"
The chairman had long since seemingly given up all hope of exercising,
in their true spirit, the duties of the station which he held. For a
while, it is true, he battled with no little energy for the integrity of
his dignity, with good lungs and a stout spirit; but, though fully a
match in these respects for any one, or perhaps any two of his
competitors, he found the task of contending with the dozen rather less
easy, and, in a little while, his speeches, into which he had lugged
many a choice _ad captandum_ of undisputed effect on any other occasion,
having been completely merged and mingled with those of the mass, he
wisely forbore any further waste of matter, in the stump-oratory of the
South usually so precious; and, drawing himself up proudly and
profoundly in his high place, he remained dignifiedly sullen, until the
special reference thus made by Colonel Blundell again opened the
fountains of the oracle and set them flowing.
The lawyer, thus appealed to, in a long tirade, and in his happiest
manner, delivered his opinion in the premises, and in favor of the
measure.
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