Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-16

by Davis; but was far more approachable,
and perhaps more kind, in his relations to-
wards other members. The most truculent
Senator from the South was Wigfall, OF
Texas, a man of SCARED face and fierce as
pect, but with rare gifts of Oratory; bitter
| at times, If not classical, in his denuncia-
tions. But much OF his strong talk and ec-
centric conduct was owing to that indul-
gence which the 'Hole in the Walr' fur,
nished for Congressional wrangle. Col.
Wigfall was master drinker. Had he liv-
ed among the ancient Persians, lie would
have been in high esteem. Darius Hys-
taspes, among his other virtues, had 1t re-
corded on his tombstone, as Wigfall might
truthfully upon his: Here lies man,
than whom no one could hold greater
quantity of liquorw -.It .H
Next to him in truculency, though not in
sociality, was Senator Iverson, Of Georgia.
He was outspOken and bold for the sudden
disruption Of the Union. The colleague of
the latter, Mr. TOombs, was far more amena-
BILE to reason than his rough manner and
boisterou!s logic indicated. He was man of
commanding person, reminding one, at
times, of Mirabeau. Batting his broad Af-
rieanese dialect, he was often intensely elo-
quent in the epigrammatic force of his ex7
preston. The Virginia Senators rank
among the foremost in this movement.
Much was expected from the moderation of
Mr.. Hunter, but he did little to stay the
Revolution. Little was expected of Mr.,
Mason, and he did less. The former was a
calm, phlegmatic reasoner; the latter had
a defiant, superciliOus, and autocratic de-
meanOr, that conciliated no one. Both were
imbued with the heresies of the ultra Cal
houn School. Louisiana was represented
by the malicious and INSCRIPTIONS Slidell,
txrl.f lie
savage and sneering threat to destroy
the commerce of the North by priva-
teers, heard. AS he delivered it, his
manner reminded me of Mephistopheles
In one of his humors over some choice
anticipated deviltry. But who shall
picture the sleek, plausible, and silver
tongued Judah p. Benjamin. His fare
well speech was as full of historic gar
bling and untruth as of musical and regret
| ful cadences. AS he bade adieu to the old
Union, he drew from the spectators many
! plaudits for his rhetoric, which he could
not evoke for his logic. Next to him, In
the suavity of his manner, if not in the
cogency OF his speech, was Judge Clay, of
Alabama. he is now in prison, having VOL
unfairly surrendered. He had a bearing
that was both dignified and graceful; and
although never very hale in health, was too
ready to assume his role in the daring drama.
The other Senator from Alabama, Governor
Fitzpatrick, an honest miller and planter at
home, was model of senatorial frankness.
have not seen his name mentioned since
the war. He was nominated in 1860 on the
ticket with Douglas at Baltimore, and but
for the incessant importantly, ii not threats,
of Southern men who thronged his room,
to shake (as they did) his determination, he
would have stood by the Northern Democ-
racy in its struggle against the deserters
from its organization.
The other Senators from the South did
not play very prominent parts on the Con-
gressonal stage. Mr.. Clingman, of North
Carolina, was expected to fight the Union
battle, but JAILED at the critical time; he had
large experience in Congressional life, but,
just elevated to the Senate, he rather pur-
sued what he believed was the popular doc
trine. He has since been Colonel in the
rebel service; he is the only Southern Sem
ator, unless it may be Wigfall, Toombs, and
Chestnut, who has had any military expert
ence. The Senators from Delaware, Bayard
and Salisbury, were able men; the latter is
still Senator; the former, logical thinker,
accomplished in Constitutional law, and q
believer in the unforced association of the
States, retired from his place disgusted with
that public opinion which would not allow
Il
tion and conclude the war. The Senator'S
from South Carolina did not appear at the
opening of Congress. Although that State
did not pass her ordinance until the 18th of
December, her Senators had resigned on the
preceding 10th. The Senator from Tennes-
see, Mr.. Nicholson, was no speaker; he did
not make his mark; he had been, however,
asuccessful editor. The other Senator, An
drew johnson, evidently made his mark.
Although he had fought the battle in Ten
nessee for Breckenridge against both Bell
and Douglas, he came to this session as If he
were nOuus homo. He had great will and
tenacity of purpose, his efforts were Wig
orous and effective in repelling, from q
Southern standpoint, the aggressive de-
bate of the secessionists of the Senate; his
elocution was more forcble than fine
more discursive than elegant; he ham
mered away with stalwart strength upon
his thought, until he brought it into shape.
He rarely failed to produce the impression
he intended. He is destined to act the great
est part in our future. Douglas frequently
expressed his regret that Mr.. johnson had
not made his blows tell earlier in the hot
conflict of ideas in 1860, when Crittenden
and himself were championing the interests
OF all sections, and striving to avert in time
the calamities which were pressed by ex-
tremists, North and South. The Senators
from Maryland, as from Kentucky, like
their States, occupied middle ground, and
were ever ready and eager to mediate.--
Would that the same could be said of Ar
kansas! 1t was understood that at least one
of her Senators, Mr.. Sebastian, was reluc-
tant to follow South Carolina; but the 9TH
er, Mr.. Johnson, was nothing loath thus to
act. He has recently offered himself to the
authorities, in characteristic letter, frank
and manly. OF the Missouri Senators, Mr..
Polk went South, where his friends did not
expect him to go; and Mr.. Green, unex-
pectedly, remained North in the seclusion
of private life. The former had been Gov
ernor of his State, but was not otherwise
greatly distinguished. The latter was a
worthy foeman of Douglas in the fierce
struggle on the Lecompton question. OF
the Northern Senators who were supposed
to be most nearly allied with the South,
were Gwin of California, Lane of Oregon,
and Bright of Indiana. The Senators from
Florida were never regarded, however they
seemed, as favorable to the secession move-
menS though the Representativefro from Flor
ida, Judge Hawkins, was the first to urge
the withdrawal of his State as reason for
his Indifference to compromise, and his re-
fusal to serve on the committee. Messrs,
Mallory and Yulee have since been some-
what conspicuous in the rebellion. Mr..
Mallory has been Secretary of the Confed-
crate Navy, but neither of them exerted
any considerable influence at Washington
in the direction of disunion during the
winter of 1S60-'6l. -
| The Republican Senators of the thirty