The Portland daily press., 1866-05-08
Letter from the National Capital
ANOTHER BATCH OF THE PRESIDENTS
FRIENDS. ETC.

FRIENDS, ETC,
WASHINGTON, May 5, 1886.
10 the Editor Of the Press:
Among the special friends of the President
upon the Union side of the Senate Chamber,
is reckoned Mr.. DIXON ofConnecticut He is
apIeasant, mild-faced gentleman, of medium
heis Int and fair complexion. He is man of
moo lerately fair abilities, without any brilliant
or triking points, possessed of no great origin
ality of thought, warmth and earnestness of
sent iment, or energy of character. He is re-
gar led as man of much private worth, but
onstitutionally timid, and in the technical
sens e conservative. The course of Mr. Dix
on in regard to the Freedmen's Bureau bill
surprised many who had always held him to
be firm and true, though moderate Kepubli-
can. Sickness almost entirely excluded him
iroEl participation in public affairs from the
failure of that bill, until a very recent date
The speech with which his recovery has been
sigr alized seems to indicate a purpose to sup
por,1 the Presidents policy very fully. MIR.
Dixon served in the national House Of Rep
resentatives from 1S45 to 1S49. and his present
term, which ends Mar. 4th, 1869, is his second
in the Senate.
The latest convert to "my policy" is Senator
or to give him full honors, and the title
which he most affects-"Jm LANE Of Kan
sas. The country has heard so much of this
redoubtable gentleman, that even briei
sketch OF his public life and services might
seem almost superduous. How he was born
and raised in Indiana, how he warred in Mex
leo, carrying out manifest destiny at the head
of the Sd Indiana volunteers, how he came to
Congress, as Misunderstanding warriors used
to do, how he moved to Kansas, and contend
ed with the border ruffians, and was elected
to the United States Senate, and commission
ed Drigadier- General, and talked and voted
himself radical OF the radicals, and support
ed-poor benighted man as he was-the Civil
Rights bill .'in all its stages" and at last got
"new light" and saw his duty plainly-are
not all these things and many more written in
the newspapers? To be able to eat ones
words gracefully, to bolt ones record without
struggle or grimace, may, if exercised with
due prudence and moderation, be very SER
viceable accomplishment for politician, "but,"
as good, honest Jo exclaimed when he suppos-
ed his young friend Pip had swallowed his en-
tire supper at single mOuthfuI, "but such a.
such hOnc0TnaOn bolt! l bOlted myself
when was your age" continues Jo in serious
didactic strain, land as boy Pve been among
many boilers, but L never see your equal
yet! It's mercy you're not choked dead
You'll do yourself mischief. It'll stick some
where" In the case of the Kansas Sci. .ator.
however, apprehensions like JOS seem to be
quite superhuous. Radical "Jim" appears to
have followed his radical record, and jumping
down his own throat, to have come conserva-
tive side out with an adroit facility that the
most accomplished juggler might envy forever
and emulate in vain.
In person Senator Lane is rather tall and
thin, and in his look and carriage gives indi-
cations of considerable energy and force OF
character. He is now possessed of consdera-
BILE wealth, owning much land in the young
and growing State which he in partrepresents,
is very generous and open-handed, and enjoys
a large degree of personal popularity among
his fellow citizens. In his speeches he follows
the western style, both as to matter and man.
ner. He has recently entered upon his second
senatorial term, which extends from 1865 to
1871.
Last and least among those whom 1 row
propose to mention comes Mr.. NORTON OF
Minnesota. He is small, short, dark man,
not unlike Mr. Buckalew in personal appear
ance. He is one of the youngest Senators, has
had no previous Congressional experience, and
exercises no influence in the body of which he
is singularly member beyond, his vote. Yes