Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL CHARACTERS.

oAetaoe WITH a forehead OF immense
capacity and breadth; sparkling and very
deeply-set gray eyes, one of which has been
almost destroyed by the anguish of tic dolo-
reux hooked nose, slender, and with nos
tFlis almost transparent; mouth vigorously
sInewed, and channeled at its sides deli
cate, thin lower face, betraying the pangs of
physical ailment in every tracing; cheeks hol-
low and wasted as if by dyspepsia, and no re-
sources visible to sustain the man at his pres
ent hight of labor and power except the un-
conquerable spirit of rule, and an intellect
which shines out in pervading luster through
every lineament and gesture. A prematurely
| gfay-hafed, prematurely wrnkled mana
chiSalrous, high nature, turned to bitterness
by agonies of the body and the disappointment
OF cherished hopes a courteous, cultivated
gentleman, whose wit is a rapier, drawing
blood wherever it touches; whose fancies are
never so rich as when they place some more
| prosperous rival in ridiculous or humiliating
| position. A soldier of undoubted galantry
scholar of high attainn,ents, always frank
and kind TO those beneath him-always haugh-
| ty and malicious TO those who can presume to
be his peers-no wonder that Jefferson Davis
| longs tor disunion as the only means of giving
| him that ascendency which his ambition hun
gers for, and which his talents could then
command no wonder that he should most
bitterly hate Douglas, who is, to say the least,
his peer in intellect, aud who possesses in ad-
dition those popular qualites-that electricity
evoking the personal devotion of multitudes-
which Davis must keenly feel that he himself
does not possess.
Senator Toombs of Georgia is daguerreotyp-
ed as tall, swarthy. burly, rather corpuent
figure, crowned with shock of dark brown
hair, jagged as haystack struck by lightning
pendant as drift of seaweed flung up to be
sun-dried on some rock by the last biIlow of
a tempest. The whole head is massive and
lion-like; the forehead broad and low; the
eyes dark, large, and lusterless, except when
excited by passion-the lower lids having a
nervous tullness and bagginessto coin word),
as If filled with unshed tears; the nose not
large, but standing out in bold relief; the
mouth passionate, powerful, and voluptuous
already development of what will be in old
age pelican sack of double chin the COM
pleXion salow and changeable; the throat mas
sive and muscular; not bad face to look at,
and very suggestive one to study. The man
has duration OF life in his organization, and
wlllprobably be public character of eminence
having ripened but slowly-for the next
twenty-five or thirty years. Never having
heard him speak, it can only be inferred from
his physique that his voice is deep, rich,
double-bass, of the rumbing, roaring, mutter-
ing kind and that his diction would natural
ly be sluggish, level, and hoarse at first-men
OF his nature requiring to lash themselves in
to excitement by the sound Of their own SEN
tences, before the seals of Solomon can he
uplifted from the deep and moody abysses of
passion, out of which their full storm of rhe-
toric has to be invoked.
There is general stir among the tairer por-
tion of the audience as Mr.. Sickles saunters
quietly ina slender figure, attired with such
PaIisian fautleSsness of taste that he has ac-
quired the name of the best-dressed man in the
House. Dark brown hair, brushed smoothly
away from his white, broad forehead full
beard and moustache, and handsome face, all
but the eyes-oh! such singular looking eyes
AS long as his back is turned, he seems an
Adonis; but the eyes spoil all. His usual
style of dress-one that makes him the envy
of every dnady on Pennsylvania avenue for its
distingue perfecti on-is black dress coat,
with velvet collar, and light gray trowsers, ta-
pering down to the small, shiney boots. His
hands are encased in perfectly fitting kid gloves
of some dark color, which he constantly wears,
even in his seat. This habit has given rise to
a supersttious rumor that they are worn to
conceal the deep blood-stains which he fancies
are still crimsoniag his hands. He lounges in
a sort of nonchalent way upon his seat, seldom
accosted by his fellow members, and apparent
ly quite unaware that he is the center for hum
dreds of curioas eyes. He is boarding in a
private family on Thirteenth street, and ssTe-
resa'' is with him.
Occasional in one of his letters, draws out
from obscurty two OF that large class of men
of labor and talent who in subordinate places
make regulations for eminent men, and keep
the machinery OF Governments in easy motion.
Says he Imagine such parsonage as Jehu
CLANCY Jones at the head of the Committee of
Ways and Means. Utterly unskiled in the
science of government, unblessed in intellect,
an inferior lawyer, very awkward parliamen
tartan, he could no more master the labor or
comprehend the details of that position than a
blacksmith could the machinery of watch.
Even the most accomplished statesman is COM
PEELED, when placed in the chairmanship of
this Committee, to rely upon the efforts of 9TH
erS. Mr.. Cochran, modest, quiet, unaSsu-
ming man, who has served for number Of
years in the capacity of clerk to the Commit
tee. devotes himself at all times to the prepa-
ration of the bills and to the collection of data
and information from the various departments
of the Government. Those who know him
speak OF him as an extraordinary intellectual
machine. His knowledge Of figures is so ac-
curate, his integrity so unquestionable, that
his calculations are accepted and adopted at
once. He may be said, indeed, to be counsel
or, adviser and director in reference to the
most important appropriations. No scheme,
however craftily concealed. can pass unchal-
lenged by this sentinel at the door of the ma
tional treasury. 1 understand that he has al
ready prepared all the bills for the action of
Congress, and when the Speaker is elected and
tho Committee of Ways and Means appointed,
they will be Immediately presented to the
House. And yet who has ever heard OF Mr..
Cochran except those who to inquire in
to the secrets of the business in this great po-
litical center7 Another of these unknown
public servants is Mr.. John NJ. Barclay OF In
diana, journal clerk of the House of Represen-
tatives. Mr.. Barclay is as thoroughly versed
in the parliamentary secrets and details as
Cochran is in the expenditures and revenues
Of the Government. As you enter the House,
when it is fully organized, you will see stand
ing on the right of the Speaker young gen.
tleman, named Thaddeus Maurice, who may
he called the prompter of the presiding officer.