exalted Office of Speaker of the House Oh
Representatives.
For many years the House had been in possession
Of a bad portrait of Theodore Sedgwick, put an an
knowledge of its identity had been lost NOBODY
could tell whom the portrait represented untl
three or four years ago, when the suolect was
investigated by Congressman Rockwell OF Massa-
chusetts. The portrait of SedgwlclS presented 10,
day was painted by Edgar Parker from an original
by Stuart, of Boston, by order of the State; the
portrait OF Varnum was purchased from one ot
his descendants, and is probably the work oil
Charles Wilson Peale and the portrait of Banks,
which replaces poor crayun likeness, as docs thao
of Varnum, is the work of Vannoh, Of Boston.
painted by order Of the State from lie, Duo
represents General Banks as he appeared twenty
years ago when he was Speaker of the House.
The portraits were brought to Washington by
a committee of the Governors Council. who were
admitted to seats on the floor during the ceremony
of presentation and acceptance Ex-Governor
Long tectcd the events which led to the action oil
Massachusetts and spoke in appropriate and elo-
quent terms Of the men whose memories and feat-
ures are to be thus preserved. His peroratlon
was full OF fire and energy. and was rewarded
with generous applause from both sides OF the
House. Mr.. Rockwell briefly sllctched the career
of Theodore SedgwiclS, the Speaker of the House
in the With Congress. His remarks were received
IL nd LnaVf st,r nnr.l0
Mr. Allen spoke of the life and services Of Joseph
b. Varnum. who was Speaker of the House during
the period of the second with Great Britain
Mr.. Aliens speech to-day will give him reputa-
ton as an orator in the House which he did not
before possess. II was polished and eloquent MT.
Hayden made an excellent speech in wh,ch ne
rccited the leading events in the life Of General
Banks from the time he was an operative IN
New-England mill to the present.
For some reason it wos deemed proper by the
Massachusetts, Representatives TO recall the dis-
tinguislcd services of Robert C. Winthrop on this
occasion. Mr. Collins delivered remarks on the
subject which provoked hearty applause This
was not repeated after tho reading from the cerks
desk of letter sent up by Mr Collins from the
venerable ex Con gresham Julius Rockwell, father
of the present Representative Rockwell taking
execution TO statement in Mr.. Blanc's " Twenty
Years of Congress-" to the effect that Mr. Win
throp eloquent as an orator but not so power
full in debate. The exact expression TO which Mr..
Rockwell takes exception is this: As an orator
he always graceful and effective; hnt nrTHr
took high rank in the House as debater." The
seizing OF this occasion for q criticism Of MI
Bainc's estimate Of Mr.. Winthrop REGARDED
by most Of the members of the House as ill-timcd'
70 say the least. Henry Cabot Lodges tribute
to Mr.. Winthrop, however. was not only graceful
and appropriate. but truly eloquent. and showed
that strong dcbatcr and eloquent speaker has
been added TO the Republican ranks in the lIausc.
Mr.. Randall who presented the resolution a!r-
cepting the portraits and advocated il. did so in
one Of his rugged and effective speeches which
was full Of power and carncstness. Mr. Brccllen-
ridge. Of Kentucky seconded the resolution in an
appropriate and effective address. the pcroration
OF which aroused tempest of applause which
lasted Cor several minutes
(FOr summary Of speeches another cOlunn.l