Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-01-15


Linkensa!e, the Washington correspond
ent Of the Muscatine Journal, gives the fol.
lowing sketch Of the six Iowa Representatives
in Congress:
'As sit here in the Reporters Gallery,
let me take bird S eye view of our members
for the benefit Of such of your readers as
have not seen them. do not think much
Of phrenology, but the physognomieal sci,
cnce is pretty correct. At any rate, would
rather trust the Judgment OF u fair view of a
man, than take that Of the fingers feeling
the bumps on his skull.
Take the case Of Wilson, down in the hall
there. He is solid looking man. Nothing
snowy about him. Well rounded in form, a
good sized head, erect hair, stiff as SO many
little pokers, keen eye, smooth, expressive
face, capable of showing earnest indignation
or Jolly good nature, watching the business
Of the House like hawk; you would know
that strong common sense, obstinate perse.
verance in carrying out his purposes, skill in
adapting the means to the end, excellent
reasoning powers, were the chief elements Of
his strength. Mr.. Wilson is an expert par.
liamentarian, ready and effective debater,
but not an eloquent orator. He will always
secure the attention of his audience, and their
hearty respect, but he will never send the
fiery thrill Of enthusiasm through their whole
natures. He wasn't intended for that ephem
eral sort Of work. lie is looked upon here
as very superior man, and regarded by
most as the leader Of the Iowa delegation in
the House.
Mr.. Price, Of your own district, you all
know like book. Modest, positively dis
trustful Of his own abilities, he will assured
ly not go up like rocket to come down like
a stick. But he will gradually win his way
to public favor, and, doubt not, to nation.
al reputation. am not ashamed to say that
l think as highly of Hiram Price as Of any
man in Iowa, and there are many men in
that glorious State before whose talents and
patriotism bow in respectful difference
Some may think that it is misfortune that
he is not lawyer TO that opinion do not
agree, though next 20 the preacher and tho
editor, | think the true lawyer takes position
in the rank of general usefulness. Some
body said that lawyers may know too much
law to have clear perception Of justice, just
as divines are sometimes too deeply read in
theology to appreciate the full grandeur Of
religion. Losing the abstract in the concrete,
the principles in its accessories, both are in
the predicament Of the rustic who could not
see London for the houses" Whether that
be true or not, il is certain that fine lawyers
are often very shabby Statesmen, as witness
Messrs. Harris and Cowan in the Senate now.
Law is apt to breed hair spltters, but sub
tletry, though great faculty, is not quail.
ty Of the statesman. look upon It, in fact,
as fortunate that Mr.. Price is not lawyer,
seeing that we have four first rate lawyers in
tho House. believe he will understand the
business Of the House, the legislative wants
Of the country, the issues before tho people,
and maintain himself as well in oil Of them
as any new member. He will, slowly, it
may be, but surely, gain a wide and perma-
nent reputation. lie has clear head, wide
grosp Of mind, the best Of business habits,
and large experience in affairs Of a public
nature. His head is all right, and not an
impulse Of his heart but beats true to the
cause Of freedom, Of humanity, and Of Heav.
en-. taA5#Aasa 81. g.
Mr.. Allison, of the Third District, is the
youngestman Of the Delegation. lie looks
like man Of brain, energy and back bone
If lie be not clever fellow, in the best and
highest sense Of that phrase, thereis no sense
in looks. He has SO much Of the milk Of hu-
man kindness in his nature that if one had
lost his reckoning in great city and should
see Allison in crowd Of dozen men, he
would walk straight up to him and tell him
of his perplexity--so good natured is the
very phiz of the member from the Dubuque
District lie is almost always smoking, and
evidently enjoys his Havana hugely. The
only unmarried man of the delegation, he is,
of course, the best dressed man. lie is
good speaker, a fine lawyer, an entertaining
conversationist, an indefatigable worker, and
an adroit politician. He vii! do honor to his
District, and the State.
Mr.. Grinnell, of our jerrymandered Fourth
District, is short, chubby man, with no
very dignihed appearance. Talkative of the
concerne of others and those of the country,
he is reticent enough Of his own schemes and
plans OF wire working. by no means re-
markable as q public speaker, and without
any brilliant intellectual powers generally,
he will nevertheless be one of our rncst valu-
able members not only, but one of the most
valuable members Of Congress. He will soon
know everybody in Congress, everybody in
Washington..worth w knowing, and viii have
better understanding of what is going on,
and what will be likely to be going on here.
after, than any Of his colleagues. lie is, I
think, the most skillful gatherer of intelli.
gence outside Of professional nsws-mongers,
| ever knew. Impressing strangers favora.
bly, by his genial, easy manners, heEs already
perhaps, on familiar terms with more mem.
bers THAI any other Representative Ever
lastingly having como good practical notion
in bis head, he will undoubtedly do great
service to the country swear by Grinnell
Mr. Kasson looks like the gentleman Of
culture aud brilliant mind. That Ii wha. he