a serious loss to the government and
the country." He pronounced the speech just then delivered by Mr.
Evans, on the finances, to be "incomparable." The "senator from
Maine," continued Mr. Webster, "has devoted himself especially to
studying and comprehending the revenue and finances of the country,
and he understand that subject as well as any gentleman connected
with the government since the days of Gallatin and Crawford,--nay,
as well as either of those gentlemen understood it." This was the
highest praise from the highest source! Of all who have represented
New England in the Senate, Mr. Evans, as a debater, is entitled to
rank next to Mr. Webster!

The next Congress met in December, 1847. Besides the venerable ex-
president, there were two future Presidents among its members--
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Mr. Robert C. Winthrop was
chosen Speaker. He was nominated in the Whig caucus over Samuel
F. Vinton of Ohio, because he had voted for the Wilmot Proviso,
and Mr. Vinton against it.* Mr. Vinton was senior in age and long
senior in service to Mr. Winthrop. Mr. Vinton had entered the
House in 1823 and Mr. Winthrop in 1840. Mr. Vinton had moreover
been selected as the Whig candidate for Speaker in the preceding
Congress, when that party was in minority. The decision against
him now created no little feeling in Whig circles, especially in
the West where he was widely known and highly esteemed. But, while
Mr. Winthrop was rewarded by this nomination for his vote in favor
of the Wilmot Proviso, the more pronounced anti-slavery men were
hostile to him. In the end he owed his election to timely aid from
Southern Whigs. This fact, no doubt, had its effect on Mr. Winthrop's
mind, and with other influences tended to separate him rapidly and
conclusively from the anti-slavery wing of the Whig party.

It would, however, be unjust to Mr. Winthrop not to recognize that
the chief reason for his selection as Speaker was his pre-eminent
fitness for the important post. He was a young man, and, other
conditions being equal, young men have been uniformly preferred
for the arduous duties of the Chair. From the organization of the
government the speakers, at the time of their first election, have
been under forty-five years of age,--many, indeed, under forty.
In only four instances have men been selected beyond the age of
fifty. Mr. Clay when first chosen was but thirty-four, Mr. Polk
thirty-nine, Mr. John