Mysteries of Washington City, during Several Months of the Session of the 28th CongressAtwater, Caleb
History
Mysteries of Washington City, during Several Months of the Session of the 28th Congress
Atwater, Caleb
United States. Congress (28th, 1st session : 1843-1844); Washington (D.C.)
Those who have been long in Congress can be much more useful to their
constituents, than those who have had less experience. Understanding
all the rules of proceeding, they know how to take advantage of
circumstances, when to make a motion, and the exact moment when to
oppose an opponent. They say less and more to the purpose. Young men
are quite apt to be impetuous, hasty and rash, and thus often get
overwhelmed by a more cool, deliberate member. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS is
the hardest man to deal with in the House. Understanding all the rules
of legislation, with a large store of information, he is sometimes
sarcastic and witty, sometimes profound and those who attack him always
come off second best. Of all the attacks on Mr. Adams this session,
C. J. Ingersoll’s was the most unfortunate for the assailant. Mr. Wise
related the whole of it to me in the library, immediately after the
assault was made and the chastisement which Ingersoll got. Mr. Wise
condemned C. J. Ingersoll, as every one else did, for his behaviour
towards an aged, respectable man, whose public services, years learning
and talents ought to command and do command the respect of all good
men in the nation. Any member of Congress who respects himself, will
always be treated with respect, because he deserves it. Any young man,
who thinks to obtain any advantage by assailing Mr. Adams, will find
himself to have made a false calculation.
The Senators preserve their own dignity, and do not mingle much
with the turbulence around them. They are often misrepresented by
malignant letter writers, and the falsehoods they invent, have a wide
circulation. These Senators cannot devote up their time to explanations
and contradictions of such misrepresentations. They have something else
to do.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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