New Orleans daily crescent., 1857-07-11
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NuMRER XIII.


NUMBER XIII.
Commencing at the third row of seats on the right
of the main aisle we encounter first, the Hon. Charles
T. James, of Rhode Island. Gen. James is q large,
tall, nslooking man, but, for what purpose he was
sent to the Senate, except to maintain an eloquent
silence it is difficult 70 discover During the whole
Of the last Congress he made only two short speeches.
One of these was of about fifteen minutes in length
on the celebrated Enlistment question" concerning
which so much stir was unnecessarily made and the
other the proposition to prevent frauds in the reve
nue.. 1t is true they not always the best legsa-
tors who indulge most in debate. The converse OF
the proposition is more apt to be true. But, in
SMALL select body like the National Senate, where
questions of the gravest moment are constantly dis
cussed the members ought certainly to be equal to
the OCCASION" Perhaps the State which the General
represents is so small that his modesty is somewhat
appalled, at the idea of her making stir in the Sen
ate But Tristan Burgess did not think when he for
merly started the House with his eloquence. Rhode
Island is so dminutiye in size that her local necess
ties are easily attended and her interest in national
affairs it appears is not sufficient to provoke her
Senators into the of general politics and affairs
of State. l.a.
When the Nebraska bill was before the Senate,
Gen. James voted for it. His colleague, Allen, though
Democrat voted against it. This vote of the Gen
erals was sufficient to doom him. His term expired
on the 4th of March, and Simmons, a former Senator,
and Black Republican has been chosen in his place.
Next to him sits the Hon. George W. Jones of Iowa
of whom it may be said that it were well il he
would follow Gen. James example, and preserve
less loquacous tongue. But the cacoethes loquenai
that l,o pf CT fhaS lima
ton to have something to say on every subject,
whether he knows anything about it or not. Jones
is young man, who came into the Senate by hang
ing to the skirts of our present Minister to Spain
the Hon. Augustus Caesar Hannibal Dodge. he is an
amiabe, welldisposed man, and his only weakness
consists in supposng that he has any pretensons to
the character of statesman. When not engaged in
speaking he occupies his time entirely in writing. His
correspondence, judging from the pile of letters he
sends to the post-ofce every day, must be more ex
tensive than ever was that of Old Solomon in the
play of the Stranger Surprising that he writes only
to his constituents he must, at the lowest estimate,
favor each with at least half dozen letters a
year .H5. .r .. -e f1I.a
His most brilliant oratorial effort during the last
Congress was in support Of bill granting several
millions of acres Of public lands to the State Of Iowa
to aid in the construction of railroads It is under
stood that he had the stimulus of private interest urg
ing him. well regard for his constituents and that
he was made immensely rich by the passage of the
BILL do not koc that this is true-but it is proba-
ble to say the least. When the bill came up for con-
sderation he thought there would be no difficulty in
passing it. But Foote, of Vermont made an on
saught upon it, and for two three days kept Jones
in very lively and excited state of mind.
Foote cool, but Jones was in terrible excite
ment. He got his bill through at last, but confessed
that he had not been able to sleep any except with
the aid of morphine, during its pendency. 1t was in
this speech that he detailed conversation he had
one occasion with stDayy, as he called him. alludng
thereby to Gen. David R. Atchinson formerly Sena-
tor from Missouri s'
Unless he turn Black Republican is likely
his career Senator will close with his present
term. Iowa is hopelessly Freesoil. Perhaps, having
become wealthy, he afford to repose on the Sena
torial laurels he has already won.
His right.hand neighbor is the Hon. Lafayette s.
Foster of Connecticut. Mr.. Foster took his seat in
the Senate the 1st of December, 1855, and, being
a young member, had very little to say. What he
did say, however, was characterized by good taste
and well expressed. He is moderately Black Repub.
lican. His speech on the Sumner assault was the
most graceful and gentlemanly, and conceived and
expressed in the best ase of that of any Senator
that side of the House. Strictly attentive to his du
ties, he may be considered valuable member Of the
| Senate He does not provoke resentment by ill
natured remarks or ungenerous assaults, but is dis
| tinguished always by high courtesy. Connecticut
being also hopelessly Black Republican, Mr. Foster
may be considered lfe-member. And it is fortunate
| if we must have Black Republican from that State