New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-11
IN THE SENATE on OPENING DAP.
ErMINIsCENCEs AND CONTRAsTs--A WORD ABOUT
OUR SENATOR'S.

md snow, | went, an independent, strOng-lhlnueu
woman. with no protector but an umbrella 10 VIII
ness the opening of Congress in the upper House
was pleasant scene to watch the Senators dropping
in one after another many of them meeting Tor the
first time for more than half year. There was SO
much cordinty or such an excellent imitation OF IT,
shown; so much good human feeling ana Fellowship
between old party opponents and hardened pOhu-
ticians They met like schoolbOys after the holidays
= little sorry a little gad-somewbat demOrazed
by frolic idleness and domestic amenities, yet with
increased capacities for fun, labor, and fight.
TO one who remembers the old circular Senate
the little arena with its great gladiators. the
present spacious chamber with all its architectural
elegance and improved upholstery, is 10 degree COM
Inonpace. My thoughts at last went back, nearlyO
years and even while loolngOn the scenes and act
ors Of another era, almost of another age seemed
TO be looking down on the dOme-like head of Web
ster on the autOcratc ugness of Clay, on the hard
and naughty old Roman cOuntenance of Benton, on
the pure keen face of Calhoun-fery yet somber-a
face stamped with q great destiny, maTred by
greater disappointment; on Pierre Sou6, with his
dark dramatic beauty and Partisan elegance OF cos
tune: on Butler of South Carolina with his restless
cleaning eyes, and white wild locks. / saw again
Seward cool and self-possessed with his wary blue
ewes ambushed under their shaggy eyebrows, patient
and unsurprisbe, taking snuff in the midst
of a tempest Foote of Mississippi, PIVOT
ing about on his seat, uneasily watching Hale
of New-Hampshire that provoking embod-
iment of philosophic and sleepy good humor Doug
las of Illinois, with his sturdy, muscularitte figure,
packed with energy and stTung with steelke nerves
with his face knotted with thought and toughened
with will; Sam Houston, Tuffie-shrted, set-con-
scious and semi. Misunderstanding doves and ar
rows out of shingles with his jack knife. There, too,
was Corwins dark, powerful, lovable face played
over by the heat-ghtnings of a quaint and kindly
humor. And there was Jefferson Davis, with his
naughty, sharply cut face cold vet intense in eN-
preSSion--the mouth and chin almost cruelty firm.
the eyes keen. defiant, hungrily ambitious There,
too was the new Free-Soil Senator, Chase of Ohio,
stately and arstocratic, a man who never took
Democracy in the natural way.
In the chair was Mr.. Fillmore, handsome man,
and gracious officer, who shed over that chamber
the light of a serene. Interchangeable smile One Won
hercd If he bore that peculiar impartial radiance into
the sanctuary of private life and domestic relations
or if it was merely parliamentary illumination-a
smile Of state Here we have not fallen Off | hold
that Schuyler Cofax is matchfor Willard FILLMORE,
any day.
As l reused to the real present, l could see below
but of the actors in the tumutuoUs scenes Of
the Congress that passed the Fugitive Slave law but
one member of the gallant little faction that Chase
and Seward led that Butler and douglas buled,
Clay to seduce and Davis to annihate. This was
Hannibal Hamln. His dark kindly face looked TO
me little changed from those Old old times, this
morning he stood pleasantly talking with the new
comers carrying his head with a scholarly pitch for
ward, and his hat with counteracting pitch back
ward.
Yet the past has, after ALL good deal of Fictitious
dignity. The dead party leader-hOwever reckless,
arrogant or INSCRIPTIONS he may have been-is safe
IN immortal immunity and respect And, all said
the present Senate is by no means wanting in strk
ing and impressive figures. Charles Sumner stands
yet like a strong pillar of the Commonwealth, firm
and unbowed. ParsOn BrOwnlOw, the Richeeu of
Tennessee still sits the mark Of curious wondering
eyes with the look of dying man, but with his old
obstinate spirit of vitality and fight strong IN him
yet-outwardy all a tremble with disease; inwardly,
all will and fixed resolve-an aspen with the heart
az an oak Simon Cameron seems still vigorous, and
bears in his lhgh-bred face the shrewd. sagacious
look of a man who sees deep and far-is in his cool
cautious way political prophet. Senator Nye looks
what he is. n man of Infinite Jest and bOnhomie.
Carl Schuz seems to the manner senatorial born
has the air of an elegant scholar and happily retains
but few marks of the soldier
The two blondes Of the Senate-COnkliug Of New
York and Stewart of Nevada-are esteemed men of
mark by the galleries. They come they went
the one with his glossy pet curl still lying like n
sunny peninsula, in the broad eXpanse of his brow
the other looking though the winds of the Sierra
wero yet playing with his wild locks-one dainty
the other careless-One the last result Of Eastern
civilization. the other representative Western man
of the best type. Both are men of admirable ability
hut one knows it. and the other doesn't-Or one is
alert and the other is little lazy. Mr. Carpenter of
Wisconsin, OF whose olOquenCe we have heard such
great things looks on the whole up TO his rcputa-
ton. lie is dark and powerfully made. People say
he is like Webster, but / confess can't it. lie
walks about the Scnate-C Chamber with his hands in
his pockets in an easy Western swing which is too
full OF real manlineSs to be a swagger and too encr
getic for a saunter, yet suggests both.
The late Governor Of Connecticut and her present
senior Senator is a refined, dignifed man, rather
English or Bostonan in appearance. His face is
singularly calm and benignant yet marked by an
almost Purtanic seriousness. There is about him an
atmosphere of Old-tme purity and integrity which
is his best protection against lobbyists and wire
pullors $50 much for Buckingham Senator's
Anthony, Morton, Howe, Trumbu Sherman, Harlan,
and Yates are back again. ana all looking frightened
aud refreshed by across the continent, or q
grateful hOme-rcst. Az they met and clasped hands.
did not observe any looking toward the vacant seat
of their great comrade who has gone on longer
journey-whO is taking sweeter homc-rest; but l
doubt not they thought Of him, magnanimously,
tendery.
The opening PRAYER seemed as always seems to
me- q matter of form and ceremony. Moth u was
not well dOne-the Chaplain is n man Of noted elo-
Gucnce-but the Senate is such busy, buzzy, snowy
place on galadays like these that there is sort Of
iucongruity in religious services here. Besides, 1t
takes an extraordinary degree OF faith 10 believe
that the most "fervent efectual prayer OF the