Year: 1859

The idea seems generally to prevail that
the removal of the two branches of our fed
eral legislature to new chambers is an ad-
vantage particularly as respects the new Hall
of Representatives The old Hall was strik-
ing in respect of its architecture, imposing
with its lofty columns and massive cornices,
but the complaint was pretty general that
the speakers could not be well heard. A con-
fusion of echoes in certain parts of the cham
Der made it seem as if three or four mem
bers were haranguing at once,


"And more than echoes talked along the walls"
Airy voices seemed to be mocking the
speaker from the inches. or laughing at him
with light ordinations from the capitals of
the columns.


Yet, when a member had anything of i'm
portance to say, he was sure to be listened
to- Not much that was worth hearing
escaped the attention of those who were in
terested in hearing it. The house would be
hushed into profound silence; members would
gather round the seat of him who was speak
ing; the reporters would be attentive to take
down even his least important words. John
Randolph never spoke without being heard /;
though he did not always throw light on the
questions before the House, his wit, his pow
er Of satire, his varied range of information
and allusion, secured the fullest attention to
every word that fell from his lips. John
Quincy Adams was always heard Everett
never failed of an attentive audience We
recolect one occasion on which Archer, of
Virginia, was laboring some point in the
House of Representatives, talking on and on,
with steady flow Of words which seemed
as if it never would end, while the mem bers
at their desks were looking over pamphlets
and writing letters, when q gentleman who
happened to be standing near said to US,
"There is Archer talking on a subject which
he understands, and probably talking sense,
but you perceive nobody hears a word he
says" The truth was, however, that Archer
had forfeited all title to be listened to by his
tendency to diifuse speculation. lie was an
inyeterate hair splitter, utInobody took any
interest in his hairsplitting he was in the
habit of Of hammering out his matter, SO as to
make it cover the largest possible space. and
there is no process SO tedious or so unprofta-
ble as that Mr.. Archer had long been a
member of the House, and the longer he was
a member the less we believe he was attend
ed to.


But in the new Hall We hear that every
thing which is said is heard whatever be its
quality. No member can now escape the in
fiction of tediousness, verbosity, absurdity,
commonplace defamation, orations compos-
ed by member to be read by his constitu.
ents, fortieth discussions of stale topics. I'm
Fortunate nonsense forces its way into his
ears whether he will or not, and he must
either hear it or leave his seat We have
had no opportunity to learn how the mem
bers are pleased with the change which has
been made, but we will venture to say that,
long befo re the winter is over, many Of them
will wish themselves back at the old place,
and remember with regret the conflict of
murmurs and echoes which made an unprofit
able speaker inaudible, and left them at lib
erty to attend to matters Of more Importance
~ Y Post