Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-14
A HISTORIC PARALLEL.
The Close Of Speaker Folks Term
Like That of Mr.. Reeds.
NO RESOLUTION OF THANKS.
Not Only Did the wings Vote Against Him,
But They Explained Their Votes and Made
observation-disclosures Of Senator Nys Of Nevada-
His Wit and Pathos.
Written for The Evening STAG.

TINE REFUSAL TO GIVE TO SPEAKER
Il Reed the usual vote Of thanks at the close Of
the recent session Of Congress is not without
its parallel. At the close of the Twenty-fifth
Congress Speaker Polk was refused the usual
vote Of thanks. and not only was the vote re-
fused but the denunciations Of the wings were
of the most decided character. No whig could
be found to offer the resolution of thanks and
when offered by a friend Of the Speaker a de-
bate followed and reasons were proclaimed
why the vote of thanks should be withheld
from Mr.. Polk. The first name called on the
roll was the ex-President's, John Quincy Adams,
and he promptly responded "No!" and SO it
followed to the end, no wing voting for the
resolution of thanks, but many of them
using the occasion to make speech
protesting. as they claimed that Mr.. Folks
rulings had been most partial ami unjust. Mr..
Polk was very strict partisan and adhered al
ways to party lines. l cannot recall an instance
In which he departed from it, and when he was
elevated to the presidency the wings Jared very
badly in the appointments to the increase Of
the army which followed the Mexican war.
They filled the ranks and left their bones upon
the battlefields, but it would be very fruitless
search to find WING general commissioned by
Mr.. Polk. Those only who we're in the old
army. and they were mostly wings, received pro-
motion In the regular order. Indeed that was
not always regarded. Mr.. Polk displaced Gen.
Scott and appointed Gen. VIM. o. Butler, an
able soldier, it is true, to his command and sub
sequently nominated Col Benton as lieuten-
ant general over Scott and Taylor. The same
tactics were pursued in that day by the con-
gressional committee on the conduct of the
war, which caused Mr.. Lincoln so much trouble
Unfortunately Gen. Scott's temper furnished
ammunition to 1.-THE fire in the rear" of which
he complained.
POLK AND BANKS coNTRA srrp
The contrast between the ending of Mr.. Polk 8
term of the speakership and that of Gen.
Banks was very marked. Gen. Banks assumed
the speakership after a very protracted and
bitter fight, extending through and over two
months, and yet when he yielded up the gavel
resolution of thanks, preceded by an en-
conlum from one of his most determined op-
ponents from the south. was passed unani-
mously. 1t rarely happens otherwise. The
adjournment is usually accompanied with a re-
newa OF friendship and obliteration of past
differences, and in the two instances named the
refusal OF q courtesy such a vote of thanks,
exhibits ranking dlspleasure.
had not observed until / had sent NV last
weeks article that the very popular representa-
tive from New York, the Honorable Roswell p.
Flower, had, emulating an example of the past,
provided lunch in the committee room of
which he is the democratic representative in
his usual liberal style, and the hard worked Rep
resentatives who were striving to save some
thing for their state and constituents out of the
wreck OF matter that goes over at the end of
every Congress found bountiful aid and COM
fort to sustain them. 1t was like renewal of
the old time and as such we welcome it,
The session Just closed was in some respects
stormy one, but record of the past would
reveal SO many of like character if not more
stormy ones, that before them this would pale
its Intellectual fire. The first storm which
made itself heard l can recall. It spread over
Try and In
the most remarkable, for it was the fight OF one
man against the whole House. Mr.. Adams
stood up against Congress and his own con-
stituents, 1.-The constituencies respectability of
Boston as he called them, for '.the right of
petition when he introduced resolutions from
some anti-slavery meeting, and although OPP
posed to any action such as they asked for at
that time, he claimed that any and all petitions
must be received by Congress, and for that
right he battled until it was won.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS FIGHT.
Day after day the fight went on; the ablest
men in the halls Of Congress were opposed to
allowing any assault, as it vas claimed, on the
rights of property in the states. The most
violent abuse, invective and threats of assault.
expulsion, &cs failed to move Mr.. Adams. He
seemed to be armed on every side; he defended
single-handed the right he claimed, although
he was himself at that time opposed to its exer-
cise and SO persistently was the battle waged
by him that he at last conquered. MIR. Adams
inherited from his father his persistent nature
if We may believe the historians OF that day. /
saw once an autograph letter Of Mr.. John Adams
addressed to Messrs. Gales & Seaton, complain
ing Of the misspellinS of his name in some way,
and concluding his letter with these words:
enough on my name to at least know how to
spell it."
All those subjects of bitterness which made
up the debate in Congress have become things
Of the past and the actors in them have alas |!
in many, nearly all leases, crossed the dark
river. The heavy style of statesmanship has
gone out, as said last week. and the new style
has come in, and among the first to make an
inroad on the solemn, dignity of the Senate
were the Senators from Oregon and Nevada,
Nesmith and Nye! We almost forget they are
gone from among u.s. except when we recall
their wit. The ponderous style could not long
survive such an innovation. Admirable repre-
sentatiyes, as they were, of their states, they
could not assume the toga and its solemn dig
nifty, so they naturally stripped it from their
colleagues, and the Senate breathed freer re-
ieved from the load.
SENATOR NYE OF NEVADA
Senator Nye was an incorrigible joker, but his
heart was as tender to tale of woe as any man
ever knew. He told me of being witness to
distressfal scene in Paris. too sad to relate, of
former lady of Washington, and his ewes filed
with tears and emotion choAed his utterance
That side OF his character was seldom seen
Mr.. Sumner. whose repose of manner and dig
nifty were seldom rufiied and whose apprecia-
ton Of Joke would defy Sidney Smith REM
edy. surgical operation. was on more than
one occasion subjected to the humor of his COL
league from the Pacific coast He introduced
to Mr.. Sumner some Of his constituents from
dead Mule Gulch' or Poker Flat and told
them that OF all things Mr.. Sumner liked most
1t was to be treated with Familiarity. moth
ing pleased him better than to be play
fully caressed, as ii were. He might seem
cold, he said, at first. but he would warm
up after awhile. With this description
OF Sumner he introduced his friends
from the mines of Nevada rs admirers of the
great Senator whose speeches they had read in
their camps. and they had come TO greet him.
They did greet him effusively, affectionately
aud what might have been justly consitl cred
Extensively; but Nye excused them as they
slapped Senator Summer on the back and
called him Sumner old boy. so - glad
to see your Shake. &c, with expletiyes
and epithets which Nye assured the senator
were terms of endearment. No one was safe
from Nyes joking propensity. One morning.
riding down town with Nye in the street ca r.
(bob-tail). Senator Chandler got in, and not
seeing Nye. took his seat up next to the
and OF course the passengers all handet. up
their nickels TO him to put in the box. Nye
Il never knew how Chandler got so rich. He
takes that seat every morning SO he can handle
the cash, and he clears the interest on the
PRIcKISG THE BOOTH BUBBLE.