The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-22

party, Mr.. Rousseau; and this was trIhing
episode compared to the beating OF Mr. Sumner
by bully whom he never kne ", and the taoleau
of Mr.. Footc, of Mississippi, pointing pistol IN
the space before the Presidents chair AZ the
head of Mr.. Benton. The duelline-ground at
Bladensburg is only visited now oy the anti
quarry, curious to see the spot where slavery
vlndicated its only theory OF manllness; ana the
Houses of Congress with an exception or two,
on the Opposition side, are not spectacles of
brutal drunkenness, hourishlng pistol In
debate, or dementedly asleep at ts dcsk. Grey,
grave old clerks, who were accustomed TO the
widest physical interpretations, look askant az
the sober civil bearing of the new regime of law
makers, and say, with some security of body,
that Puritan morals and Northern courtesy are
indeed potent in the Capitol.
CAPACITY OF CoNGBEssMEN.
While to the wayward dynasty who filled these
seats before the war, better heart and a softer
counsel have succeeded, there is also an array
of greater heads than ever before, probably,
made the splendid arc OF the House pictorial.
We are in the habit of iamenting the absence OF
the cluster which attracted the partisanshlp OF
the world twenty years ago, when all Congress,
TO the common eye, was made up OF q Few prln'
cipal personages. That was period when the
average of intelligence was low, and out OF the
half mediocre, half barbaric delegation the men
OF talent rose colossal. The statures are no less
to-day, but the average is higher, and in the
attritlon OF many wits, the few OF superior wit
take less command. l have been talking with
the venerable Chief Photographer of Congress,
Mr.. Sutton, whose memory Of Representatives is
faithful, and he said: '"Hhe debates are not as
dreary as they used TO be, though there are no
great dlCtators as before. / don't think that MIR.
Clay, or any VI the great men past, would have
the same easy time If they were here now" The
Thirty ninth House of Representatives Is con-
ceded 10 be the most creditable in point Of
whoeness that ever sat in the Capitol IL has
had more varied, more difficult, and more COM
plicated questions to deal with; its attitude has
been more menaced, and yet more manly and
independent, and its courtesy has been more
polished than can be said of any Congress
assembled since the adoption of the Consti-
tuition.
THE DEMOCRACY OF THE WAR SESSIONS.
The minority in times of war or crisis has
always produced in all countries the most fervd
orators. But the extraordinary badness of their
cause and the mpossiDility OF invoking any
bengnant deities in their favor, have made the
Democratic minority in Congress during the
war so Insignificant that, but for the violence
of one or two of its members, history would pay
no regard to IL. We may except Pendeton
perhaps, whose dignity and courtesy kept hic
personal relations pleasant, and made his
stature respectable; man who seemed anxious
to guard his record tor better times, and would
have made, among the Republicans, more than
passing applause. He was safe party leader;
not so strong in debate as Voorhees,, but in his
parliamentary bearing above filibusterng and
small strategy. Voorhees, was unscrupulous on
the floor but scarcely so adroIt in epithet as
Sunset Cox, springy, miniature, homely
fellow, full of tantalzatons and lodgings,
who fretted giants when he punctured them
and made both wings laugh heartily, but
who was in no sense an influence, and his
presence shows more than ii his party had
no representation at all, how utterly without
platform or significance they were. One of the
ldiosyncracles of Sunset Cox was to carry in his
pockets lot of scrap-books, loaded with figures
and dates and these he used to the confusion of
every body, quoting and retuting with most
amusing perseverance. Cox was very jealous
OF Pendleton, and sought several occasions to
twit him. With these were Fernando Wood,
for while: man of Gact but not OF record,
who spoke well to the forum and was only a
curiosity in Congress; Alexander Long, remark
able only for the hope he expressed that the
North would not conquer; and Vallandigham, a
fair paTliamentarian, who spoke with studied
utterance and some intensity, but who was the
equal of neither Voorhees, nor Pendleton. These
are the only personaees of the minority who
are entitled to remark since the firing of the
first gun on Sumter. They have only resisted
without leadership, censured without convic
tions, and heard the replies to their specious
arguments and prophecies ia the successive
guns of victory from the armies of the Union.
THE PRESENT MINORITY.
10 see the representatives of the present dis
mantled party on the floor of the House, you
must stand at the Speakers desk and look tC
the right. There are seven aisles rad1ating from
the desk, and to the rght-hand side of the sixth
aisle-not numerous enough to I'LL the fourth
| are placed among them-sts the minority, al
conscious disadvantage with faces OF detection
| and in great bewilderment for want of either
cause or organization. In James Brooks they
| lost their most pretentious associate, and are
now quite without IA distinctive masters spirit
unless that place could be filed in some sort by
| Eldrdge, oil Wisconsin, a light-haired man o
the middle size, forty years of age perhaps, and
| OF determined face, who occupies a desk two
| places from General Rousseau. He is chiefly
| notable for his tlibustering spirit, and when he
| speaks, which is infrequent, is slow and delibe
| rate. The leader OF the Democratic side, in bur
| lesque acceptance, is A. j. Rogers, of New
Jersey, who sits aloof from his party, in tn,
| middle OF the House. He is young man, o
| black hair and moustache, very restless, and no
| at all impressive in manner, resembling the ave
| rage of our smart, hippant New York lawyers a
| the Tombs and Jefferson Market Courts. Hi
| position on two committees entities him TO th
| floor, and OF this privilege he ayails himself a
| every opportunity. speaking in high key, will
! amusing volubillty, and with much tloridity o
| involved rhetoric. 1t is the same speech always
| loud, discursive, out otdoor like; and, while i
affects neither party whit, gets great space b.
| reason OF its quantity in the Congressional re
| ports. Whoever listens to Rogers, anticipating
an enigram a novel sentiment or any origin
atty OF illustration, Will have only pains adj
disappointment. With very tolerable talent
one of his prominence might take pTecedenc
on his own side of the House; but he has no
| personal dignity to sustain himself with hi
| friends; and they therefore resent the moe
| courtesy of the majority speakers, who insis
| upon calling Rogers the leader of the Oppos
tlon-a matter which leads to great badinage
| persihage, and laughter.
The working man of the Democracy is Ancon6
OF Berks county, Pa small gentleman of gre
hair aud beard, and of Israelltish features, VIII
cannot speak out of running debate, but who
indomitabe at staying of votes, and ordering tn
count of the House. To this species OF tactic
must the mighty resort, with the effect not I
prevent but to Tetard legislation. Strouse an
Meyers, OF the same Slate, are noticeable for thei
| HehraiC DhYsionnOmies. -------- -