Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-16
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN.
Graphic Pen Portraits of the Lead.
ing Ones.


| Mr. BANKS is the most agreeable
speaker on the floor. Erect, 1.-THE, ele-
giant, fluent, sparing of gestures, which,
when used, he makes effective. Quite
convinced of some point, which is not
always the one under debate, he leads
you gracefully up to it, and you look at
it from his side, and are certain that it is
the most admirable point taken by any
body since the serpent argued with Eve
in the garden. 1t is only after he sits
down that you discover how many other
points converge against it, and, very
possibly, that allowing the argument to
be unanswerable, it had rothing to do
with the question at issue. 1t seems TO
be the characteristic of this gentleman's
intellect that it is negatively strong. 1t
denies magnifcently defects, flaws and
mistakes, objects to schemes-oftentimes
shrewdly and with justice-but founds
no system of its own. Whatever he may
lack, however, Mr.. Banks has good taste.
He never tears passion to tatters, to
very rags. He keeps his temper. He
neither smokes nor eats apples on the
floor of the House. He puts his feet
under his desk, and not on it; all of
which virtues, though by no means indi-
vidual, are not, regret to say, univer-
sal
BoUrwELL.-Mr. Boutwell,, of Massa-
shusetts, has ssme strong words to say.
He is no orator as Brutus ia, but he
speaks with such splendid background
of zeal and earnestuess and honesty be-
hind him that his clear voice would ring
down the centuries with its cry of "cour-
age and truth." He has esme out of
bondage into this new light of liberty,
having learned his Radical notions in
Conservative eschool-assurance that they
are most genuine, Clear headed, logical,
always forcible, he commands the aiten-
ton of the House Tall, slender, round
shouldered, as, alas, most American
thinkers are, with long, night black hair
and inky beard, he is one of the hand
soonest of the Congressman. And for
all his virtues he may be pardoned an
occasional erratic radiation from the cen
tral purpose of the session.
4 hiSHELLABARGER-N q tall man rises
to say few strong words. A man
little STOPPING, with grand head, already
growing bald, with. full, questioning
brow, and wonderful cavernous eyes,
able to tighten behind their sleeping COM
posure. He seems a sumberlng volcano,
though he is known only as the ablest |
man in the House, and an excellent fell |
low-Shellabarger, Of Ohio. His argu-
ments are ponderous, direct, most strong. |
He does not waste words. BE likes to |
have his subject lie fair and round be-
fore him, that he may take it up and
spend no epoFgy on angles. Indeed, his
intellect impresses you as massive rather
than flexible, Any burden which be can
fairly hoist on the shoulders of his thought
he can bear to the end OF the world and
he knows every fibre of it; but issues
which change, and elude a sold grasp,
he does pot easily manage. You like to
hear him speak-he is so clear, so con-
vincing, so unconscious OF binsalf
BIYGHAN. Another Qhioan, Judge
Bingham. This man is hawk on
columu. Figure straight, graceless,
solid and immoVable 10 2 F9ek. lead
large 10 front, superb brog, sauiline
nose, unyielding chin. Yes, he is a
hawk, or an adze. Positive, aggressive,
chafng at interruption, impatient of cou-
tradiotion or dissent, sweeping rather
than powerful, deelamstory rather than
convincing, be is yet, wnea ~ the mood,
one of the most impressive speakers in
the House. BE puts down no braces.
If he hits another car on bis track, let
that car look ont for itselt Ana be
sometimes moves With snch velocity npln
opposing entities not In the least dis
turbed thereby, that he revives the old
problem in philosophy" IL an irresist.
bic force encounter an imm0yable body,
what will be the result" If one could
fancy an spWy Mephistophiles-which
one cannot, Tor eyif IS toe stropf e le (
defiant and fierce Mephis-
tophi les, Judge Bingham might well
stand for the portrait in any Of his wild
moods,
GARrIELb.-ohio, they say, has iae
strongest delegation in the House, and,
i is hinted, the most dogmatic Evi- ,
iently, il sympathizes with the fallen
Son OF Morning, and writes on its front
et, "Te be weak is to be miserable.
here Is Garfield from that good freehold
1f ideas which Gidl.pEs taught and ,
earned from for twenty turbulsbt years
A fair faced, nervous, large broved man,
-ull of strange whims, and bearded ike
he pard, he talks with muscles, sinews
md veins. as well as with voice, and is
luits too lavish Of all A gallant, dash
a soldier, one fancies that be brings {
,is iactics inio the hall He sweeps Up l
o bis object With biare Of bugle' eiauor