New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-08-26
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.


N
Gen. Cass is fanked on the left by the Hon. James
NJ Mason, of virginia-a solid, substantial looking
man, with bald head and about sixty years Of age.
Col. Mason, some twenty years ago, was member
OF the House of Representatives from the Winchester
District But becoming somewhat attainted with
Wing principles, the immaculate Democracy of old
Virginia soon set him aside. Having, however, by
due penitence and long service, renstated himself in
their Affection he taken up and elected to the
Senate as the representative of western Virginia. and
was two years ago reelected for a second term. An
effort was made by the friends of Gov. Floyd, (now
IN the Cablnet) to elect him in Masons place. but it
proved decided failure.
His position in the Senate as Chairman ofthe Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, gives him prominence
there that is not perhaps his due on the score of
| ability do not mean to say he is not man Of in.
tellectual strength, but it is undenable that many
others Of the body rank him in reputation as states
man. His colleague, Mr.. Hunter. by common consent
is infinitely his superior.
But, as the author of the Fugitive Slave Law, and
| an earnest and devoted champion of Southern Rights
generally, he as acquired hold upon the confidence
of the people that will continue as long as he is in
public life, which will be, perhaps, as long as he
lives.
manner is awkward, his delivery slow and hesitating
and he INDUCES too much in commonplace. During
the great contest in Virginia in the spring of 1856
Hunter and Mason were both invited to Richmond to
address the people Mason commenced with the
African church crowded in every part, but before he
had gotten through at least onethrd of the audience
had retired. When Hunter came the church was also
crowded, and it continued crowded to its utmost
capacity, until he had finished.
During the latter part Of the last session, Col
Mason occupied the Presidents chair of the Senate
succeeding Bright, who had resigned. He was BY 10
means good presiding officer-not to be compared
in that respect with Bright who is the best presiding
officer ever saw over any deliberative body. Col
Mason accepted the position it is understood at th
request of his friends and not because be wanted it.
!; Next to him sits the great bore of the senate-Ml
f Stuart OF Michigan-a man who would die of grie
unless he were allowed to make at least half doze
speeches on every question that comes up for discus
son Stuart served several years in the lower House
where his talking propensities equally as full
, developed By some MEANS which nobody can ur
dersand, he secured election to the Senate-wher
he has been, for several years, the terror of th
reporters, the clog of business and the mortal avel
sion of the galleries. Fortunately, he soon break
always atones for any deficiency of length by Pre-
fusion of the number.
In politics he claims to be a Democrat-but O
what ground it is difficult to conjecture. His pri1
= cipal business, besides making speeches. seems to b
the urging through Congress of bills of internal in
c provement for the benefit of Michigan Of tn
various bills that were brought forward for improve
J. ment of lake navigation, Michigan had at least one
+ half There was scarcely harbor, bay, river, creek
spring or branch in the State that Stuart did not as
o an appropriation for. He appeared to think tn
y United States consisted of Michigan as the grea
central luminary, around which the other State
revolved as mere satellites. proper State prid
and proper jealousy in respect of the interests
n ones State is commendable thing-but Stuart
course was so evidently selfish as to excite nothr
but disgust. He seemed to consider the FEEDER
Government and its treasury as something to
scrambled over as boys do over pea nuts.
"a "a As Chairman of the Committee on Public Land
Dl he was one of the chief advocates of the system
granting alternate sections to the northwestern Stat
a and Territores--but when railroad company
q Virginia (the Alexandria and Loudoun) asked for
% similar grant last winter Stuart made indecent has
l. to report against it. Yet this same Stuart in IL
latter part of the session. had the assurance to cor
Piaih VI SeudtOIS against intern
d improvement bills in the North and for similar bill
e in the South-an accusation for which Ire received
rebuke from Judge Iverson of Georgia, which he wi
l. not easily forget
His passion for debate, and his cool impudenc
, have led him often into trouble. have seen Go
n CHttenden, provoked by him beyond the limits
forbearance, turn upon him and lash him with mo-
y terrible invecve-and Stuart would submit to wit
n the meekness of a saint. He was always gettn
himself into difficulties, and always getting hmse
n out by piteous Acknowledgements and humiliatir
e eXpostuations.
But for the influence that Douglas and Bright hf
over him, he would, very probably, have declared f
!. the Black Republicans before this. Inasmuch
,r Michigan is now Black Republican State Stuart
q conversion may be daily looked for In truth, he
a. a. little better than now-but his desire to secu
y a reelection will induce him to assume the name,
Y, well as the principles, of that party. Whether
will succeed in being returned is, however, ques
\ of great doubt Essen,