New-York daily tribune., 1861-03-05
TuR NEW SENATORS.

A new Senate of the United States-thnt which
forms part Of the XXXyIlth CODgress-convened
in the Capitol yesterday, under the Presidency OF
HANNIBAL HAMLIN, our new Republican VICE
President. Mr. Hamlin is native and lifelong
resident of Maine, SO years old, and has filled
nearly every important trust within the gift OF
his fellow citizens. After having served with
honor in the Legsla:ure-we believe in each
House-he was elected, about 1916, to the Fed
eral House. whence be was transferred, after
four years acceptable service, to the Senate,
whereof he has been member for the last ten
years, save the single session of 1867, when he
had resigned to serve as Governor. He was
Democrat, but on original aud consistent sup
porter of the policy of Slavery Restriction, 10
which the Republican movement is grounded, and
in 1856. after the formal condemnation OF that
policy by the Democratic National Convention at
Cincinnati. he renounced his old party resigned
his post of chairman of the Committee of Com.
merce and appealed to the People of Maine, BY
whom he was Immediately chosen Governor by
the largest majority ever given by them to any
candidate for that office. He was reelected to
the Senate the next Winter, and served until the
opening Of tho present Session, when he resigned
because of his election to the Yice-PresidenCy.
Mr. Hamln is gentleman Of unassuming man
ners, but with cOuntenance and bearing indica
tive of solid sense aud sterling honeSty-an aP-
pearance which his character fully justifes.
Though not an orator, he is one of the mof
effective advocates of Republican principles before
the People.
Lor NJ. MORRILL,, who has replaced Nr. Ham
lin in the Senate, was also of tho Democratic
school in politics, and has been in sympathy with
Mr.. Hsmlin throughout. We believe he has not
before been in Congress, but be has been repeat.
edy chosen Governor Of Maine BY the RePubi-
cans.
IRA HARRIS replaces Gov. Seward as Senator
from this State He Was originally a Wing
native Of the State, born in Cortland County,
but for nearly all his adult life resident oil
Albany, where he was an eminent lawyer, and
was repeatedly chosen to the Legislature from
Albany County. In 1876 he was a member of
the Constitutional Convention, which framed our
present State Constitution, In which he bore o
distinguished and honorable part. He was pro-
posed for Governor in the Wing Convention OF
that year. but John Young was ultimately nomi-
mated. He was soon after elected TO the Su-
preme Court Of our State from the Third Judi
cial District and served eight years as Justice
of that body, part Of the time in the Court OF
Appeals. He WA beaten as q candidate for reelec'
ton in 1859, the Anti-Renter who had formerly
supported him, having turned against him because
Of a decision he had given in an electmens suit.
Judge Harris is In the ripe fulness OF his energy
and vigor, and will prove valuable acquisition
10 the Senate
EDGAR CowAS, the new Senator from Penn.
sylyania, is about 46 years old, aad has never
till now held any political Office having been
born and always lived in the strongly Demo
cratic County Of Westmoreland, while be was
Wing and more recently Republican. lie is
lawyer by profession, but rather scholar IN
him tastes, Of 4 retiring disposition, but Of emi-
nent ability and moral worth
We pass over Ohio for the present,
HENRY s. LANE is the new Senator from In
diana. He is a native, we believe, Of Kentucky,
about 80 years old. He first appeared in Con
gress, ws think, in lS39 when The National In
teliigenosr remarked the presence as Members OF
the House of three young men of uncommon bril-
liancy and taleDt-Ogden Hoffman of New-York,
Richard II. Menefee Of Kentucky. and Henry 5.
Lane Of Indiana. Menefee died young; Col.
Lane is now the sole survivor of the three. he
only remained a single term in Congress, resign
ing to devote himself 10 the requirement Of com.
peteDce by the practice Of law. Having achieved
this end, be now returns TO public life. He was
President Of the Republican National Convention
that nominated Col. Fremont, and bore leading
part in the gallant though unsuccessful canvass
that followed In 1859, he was chosen u. 5.
Senator to replace Judge Bright, who was sery-
ing under a pretended election in 1857. The
Senate, by partisan vote, refused to give Col
Lane the seat though his title to it was clear
COL Lane appeared at the Chicago Convention
at the head Of the Indiana delegation and WAS
very influential in procuring the nomination of
Mr.. Lincoln. He canvassed the State as can
didate for Governor, and elected in October
over Thomas A. Hendricks (Dem.) by nearly
10000 majority, on the largest vote ever poled
prior 10 November last. On the assembling OF
the legislature he was chosen TO the U. ,.
Senate for All years ensuing in place OF DIR. q.
n. Fitch, whose term under the pretended cleo
tion of 1867 expired with the late Congress.
Col. Lane resigned his GOvernorship to accept
this post, considering himself required to do 80
by bis election to the Senate two years before.
He 10 universally esteemed by those who know
him as an honest as well Us able man.
Iouy q RREcKNRJIGE late Vice President,