Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-24
THE UNITED T SENATE.
IT'S HISTORY AND MEMBERS
Iron an Occasional Correspondents
III
WAsH1NeroN, April, 1866.

the left OF the main aisle, are Jne sedbs VI
the controlling members of the Senate
Fessenden, Trumbull, Sumner, Wade and
Wilson. During the last five years there
have gone out from that small circle some
of the noblest deeds of American states
men. And perhaps no man there, or any
where, has done more practical service for
the Government than the last named,
Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts. Born
in the old Granite State in 1912, of humble
origin, he has risen under the hard disci-
pline Of adversely to a high rank before
the country. From the bench Of a Natick
shoemaker, he went out in the Wing cam
paign of Is4O-at the age of twenty-eight
to make his first effort in public life.
Afterwards as a Free Soil legislator, edi-
tor and orator, he made an enduring mark
in New England politics, and in 1858 was
deemed worthy to represent the dignity
and culture of Massachusetts in the seat
Of Edward Everett. There are few bet
ter examples of manly development and
the entire nation is proud of his career.
He is above medium height with rStund
frame, hair growing thin and gray, and a
superb face-round, healthful and happy.
He wears no beard, and is altogether fine
looking, dresses plainly, is very frank and
cordial, at once genial and independent,
hearty and resolute. His speeches are
off-hand, earnest and telling, yet his forte
as Senator is actual 10ork. He is always
busy and introduces more bills than any
other member of Congress. His services
during the wal were invaluable, and his
record will long live in our history.
BENJAMIN F. Wsde-the bluff old
Senator from Ohio-is fanked by Wilson
and Fessenden, in whose company he
seems quite at home. His early labors in
New England lumber regions and on the
Erie Canal gave him a vigorous, compact
physique, to which later years have added
c~orpulency. His facial expression is pecu-
liar, deeply marked with aggressive cour-
age and sincerity. Sixty-fve years rest
easily upon him, his hair is still dark and
eve piercing. His head is large, with
organs clearly defined, a broad receding
forehead, high cheek bones, lips of iron
and short, grating teeth. His air and
carriage are most decided, he leans back
ward when speaking-often putting his
thumb under his vest and gesturing heavi-
" with the other hand, is al
ways earnest, sometimes grim and
almost violent. He was an able
lawyer, legislator and judge, and came tc
the Senate in 1881, since which time he
has gone forward to a great place in the
po,ular estimation. He is very efficient
in committees and the model of whatever
is brave, honest, outspoken and loyal tc
the Union and human rights.
The Empire State is represented within
this circle by one of the solid men of the
metropolis, Edwin D. Morgan, who siti
behind Wade and by the side of Sumner
Gov. Morgan laid a sure foundation fol
his substantial career in the details o.
practical life. A Massachusetts boy, hi
has worked up from a grocer's clerk to hi
present place among u merchants anc
statesmen. He Is ffty-fve years old, haI
been a resident of New York city about thir
ty years, was an Alderman andState Sena
tor, then Governor two terms-durine
which he acted as Major General of Vol
~unteers, and entered the Senate in 1863
He is a tall, well-proportioned, dignifeC
man, with gray hair and sids-whiskers,
a straightforward legislator, sensi
bic and clear-headed, shrewd, cautious AM
} firm. He is somewhat sristocratic, but yer,
popularfo for sterling qualities in business an
politics. President Lincoln made hin
Secretary of the Treasury, but he prefer
: red the Senate to the Cabinet. Perhap
, New York has sent better. speech-maker
to Congress than Harris and Morgan
: but never men of higher character 0
l stronger judgment.
A tall, thin, stcop-shouldered man, fon
: of pacing slowly up and down the Senat
= Chamber, with hands in his pockets an
, eye cast down, is Henry S. Lane, of Ind
ana Twenty-Five years ago, at thirt
years of age, he made a splendid reputs
9 ton in the Lower House, but soon retire
t to the practice of aw. In 1856 he rear
: peared public as President Of tn
Philadelphia Republican Convention. l
1850 he was elected Governor, and tn
!. next wear Senator. He is q man of mod
crate appearance, with bald head, reced
= ing forehead and sunken cheeks, but be
, meath his quiet exterior is a mind of re
= markable vigor and a heart of grea
= warmth. He is among the last me
t whose, silence denotes their true meta
vet in fervent eloquence he is perhap
without a peer among his colleagues.
: One of the notables of Washington
: the Kentucky Senator, Garrett Davis,
little, 1.-THE old man, of astonishing vigo
: and ~tenacity of purpose worthy of Bons
n parte. He is sixty-hve years old, hs
served his State in many offices and wa
o q Wing Congressman under Van Burer
e Tyler and Polk. Still he is as sprightl
and active as ever, always ready for wor
+ or speech, and an utter strangerto fatigue
He is white haired, has a smooth thin face
dresses in good style, and is rather pleas
ing until he breaks out in n Of his il
terminable ~harangues. He was q goo
> lawyer, and has read and thought q grea
; deal, but ~loquacity has several times ex
hausted his material during his five year
of Senatorial life. he is very nervous, get
SAClLeu ptlOu0 mcdsuIc, dA0 bhOA OOAe
the members p~rodigiously.
James Dixon, of Connecticut, has re
$ Gently come into notoriety, and is indee
/ a man of much character and ability. d
is well-formed and goodlooking, has heav
/, dark hair, a high srched forehead, prom
: inent featurs, and a gentlemanly address
:, He is ffty-two years old, q lawyer an,
/, business man, was often a member of hi
, State Legislature, in Congress during tn
r Polk administration, and came to the Sen
ate in 1857. He sits next the main aisle
T in front of Doolittle and at the left Q
Fessenden, and when in good health
usually at his place. He warmly SUP
perts the Presidents reconstruction poll
! cy, and has always been conservative, We
I aver in a radical Senate he is PERSONAL,
very popular, and esteemed a plain, sen
. sible man, an efficient worker, and excel
lent legislator.
Very few members have greater inhu
. ence in legislation than Jacob N. Howard
. of Michigan, and none have a better per
f sonal reputation at the Capital. Lik
: Governor Grimes, he speaks rarely, bu
+ works steadily and with good effect
Still he is an able lawyer and perfectly a
; home on the floor whenever he chooses t
I debate. He is a Vermonter by birth
sixty years old, a graduate from William
College, was an early settler in Michigan
] o1o - h. a -et PaD-aaap4afT-o. =, ~