The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-16
- Rnmner nr, thol RraIn.

blns Sumner ON the BFaIB.
RdlkrH0tOA Correspondence Chicago Tibatns,
Mr.. Senator Sumner is apparently a
much greater person in the eye Of the
public than he is in the Senate. Ten
chances 70 one he Is the first man a
stranger entering the galleries wants to
seei yet he Is far enough from having a
commanding intelligence among his
colleagues. His "best hold" is on new
members. The older heads profess
themselves weary of his vanity, his
dictatorial egotism, and his sophomore
cal platitudes; but new Senators of a
certain calibre are sure to begin their
service here by coddlinG under his
wing. shall not exaggerate II j say
that he Lays himself for these gem
tlemen-pats them, on the back With
praise that Is not aIw wsys vel. .timed and
compliments that are not always deli
cate. Sumner on the brain" Is mala-
dy well-known to all frequenters ofthe
capitol. This isia peculiar disease, not
generally affecting morethan one Sena-
tor at time, running its course in from
one to three years, defying all medical
treatment, finally killing itself by what
1t feeds on. - r
Governor Sprague had daseYere attack
soon after he came here. he got seat
AGEAA DAAs luL
seemed TO live on the great mans smiles
and compliments. His kind word led
the ,bashful little General up. to the
hight OF the argument, and his approv-
ing nod was suft1cisnt, reward for the
most laboted or lAbOriOus efforts. But
there came time when Mr.. Summers
adoring patronage could no longer en-
chant and fascinate Mr.. Spragne's in
teliect, and. We saw with. wondering de-
light that he was tearing down his idol,
He turned his back on the Massachu-
sets mentor, he got snappish and petu-
liant with his love, finally he moved his
seat to the other side Of the cham Der,
and what first was such tender admira=
tionis now only cold formality.
Senator Conness also suffered badly
during the first year or more OF his
term. BE spoke often, and seemed to
deligh in being the echo of Mr.. SUM
,nerr--who, Tor his part, was constant in
season and out ofseason with orotund
and elegant praise, not to say fiattery.
The, attack was unusually violent, and
Consequently Mr.. CONFESS was led into
many rather foolish exhibitions of
idolatry. But he got over 1.-THE mall
ady fed itselfto surfeit; and since then
who SO ready to mount Sumner in de-
bate as the clear, plucky little Cali
fornian? doubt not he smiles with
himself sometimes, now that he is dis
enchanted, when he remembers how he
eouFted Summers favor during his first
year. BE makes up for his excessive
zeal, however, by slapping Sumner in
the lace noW-a-daYs as hardly no one,
else dares or thinks worth while. "Mr.
President" said he the other day, when
Sumner had been cracking his whip
rather loudly, ttNIr. President, I do
hope to see the time when we shall es-
cape these lectures. This thing OF adj
vertising to the country that there is
but one man in this Chamber who can
perform aduty fearless, is an ungracious
presentation of a cases and hope that.
we shall hereafter be allowed to express
our opinions and record our votes with
out being subjected to these continuous
strictures." Think of throwing such
words as those at the great Sumner!
Mr.. Conness, you see, has got over his
fever. 5t
Mr.. Stewart was victim, too, and,
for that matter, is still u victim, though
he shows decided signs ofconvales-
cence. BE was good deal inclined TO
Conservatism when he came here, and
shoots of In that direction occasionally
yet; but he Fad ''Sumner-on-the-bra !"
even when his Johnsonism was most
strongly developed.
Mr.. Drake Is the latest sufferer. Mr..
Sumner made a bid for Governor Nor
ton one afternoon-a strong bid, at the
expense, most Senators thought, Of
good taste-certaiuly in such way as
TO provoke Mr.. Fessenden into sharp
rebuke; but the Governor doesn't yet
take the bait, and I think he'll escape
without any very serious difficulty.
But Mr.. Drake Is in for 1t, sure enough.
Mr.. Sumner compliments him very
handsomely, and he rushes ahead for
new compliments in the most eager
fashion, apparently. He out-radicals
the Radicals, and doesn't seem to be
wholly satisfied with anybody but him
self whether the fever will run its
course In his case and then die out, or
whether it. will become apermanent
malady, remains to be seen.
MISS LESLIE ON snANG.-"There is
no witt" says the author of this Beha-