The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-22
A LOOK ENTO THE SENATE.
Thurman and Proyyu,o,y.

Washington CJrresP1 Hdence to tile New York World
In me senate man is looming of whom that
body has the best reason to lie proud. Senator
Thnrmans mere physical presence is imposing,
ana MS bearing the manifest that can be sup
posed. His intellect is lantern which, when
ever he speaks, fairly irradictes the chamber.
AS DICTATOR he Is now confessed to stand in the
foremost rank. He never speaks without having
something, nay much, to say, and that some
thing Is always driven straight to the point at
issue. lie invariably commands the attention
OF the senate. Few have yet been bold enough
to enter INTO battle with him, and such as have
ventured skirmish with him have retired
worsted. His logic, sarcasm, and bitter or play
full irony are alike the best weapons OF their
kind. Fearless, resolu.e, and scernful We. often
gentle never discourteous, and very rarely I'M.
just, this senator has already made himself
feared and respected a. an opponent, and is
spoken of with great cordiality by those who
have had the pleasure of meeting him in private
lie. Mr.. Casserly OF California, honors the sen.
ate in Il degree scarcely less marked.
There is spectacle in the senate which ought
perhaps, 10 receive but which oftener repels tho
commiseration Of those who lool; upon it, This
is the palsied, perishing figure of Parson Brown
low. As regular 20 the neon the almost COM
pletely helpless old man is assisted TO his seat
hair-cloth, easy chair on the left OF the speak
erin which he Teclines, trembling all over and
constantly. like shaken jelly. Seen from the
gallery, his swarthy face looks like tina. of ma
lignant Indian. His lips comfort themselves I'M
pleasantly, and his hands, twitching in every
finger, remind one of couple OF enormous spi.
ders crawling over his legs and among the arms
OF his chair. Once in while the right hand
makes a tremulous expedition 10 the desk in
front, and returns with handkerchief dangling
between thumb and fingers. Sometimes, with
great effort 1t carries glass OF water from the
ridge OF the desk TO the old mans mouth. Part
OF the time he sits with leg hosted on corner
Of the desk, or crossed over the opposite knee.
He Is never mo;oness His eyes see and his
ears attend to all that transpres.
Whenever the debate is earnest, or An interest
ing question is apermost, -partcularly if it con-
Germs the south, or his own state of Tennessee.
he listens - it as II i through every pore
the big dark veins Of his temples grow bigger
and darker, the desk shakes with the shaking OF
his log; his hands clutch veuemously at his
trowsers, and the peculiar writhing of his lips
makes II appear il he would give up all his
life after that one moment, II for the moment be
had strength 10 get on his feet, and pour forth
as OF Old Hood Of yituperation upon his enc.
mies. But he has no strength left to speak and
was compelled the other day 10 have the person.
al explanation OF his course in regard to political
events in Tennessee which he had prepared in
manuscript, read by the clerk Some express
stous in IL were abuse OF Butler and other mem
bers OF the house and the vice president stopped
the reading. The emotion of the dying man in
the easy chair raked him at this iuncture
that another senator, plying him, requested
that solely on account OF his feeble condition the
reading might be suffered TO proceed This was
assented to. Had it been otherwise, perhaps the
anger OF The old psrson wonld have consumed
him where he sat