The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-18

times, II not classical, in his denunciations.
But much Of his strong talk and eccenuic con.
" Hole In the Wall " furnished for Congress
ional wrangle, Col. Wigfall was master
drinker. Had he lived among the ancient Fer
SLAMS he would have been in high esteem. Da-
Nus Hystaspes, among his other virtues, had
it recorded on his tombstone, as Wigfall might
truthfully upon his: d" Here lies a man, than
whom no one could hold greater quantity OF
liquor!"
ciality was Senator Iverson. of Georgia. He
was outspoken and bold for the sudden olsrup-
ton of the Union. The colleague OF the lat-
ter, Mr.. Toombs, was far more amenaole to
reason than his rough manner ana bOlsterOns
logic indicated. He was man OF command
ing person, reminding one at times OF Mira
beau. Batting his broad Atricanese dialect, he
was often intensely eloquent in the epigram-
matte force of his expression. 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
q calm, phlegmatic reasoner; the latter had a
defiant, supercilious, and autocratic demeanor,
that conciliated no one. Both were imbued
with the heresies of the ultra Calhoun School.
Louisiana was represented by the malicious
and inscriptions Sidell, who combined the
fox with the tiger. His savage and sneering2
threat to destroy the commerce of the North
by privateers, heard. As he delivered it, his
manner reminded me of NephistOpheles In
one of his hum0rs over some choice apticipa'
ted deviltry. But who shall picture the sleek,
plausible and silver-tongued Judah 2. BeDja-
min? His farewell speech was as full of his.
toric garbling and untruth as OF musical and
regretful cadences. As he babe adieu to the
old Union, he drew from the spectators many
plaudits for his rhetoric which he could not
evoke for his legic. Next to him in the suav.
ity of his manners, if not in the cogeacy OF
his speech, was Judge Clay, of Alabama.
He is now in prison, having voluntarily sur
rendered. he had bearing that was both
diguified and graceful; and although never
very hale, in health, was too ready to assume
his role In the daring drama. The other Sen.
ator from Alabama, Gov. Fitzpatrick. an hon.
est miller and planter at home, Yves model OF
senatorial fankness. have not seen his name
mentioned since the war. He was nominated
in 1860 On the ticket with Douglas at Balti-
more, and but for the ineessant importantly,
If not threats, of Southern men who thronged
his room, to shake Gas they did) bis determine
zion, he would have stood by the Northern
Democracy in its struggles against the desert
erS from Its organization.
The other Senators from the South did not
play very prominent parts on the Compression.
al stage. Mr.. Clingman, of North Carolina,
was expected to fight the Union battle, but
failed at the critical time. He had large expe-
rience in Congressional life, but. just elevated
to the Senate he rather pursued what he be-
lieved was the popular doctrine. He has since
been Colonel in the rebel service. He is the
only Southern Senator, unless it may be Wig.
fall, Toombs and Chestnut, who has had any
military experience. The Senators from Della
The latter Is still Senator; the former, logical
thinker, accomplished in Constitutional law,
and believer in the enforced association of
States, retired from his place disguised with
that public opinion which would not allow free
speech as q means to restrain usurpation and
conclude the war. The Senators from South
Carolina did not appear at the opening of Con-
gress. Although the State did not pass her
ordinance until the 18th of December. her Sen
ators had resigned on the preceding 10th. The
Senator from Tennessee Mr.. Nicholson, was
no speaker, he did not make his mark; he
had been, however, q successful editor. The
other Senator, Andrew johnson, evidently
made his mark. Although he had fought the
battle in Tennessee for Breckenridge against
both Bell and Douglas, he came to this session
as if he were norus homo. He had great will
orous and effective in repelling, from South
ern standpoint, the aggressive debate of the
of the Senate: his elOcution was
more fOrcible than fine-mOre discursive than
elegant; he hammered 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 greatest part in our future.
Douglas frequently expressed his regret that
Tnh bnd 10 h lie roll
lier in the conflict of ideas in 1860 when Crit
tendeu and himself were championing the
interests Of ell section and striving to avert in
time the calamities which were pressed by ex-
tremists North and Soath. 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 tie said for Arkansas! 1t was understood
that at least one of her senators, Mr.. Sebastian,
was reluctant to follow South Carolina; but
the other, 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 MIR. Green, upeXpect-
eddy. remained North in the seclusion OF pri-
waite life. The former had been Governor of
of the State, but was not otherwise greatly dis
tingushed The latter was worthy foeman
compton question. OF the Northern senators
who were supposed to be most nearly allied to
the South, were Gwinn 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
ment, though the representative from Florida,
Judge Hawkins, WIS the first to urge the
withdrawal of his State as reason for his in
difference to compromise, and his refusal to
tb1 md
Yulee have since been somewhat conspicuous
in the rebellion. Mr.. Mallory has been Secre-
tary of the Confederate Navy, but neither of
them exerted any considerable Influence at
Washington in the direction of disuniou during
the winter of 1860 81.
The Republican senators at the thirty-sixt
Congress who were most noted IN the parlia-
mentary conflict were Hamlin, Feesenden,
Hale, Clark, Collamer. Wilson, Sumner,
Chandler. Seward, Cameron, Wade, Trumbull,
Doolittle and Baker-a galaxy of ability.
Against these, Is against the other extremists,
stood Douglas, Crittenden, johnson, Pugh,
Latham, Fitch, Thompson, Rice and Powell
Row these tribunes la6ored to save the nation,
~