He is honest-minded, straightforward, extreme in his views on many public questions, and though a decided partisan of Southern interests has always had the tact and the good fortune to maintain kindly relations with his political opponents--a desirable end to which his generous gift of Scotch humor has essentially aided him.

It is among the singular revolutions of political opinion and political power in this country, that the State and the very city made memorable by Mr.
Clay's impassioned devotion to the National Union and his prolonged advocacy of protection, should be represented in Congress by a disciple of the extreme State-rights school and by a radical defender of free trade.
As soon as the Clerk of the House finished the calling of the roll and announced that a quorum had answered to their names, Mr.Brooks of New York rose and called attention to the fact that there were seventeen absent States, ten of which, belonging to the late Confederacy, were not called at all, and the remaining seven--New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Kentucky, Tennessee, Nebraska, and California--had presented no credentials of members, inasmuch as under their respective laws, Representatives to the Fortieth Congress had not yet been chosen.
Among the absent were seven of the "old thirteen"-- an absolute majority of the States which founded the Republic.

The absentees in all amounted to eighty members; and on behalf of his political associates Mr.Brooks presented a formal protest, signed by every Democratic member present, "against any and every action tending to the organization of this House until the absent States be more fully represented." He asked that it be entered upon the Journal as the protest of the minority of the House.

Under the rules the Clerk refused to receive or submit the paper for consideration, and the House immediately proceeded to the election of Speaker.

Mr.Colfax was chosen for the third and last time.