Evening star., 1945-04-29
Capital Sidelights
BIZ VIII P. Kennedu


1t1ng any speech in the House to one
hour, except by unanimous consent, was
explained the other day by South
Trimble, the veteran clerk. He gives
credit to Henry Clay, his own pet
statesman, 1who, while in the Senate,
persuaded the House in l841 to adopt
the hour limit as curb on the eloquence
OF Henry A. Wise, who is said to have
had the most wonderful vocabulary of
any man ever in Congress. The reason
was that Clay was able to get his spe-
cial measure promptly passed in the
Senate, but after his break with Presi-
dent Tyler, Wise and other Tylerites
would talk those measures to death in
the House. However, Clay was not able
to induce the Senate to adopt similar
rule, and there is no such limitation to
this day. "
Champ Clark gave John C. Calhoun,
whom he considered to have the most
logical mind in Congress, credit for
showing Clay how desirable such limi-
tation is, and suggested the reform
nearly 80 years previous. Prior to the
War Of 1872, Calhoun sought to bring
up a preparedness measure, but John
Randolph had the floor and it was his
wont to talk for three or four hours,
displaying his erudition, familiarity
with the best literature and his "as-
founding verbal resources" Calhoun
raised point that some motion or legis-
lative proposal must be before the House
in order for member to make speech.
William w. Bibb of Georgia Qater a
Senator) temporarily was in the chair,
and, being anxious to evade the we'll
known whip-lash tongue of Randolph,
overruled the point of order. A little
later Speaker Clay took the chair, CAL
houn renewed the point of order and
Clay, who feared neither man nor
devil" promptly sustained it.
When James K. Polk was inaugurated
there were two balls-one at $40 a head
and the other at 81. At the latter there
was free-for-all scramble for the food.
Commodore Elliot had his pocket picked
at the White House. His wallet con-
tanned several valued relics-a letter
from Gen. Jackson congratulating him
on his restoration to a position in the
Federal service, with lock of "Old
Hickory's" hair, and letter from Mrs.
Madison, inclosing a lock of Mr.. Madi-
sons hair
Abraham Lincoln's philosophy is well
illustrated in his meditation on the
Divine Will, written September 80, 1862
as follows: "The will of God prevails
In great contests each party claims to
act in accordance with the will of God
Both may be and one must be-wrong.
God cannot be for and against the same
thing at the same time. In the present
Civil War it is quite possible that Gods
purpose is something different from the
purpose of either party; and yet the
human instrumentalities, working just
as they do, are of the best adaptation to
effect His purpose. am almost ready
to say that this is probably true; that
God wills this contest, and wills that 1t
shall not end yet. BY His mere great
power on the minds of the new contest
ants, He could have either saved or de-
stroyed the Union without human con-
test. Yet the contest began. And, hav-
ing begun, He could give the final victory
to either side any day. Yet the con-
test proceeds"
The same sentiment and philosophy
were emphasized in Lincoln's second
inaugural address on March 4, 1865,
when he said: Neither party expected
for the war the magnitude or the dura-
ton which it already has attained.
Neither anticipated that the cause Of
the conflict might cease with, or even
before, the conflict itself should cease.
Each looked for an easier triumph, and
q result less fundamental and astoumd-
ing. Both read the same Bible, and
pray to the same God; and each invokes
His aid against the other"
Only few days later, on March II,
1865, writing to thank Thurlow Weed
for compliments on this address, Mr..
Lincoln predicted that 1t would wear as
well as-perhaps better than-snything
I have produced" but he explained why
1t was not immediately popular: Men
are not 1lattered by being shown that
there has been difference Of purpose
between the Almighty and them. To
deny It. however. In this case, Is to deny