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PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE XXVlii,h CONGRESS


Taken from the Ladies GALLERY


so II. SENATOR cHoATE'


SUPPOSE we 90 into the Senate Chamber, dear
rcader Let Us turn 10 the right as we enter the
Gallery and take sea; on the LEFT OF the ffesi-
dent. See, we are Just above the venerable MF'
Buchanan, venerable in juvenilitY, youthful IN
his sapiency-and witha, it must be confessed
with as good humorcd and benevolent an express
SION of countenance as ever fell TO the lot OF
Senator. Next 10 him on his left, sits Senator
Wright, prcma,urely bald but fresh and iosy
about the oills as an Alderman. But observe that
gentleman who sits next to Mr.. Woodbury. al inc
outermost desk Of the second row on the rlsht
of the President His countenance "scki'eo
DER with the pale cast Of thought is peculiarly
striking, and in the artistic sense OF tho word
:. characteristics" His black hair clusters III
curls over his forehead which is high and re-
markablv broad Il would use the words dror
and erpansirc here, but that they seem OF late
to be appropriated by lady novelsts, and would
not for the world dispute CT infringe upon their
right to the sole use OF ;hen.l His eyes although
sunken are bright and penetrating. His face Is
long, pale and contemp!ative He is sitting with
his hand under his head, leaning his elbow on
his desk See, he stoops to take note of some
,hing-and observe the while how his hand trem-
bles with nervous agitation. Now he rises to
speak. He commences modestly and in a sub
dued voice. Ah he is about to reply TO Mr..
Buchanan speech On the Oregon question. (Now
the crowd pours into the Gallery and even the
floor of the Senate is thronged BY the Members
of the other House, How clearly lie lays down
his positions How logical are his deductions.
die brings the force of argument TO bear on the
sbadowy phantoms which Mr.. Buchanan had
coniu.td up, and they at once vanish INTO thin
air. In what mastery manner he demollsheS
one aite. another the arguments OF his opponent.
No one can fail to observe this. His entire
hearing too is animated. He has one peculiar
gesture, which in any other man, or at least in
most other men, would appear awkward, but IN
him, accompanied by such words, it adds but to
the charm OF his eloquence See how in empha-
sizing word he brings down his right hand,
describing semicirclc with it, at the same time
that by peculiar motion his entire body shakes
for two or three seconds. His right hand too,
in cesticuatng constantly trcmbles. He is
never loud or boistcrous. His style is chaste,
classic, and free from all rhodomontadc.


An eo1uence not like those nils from hight.


Which sparkle and foam and in yapot are o'eI,


Ilii n that works out u, way INTO hgl',


Through the ftenng reces.cs OF thought and OF lore


And though he generally confines himself to close
argument, he is, notwithstanding, capable Of
the most sublime and beautiful flights Nor does
he, in those eagle flights, like the first aeronau,
scorch his wings in the suns rays, and fall help
less and confused from the giddy hight, as is
often the case with some orators whom | could
mention. No /. after he has carried you up resist
less and amazed to the regions Of the stars, he
descends gradually and without confusion, never
bungling metaphor, never injudicious in the
application of simile, leaving you in doubt
which most to admire, the boldness of the flight,
or the calmness and coolness Of the descent.


wish that space allowed me to quote pas
sage that occurs towards the close Of his speech
on the Oregon question, full OF sublimity and
beauty. But this sketch is already becoming
too lengthy, and | must close it BY observing,
tand it is the universal opinion of all with whom
l. have converscd upon the subject) that Mr..
Choate's speech on the Oregon question is the
best speech hitherto delivered this season.