The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-29
THE POLITICIAN OF THE PERI oD
Fe rn a ndo W. 90 d

..Aack," the sprightly correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Commercial, thus sketches the m ost
prominent of the Democratic representatives In
Congress:
Icannot help thinking that II Charles Die Iens
were to write another American novel, and were
TO Introduce American politicians into Its chap.
tiers, he would select Fernando Wood Tor one OF
them. And simply because ne ls sucn peculiar
sort OF persona perfect riddle to the ordinary
newspaper correspondent, In whose tread.mlll
lie there is little time for the study OF such a
character, even il the ability Tor It's portrayal
were there; but an "inexhaustlole Dottle lor
illustration and development In the hands Of the
great novelist. There is something about hlIn
which certainly cannot describe, but can only
write about In q ierky and unsatisfactory sort OF
way. First, there is the man himself, as ne sits
In Ills seat or stands on the floor. Straight as
fishing pole and, was about TO say, nearly as
tall; 6ut the reader will at once perceive that that
depends very much upon the fishing pole; always 8
dressed In the neatest OF black troWsers, anu tfe
neatest OF black coats with the shiningest OF felvet
collars; never by any possibility letting us know
whether ne wears walstcoat or not, but giving
us slight assurance OF shirt in the exhibition
OF so much OF 1t as can struggle into notice
above the third or fourth button OF his outer
breadclOth.
Whether he looks 80 straight because he Is so
thin, or looks 80 thin because be is so straight,
shall not attempt to say, but when 70 ms stralgnt
ness and his thlnness you add his button.up-ness,
thickedly covered with whitening hair and an
emotlonless face with pair OF small twlnk!ing
eyes, and the largest and whtte6t moustacne on
the American continent, you have altogether
very remarkable tout ensemble; so much so mat
when the proprietor OF this strapgeness OF contour
and person rises to address the Nouse, and stands
on the loor as the representative OF 80 much o.
the American nation as Is Included In his district
there Is always sensation in the gallerles. II
you never saw him before lnyour life, aud didn't
know who he was. you would still join in tile feel.
ing Of "scnsatioD,'' and listen In expectation or
something quite out OF the usuai routine OF aeoaIe
manner OF his speech are quite as unique as his
personal appearance. His words are always a.
rect and we'll chosen, and his arguments forclo!e
and strong. shall never forget the scene OF
few DAYS ago, when he and Ben Butler mad the
slight fence OF swords about General Howard:
Butler rose, evidently intent upon crushing Wood
with one Of his efforts at vtuperation; he SAID
something which he considered perfectly conclu-
slve and finishing, and looking as his custom is
to the galleries with air Of "Didn't polish him
6nf" sat down.
There stood Fernando. on the other side of the
chamber-a cross between an iceberg and mar
BILE statue but for the purposes or that debate an
iceberg, against which the brig Ben But
ler had voluntarily steered with the usual sad re-
suit OF such collisions-the damage OF the brig
Woods manner in reply stood him In infinitely
better stead than his words There was not SO
much in what he satd-which was simply that
when the investigation Of Howard was completed
he should favor the investigation OF the gentle
man from Massachusetts-but the cold frosty way
in which he said 1t, following upon the cold
frosty way ln which he had listened to But
ler - never devlating hairs breadth from
his fsh-pole straightness all the tlme-gave him q
triumph over old Dabolus which both sides OF
the House were quick to recognize, and which
neither side could we'll keep from applaudlng: 1t
was, by all Odds the greatest triumph over But
ler vet achieved In the cut and thrust OF quick
repartee, and Butler felt II too as was manifest
from his haltIng between two opinions, as TO
whether he should reply or not, and finally de-
Gliding to keep his seat.
This incident gives quite as good an idea OF Fer.
nando Wood as could give In whole column OF
myown mere opinions If the reader can't re.
cognize from this the sort Of man lie Is, he shall
"bust in ignorancen on that important subject,
for aught can do. Bnt you must add to all this
that Wood Is quite as polished in his manner as IN
his dress. II there is Pecksnn some time In his
sncech, rs well as Turveydrop in his department,
there Is always Chesterfield in his social inter-
course. Notwithstanding all Of which he Is well
liked by those who know him, and Is thought
uuitc good hearted, jolly fellow, when you get
under the uppcrcrust OF his icy exterior. His pub.
lie career Is as well known 10 the readers OF the
ENQUIRER as to mellow lie has been accused OF
all sorts OF things. but how he has, notwthstand:
ing all these accusations, been very successful
man and o very great and successful politician.