Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-02-28
THE LEADER OF THE no USE.

The following gossip, from the Washing
ton correspondence of the Rochester Demo
crdt, pleasantly discourses concerning the
prominent Republican members OF the lower
House of Congress-
The want of a clear, healthy, robust,
wholesome and leading intellect in Congress
was never more visible than now. The men
are nearly all of tho transition era. Thad-
deus Stevens, by his faith and large vision,
belongs to the near impnging future.
But he is man of moods, which through
the failing strength of increasing age, obtain
control and make him maynard, sometimes
bitter, generally Respondent. Banks is not
believed in TO very great extent. He has
not the simple sincerity of true greatness.
intellectually there is too much loosencss.
lie seeks occasion for dramatic surprises, as
on Friday last when he materially aided to
defeat the previous question by an oracular
announcement of possible harmony, only to
give las an hour and half of sounding sen
fences next morning, wound up with d pre-
scntation of his old idea of separate State
reconstruction, beginning with Louisiana,
which, if 1t had been offered last session.
might have been accepted, but is now like
covering human nakedness with fig leaves.
Raymond is but graceful intellectual aero
daring to take nor believing in either. His
face is type Of his character. The brow
and head is splendid. The eyes are snaky.
The nose is weak, undecided feature, a
sort of enlarged pug, while the mouth and
jaws are sensual and uncertain. He looks
the trimmer he is, and cannot lead any
one, even himself. Schenck is decided
man, but too combative, not a man of crea-
tive faculty, but of details and administration
Garfield is intellectually loose jointed. There
are good many crevices in his brain, but
on the whole he is an eloquent and earnest
man. AS for John A. Bingham, who far
more than other men desires to lead he is a
soured. disappointed dyspeptic, if not man
grown insincere by jealous egotism. With
great deal of legal lore and clOquence,
some passion and fervor and distinct ideas,
he is after all only'a special plcader whose
want of physical health renders him NOR.
bidly petulant and impatient of all opinions
but his own. Gov. Boutwell, of Massachus
cts is perhaps the man of all others in the
House most deserving of the title of States
man. Yet he is but an Indifferent Parlia
r mentary leader, and demands great orca
sion to rouse him to the full measures of hi
capacities. He can affect a result whel
the contest is well under way, bn
as a rule will weary over details. ii,
is good as a reserve to charge finally
Judge Wilson, of Iowa, his colleague o.
the Judiciary, is an excellent leader on sub
l jects belonging to his committee. He has
compact well stored brain, an excellent de
batter thinks well and rapidly on his legs
and has terse, eloquent dicti0n. Iowa ha
another man on the floor, Kasson, who i
decidedly the best practical debater and leg
E islator among the younger men. of all til
. men now in the House, and think the ma
: jority are above the average intellect, Samut
v Shelabarger, Of Ohio, seems to possess til
: best balanced mind and the largest amour
Of common sense. He has shown himse
4 not only an eloquent legal debater hut ma
v of well trained judicial mind He could nc
I succeed in managing parliamentary fight,
/ do not know, for he has mt yet taken a leat
e ing part in such contest. Judge Shelli
: barger appears to be weary but SINGER
man, doing things not because he has per s
k interest in them, but because it is duty.