"The gentleman seems to go upon the principle that as many clerks with high salaries should be attached to one office as to any other--the principle of equalizing the patronage of these different offices without regard to the species of labor required by each." I append here a collection of short extracts from Toombs's speeches in the lower house, which illustrate his power to tickle the ear by striking presentation, epigram, and novel expression: _Debate always Harmless._ "A little more experience will show the gentleman that he is mistaken, and that the absence of discussion here does not accelerate adjournment. The most harmless time which is spent by the house, he will find, is that spent in discussion." February 17, 1852. _Nominees of National Conventions._ "What are the fruits of your national conventions?... They have brought you a Van Buren, a Harrison, a Polk, and a General Taylor.... I mean no disparagement to any one of these. All of them but one [Van Buren] have paid the last debt of nature, and the one who survives, unfortunately for himself, has survived his reputation." July 3, 1852. _Two Classes of Economists._ "There is a class of economists who will favor any measure by which they can cut off wrong or extravagant expenditures. But there is another class who are always preaching economy--who are always ready to apply the rule of economy and get economical in every case except that before the house." February 17, 1852. _Principles of Banking._ "If we intend to regulate the business of banking in this District, the bill does too little; if we do not, it does too much, As it does not seek to control generally the business of banking, but permits the issue of notes greater than five dollars, it violates the principles of unrestrained banking, but does not go to the extent of regulation by law. I think the public are more likely to suffer, and to a greater extent, from bank issues above five dollars than those under that amount." January 11, 1853. _The Dahlonega Mint, in his own State._ "I believe the mints at Dahlonega, Charlotte, and New York are each unnecessary.... I do not desire to continue abuses in Georgia any more than in New York. I am willing to pull up all abuses by the root.... I think the existing mint is adequate to the wants of the country." February 17, 1853. _Personal Explanations in Debate of Appropriations._ "I believe that with all the abuses we have had in the discussion of appropriation bills, we have never had personal explanations." February 21, 1850.