Mysteries of Washington City, during Several Months of the Session of the 28th Congress — John Shaqi
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.)
JAMES T. MOREHEAD, the other Kentucky senator, was formerly governor
of that State. He is six feet high or upwards, rather spare in flesh,
straight as an Indian, and he is so agreeable in his manners and
address, as to be as he truly is the world’s idol. His words flow along
in a constant stream, sweeter than honey. Sometimes he rises into
sublimity, and soars along on high, and like our own eagle, revelling
in the beams of a clear sun. Sometimes he can be playful, with an
arch leer on his brow when he is ironical. He can captivate with his
witchery of manner and of style. His method is good, his sentences
are clear, sometimes pointed, sarcastic and withering. His manner is
winning and his arguments convincing. He is shrewd, searching and
occasionally severe in his arguments, though not in his language. His
ideas may be hard, but his words are soft, smooth and melodies. He
labors with his pen and his books incessantly, sometimes more than his
body can well bear. Having come over into Ohio and married and carried
off a beautiful, amiable and good lady, the daughter of my excellent
friend, J. M. Espy, of Columbus, I wish I had it in my power to present
the reader a short biographical sketch of Gov. Morehead.
Under the head of eloquence, I will confess, that although I have been
months attending here, sometimes conversing with members of Congress,
sometimes with other persons from all parts of the Union--standing in
the rotundo or sitting in the library, there conversing or reading, I
always found it an unpleasant task to hear speeches, unless some one
was speaking whom I knew or greatly desired to hear. I went to hear Dr.
HAMMET of Mississippi, JOHN Q. ADAMS, GENERAL DROMGOOLE, JUDGE DEAN,
JOHN B. WELLER, SCHENCK, VINTON, FLORENCE, VAN METER, POTTER and a few
others, but I had so much difficulty to get a seat where I could hear,
that I seldom made an attempt to get a seat in the House. HALE of New
Hampshire, when he spoke, could always be heard and understood.
It appeared to me, that our western members were more eloquent on the
Oregon question than the eastern members, and that the eastern members
beat the western ones on the tariff question all hollow. The eastern
members were learned, eloquent and sensible whenever they spoke of
manufactures, commerce or trade. These speeches, properly digested,
would make an instructive and useful volume, that would be read by
every body.
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