Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-20
SENATORIAL PORTRAITS.


heavy face, and piercing, coal black eye.
He has light stoop and is somewhat awkward
in his movement and geSticulation. His voice
is sharp and shrill, and the information gives
decided evidence of his Northern origin; his
words being replete with the usual character
istics of Yankee land. Able, clear and loGi-
CAL and perhaps fluent speaker, though not
a frequent one,-he always commands respect.
Personally, he has much the appearance, at a
distance of a seedy Methodist preacher but
when he talks, that is all forgotten. 1t is
Senator Hamlin, Of Maine.
VIM. II. SEwARD.-W hat man is there who
can pretend to describe him We see short
delicate made man, with singular looking,
wrinkled fnce, and Roman nose, head calcu-
lated to puzzle Spurzheim, covered with
coarse and rather short, gray hair, not very
tidily brushed busy gray eyebrows overhang-
ing eyes most remarkable for their brilliancy
of expression-cothed in attire neat to pre-
cision, but negligently worn. We hear him
speak, and his voice is poor, evidently injur
ed by the long prodigal use of snuff-his de-
livery careless even to Notwithstanding
against his desk with his hands in his pockets
his only gesture made with his head, which
rolls about almost independently of his body
thus deliberately, and more in the tone of con-
versation than that OF debate-be pours out
the most beautiful specimens of rhetoric, the
clearest logic in language of Saxon purity,
fail, legal aphorisms true as the statutes,
illustrations drawn from every source which
literature has reached-all clothed in Ian
guage, not one word of which need ever be
blotted out. He never says foolish thing.
SENATOR SHIELDs.-Some weeks ago L took
occasion to drop into the Senate galleries,
and as [ seated myself was conscious of an
unusual silence throughout the hall. The
spectators were numerous, and most of the
Senators in their places. One of them was
speaking in measured tones, and was appa-
reltly much affected. He was delivering
eulogy on distinguished soldier and le-
gislator, and brother in arms he spoke OF
the dreadful foray of Cero Gordo, of a wound
there receiyed,-(one which even now aston
ished the surgical world, that any one could
be so fearfuly stricken and yet snrvive)-he
spoke of lying in rude hut, with the blood
streaming from CHASTITY wound in his chest
expecting every moment to be summoned in
to the presence of his God.-when he was ap-
preached by an officer, begrimmed with the
smoke of battle and flushed with the con-
sciousness of victory just gained. Taking
the hand of the suffering soldier, he said to
him; s.My gallant friend, be of good cheer.
If YOU must die, and survive this war. will
take good care of your memory at home ~
The Senator of another day-ttat day of
twenty battles, when the city of Mexico fell at
last beneath our arms, and be lay again woun-
ing words.
ssAnd now,'' said the speaker .'let it be my
duty to add my voice in testimony of the worth
of the noble, gallant Quitman, and do justice
to has memory" As he spoke his voice trem-
bled and he sat down overcome by the memo
ries of the past as they crowded thick upon
him. He is plain looking person, of medi-
um height, rather slender, and with strongly
marke ed features. He has pleasant voice ,and
an open, smiling kindly face. He is not a
great debater, nor is he among the first men
of the Senate, but he is one of those per-
sons whose voice, manner and expression
draw you insensibly towards him whatever
difference you may entertain politically. L
fancied that slight accent betrayed his for
eign BIRTH but this may be mere fancy. he
i of Minnesota.
SENATOR HALE.-A visitor to the gallery
of the Senate cannot have failed to notice the
entrance of full, hearty, ruddy, bluff, hale
looking man, who generally walks nearly to
his chair before removing his hat from off his
head, where he usually hangs it. After taking
his seat he pulls up his sleeves, as though "a
bout to dip his hands into a sugar barrel
throws about the papers on his desk for mo-
ment, and then commences to write most fu-
riously. Perhaps ere long he jumps up to
make some remarks in reply to a gentleman
on the other side who has the floor, and when
he does so there is laugh all over the house.
L
but nil nevertheless. He appears to be a
well to do farmer-a jolly sort of husbandman,
with granaries full Of common sense, and cl-
der press streaming with fun. Need L say
that it is John P. Hale of New Hampshire
SENATOR CLAY.-In the midst of the demo-
cratic side of the Senate Chamber, next to
Jefferson Davis is gentleman whose singular
appearance attracts the attention OF the stran-
ger. Qute slender, rather tall and with a
dark complexion, a thin, pale face. black eyes,
and let black hair inclined to curl and worn
rather long-and very full prominent fore
head-he gives one the impression that he is
more fitted for the closet than the legislative
hall. He looks the poet, or perhaps the artist,
rather than the statesman. He does not speak
often, and when he does he is not particularly
profound, nor his style particularly oratori-
cal. He is not first class Senator. 1t is Clay
of Alabama.
SENATOR BRoDERICK, the colleague of Mr..
Gwin, personally, does not afford any OF the
characteristics, as seen on the floor OF the
Senate, which are to be looked for in the eide
want bar tender and rowdy. He is tall, manly
looking; with an oval face, heavily whisker-
ed countenance, short hair and full under lip.
He is when not in debate, as quiet and digni-
fed, apparently as need be. When he speaks,
however, you can but feel that he does so with
an effort, and cautiously lest he overstep the
line drawn between stump speaking and Sem
atorial debate, and betray by his language the
sold Satan'' which is said still to be lurking
within. His grammer is not Immaculate, as
at tines he trihes swith Linday Murray most
unwarrantably, and his pronunciation is GER
tainly not Websteran. Still, 1 think Mr..
Broderick deserves very much credit for what
he has done, and think he is fully as honest
| as many gentlemen who would perhaps call
| themselves his betters. 1 know that he is a
man with whom it will not do to trife. Some
honorable Senators are aware of this TOO, as
they found that attempt to embarrass MIN