The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-05

IL adCEs, but NO OPatrtnrchs-Fessend
John son, wilson, rFumbuII, and Gratz
BrOwn-SumneF and SO. justine
Mes cb ants, Pioneers, and Journalists
of the senate.
The XXXIXth Senate Of the United States has
not boIne part OF like prominence with the
body of younger and more numerous men &C.
cpssory 20 IL. IL has been place OF condrma.
tion rather than of origin ano while the ques-
tions current come fresh and startling from the
floor OF the House, the same house is also Sena.
torial IN the experience, independence, and
ability OF its cOmponents Thaddeus Stevens, in
the Senate would be a leader of no less en-
nence than he now sustalns. The same remark
1 have had occasion TO make upon the better
average of intelligence now prevailing in the
lower branch, Is applicable to the superior legis
lature. There are no longer overtoppIng sta
lures here. The floor to-day Is not like the hve
great pyramids rising above the desert; it is a
high table-and, like the Virginia Piedmont,
where every individual knoll is q battle posi-
ton and the mountains are the dim and dis.
tant Blue Ridges OF a Tar historic era.
The man who stands in the focus of the assem-
bly, is a New Englander, Mr.. Foster. He bears
the name of Laiay ette, and is a direct descend
ant of Miles Standish. Whoever looks for excel
lent pedigrees in high places can find one here
remote and sturdy in its origin and republican
in all its traditions. Twenty-seven years of pub
lie service find him quiet and vigilant, q calm,
intrepid President, whose strong will has kept
The roughest tractable.
THE PAST OF THE SENATE.
This body, taking the name of that grand old
assembly before whose white and flowing boards
the barbarian Gauls stood abashed has neyerthe-
less had its pioneer history, when the strong arm
took up what the hot tongue failed to say, and
the trembling lip and glar1ng eye that closed the
debate was like the very iinger,boards that
plateau of Arlington. better dispensation
now prevails with Northern ideas uppermost,
and the few violations of decency and courtesy
which have marred the session have been of no
deeper origin than drunkenness Mr.. McDougall
once mistook the Hall for bar-room, but was
checked in the midst of profane anecdote, and
Mr. Salisbury once prefaced speech by laying
his pistol on his desk; for which he narrowly
escaped expulsion.
Here are three semicircles of oak desks, set
under roof lighted with soft medallion glass,
and studded with bronzes and gilded pendants.
Following the Presidents eye you observe
midway OF the second semicrcle, grave, grey
gentleman, cast in the most sedate of citizen
mouds, inspecting through his gold glasses
wilderness OF notes and manuscripts. He reminds
you of bishop 1ululling the duties of bank
president, and there is a severe, perhaps petu-
liant method in the movement OF his lips and
hands, for he is the responsible member of the
Senate, carrying the reputation of his party and
the statistics OF the Government we'll nigh upon
his shoulders alone. Other men are shining
ornaments, the heroes of episodes who gain
great credit or apprehension by occasional eXhibi-
lions; this man is the chairman of the foremost
committee the ultimate resort when the
minority, ever prying and revolutionizing,
make their combined onsets against the
policy they would overthrow. There is
of its sparkle and leisure. He dare not be
brilliant, because that would impeach his steadi.
ness and reliability. He must carry within him
self all the proofs, the statistics the grand plan
of action; and since he is not in bodily strength
the peer OF his contemporary Senators, we may
well imagine in his broken sleep and oyerworked
brain the iulsomeness and safety of high com
mand unless instigated by the love of duty and
the inspiration OF patriotism. He speaks with
more than the calmness OF a legislative Leaders
long experience In the Courts of Nisi Prius has
n dramatic intention W ri
the vulgar idea OF craftsmanship. concoctol
oil no SURPRISES the arranger OF no tableauX he
deals with the masonry of argument, not its
architectural details. For thirty-four years, 6
mans lifetime, he has been legislator, and il
at last the leader OF the Senate.
To the right of the hall, removed some halEa
dozen seats, you note brown-haired man
hale and able-bodied, and younger than mos
others, who is the foremost, in point OF com
mand and cleverness. OF the few Democratic
members. This is Thomas A. Hendricks, o
Indiana, a Democrat OF strong party tradI
tions an effective, collected speaker pruden
in tone, decided in opinion, and more Jealous
in the general affairs OF the country than the
mass o his party colleagues, whose oppositioi
is apt to be mere protest and bitterness. He il
of light complexion, settled and severe face, bu
without particular character, either i'll guise ol
oratory. He has marred his native ertempor
confidence somewhat by the too frequent nabi
OF reading his speeches from manuc,,,rtpt
The State of Maryland is rcpresented by twt
men OF great out dll-or1ng gifts. He who sit
close up 10 the speaker, writing ali the Will
WIN "a attorneys industry, is ReVcrdY Johr
son. massively quakerly featured man, wit
bulging contour, from the eyebrows down I
the under lip cast like prize tighter, and seen
ing by the one eye he has lost to carry the scar
OF his art. Yet the ampleness and symmetry {
his head show that it was framed tor bette
internal than exterior use3-buit like a for
but really an arsenal-whle the keen, clos
angle OF the chin gives token OF some delicac
ot taste and feeling He has short grey haiI
his eye is doggedly humorous; he is the mos
individual physical stature on the floor.
Less significant OF a triter and more averae
humanity, yet perfect in his kind, and pleasn
rather than striking, is the hale meridional fac
OF John A. j. CresWell, Senator beautiful
his friendships a sturdy Republican of progre
siVe integrity, and one OF the new and mo-
Christian regime OF Maryland gentlemen. Tue
colleagues, ,ot opposite politics, seem to me to co
stitute one OF the verybest Senatorial delegation
and do not know, indeed, that any State h
sent to Washington so much reason on the ol
side and feeling on the other. The men col
pounded would make one perfect statesma
and am able to see no other slngle delegati
of which the same could be said. CresW
comes from the northern border, so close to
in his little town OF El6ton, that he has inhal
the breath OF freedom across the line and in
ardent espousal OF the newer and purer code
his native State, ranks with the most progrC
siVe Senators of his time. He lacks the clio
acquaintance with cOnstitut onal law d
sessed by his colleague, but also {
narrow and literal humanity derived fro
too great reverence for charter and the
thoritiee upon it. He is aware, as Mr. Johns
is not, OF the dawn OF u better dispensatio
wherein we legslae for civilization and not /