ue, and
refused to give them to the _Republican_, a paper zealous and able
in the cause of the Administration." The central "organ," from
which the others were to take their cues, was the _Madisonian_,
originally established by Thomas Allen. He disposed of it after
he married the handsome and wealthy Miss Russell, of Missouri,
whose tiara and necklace of diamonds had been the envy of all the
ladies at Washington. John B. Johnson, the author of _Wild Western
Scenes_, then became the editor, and wrote ponderous editorials
advocating "Justice to John Tyler," which the minor organs all over
the country were expected to copy.

[Facsimile]
Rufus Choate
RUFUS CHOATE was born at Ipswich, Massachusetts, October 1st, 1819;
was a Representative in Congress from Massachusetts, 1831-1834;
was United States Senator, 1841-1845, and died at Halifax, Nova
Scotia, July 13th, 1859.

CHAPTER XXII.
THE CAPITOL AND THE DRAWING-ROOM.

When the Twenty-seventh Congress met in December, 1841, it was
evident that there could be no harmonious action between that body
and the President, but he was not disposed to succumb. Writing to
a friend, he said the coming session was "likely to prove as
turbulent and fractious as any since the days of Adam. But [he
added] I have a firm grip on the reins." In this he was mistaken,
or, rather, he had been deceived by the sycophants around him.
Neither House paid any attention to the recommendations which he
made in his messages, and only a few of his nominations were
confirmed. The Whigs, who had elected the President, repudiated
all responsibility for his acts and treated him as a traitor, and
the Democrats, while they accepted offices from him, generally
spoke of him with contempt.

The Senate contained at that time many able men. Henry Clay was
in the pride of his political power, but uneasy and restive as a
caged lion. John C. Calhoun was in the full glory of his intellectual
magnificence and purity of personal character. Preston's flexible
voice and graceful gestures invested his eloquence with resistless
effect over those whom it was intended to persuade, to encourage,
or to control. Barrow, of Louisiana, the handsomest man in the
Senate, spoke with great effect. Phelps, of Vermont, was a somewhat
eccentric yet forcible debater. Silas Wright, Levi Woodbury, and
Robert J. Walker were laboring for the restoration of the Democrats
to power. Benton stood sturdily, like a gnarled oak