The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-01-19
No. 25.
Three Pen Pictures.

AAS INC iatc anu SktlCueS dS
In 1860 Thaddeus Stephens was regarded as harm.
less, ultra vain goodnatured, and irresponsible, To-
cal politician of eccentric reputation Congressman
who had taste for green baize and genius for faro.
In 1860 Benjamin F. Butler was smart lawyer and
shrewd politician, the effort of whose life seemed to
be the pairing down of the Massachusetts, Democracy
to margin just big enough to accommodate the Fed.
eral offices. In 1860 Edwin NJ Stanton was nobody;
cross between the daring adventurer and the submis
sve instrument of fortune having rough ability,
undoubting Democrat whal, old,line Pennsylvania
loco foco, friend of James Buchanan and occasional
looker.on in Vienna; but, in point of fact, nobody
Inc ghtn1ng ct civil war struck each of these men,
and they illustrate in peculiar manner the difference
between those who produce revolutions and those
whom revolutions produce. They are indebted most
to the ascendancy Of bad passions"
The most casual observer will at once recognise the
truthulness of the outlines asdrawn above but it is
in the filing in and shading of the picture that
our contemporary excels.
Thaddeus Stevens, in bis own person, was not an
unknd man. He was noisy, brittle, conceited man,
who wasted his passions in speeches. There was
no great depth of understanding in him. Breadth of
comprehension was not his speciality. Bat he had a
rude discerning common sense and clear perception
of the road before him. Then he was reckless and
far he went, consistent and sincere He led his
party because of his force of character Doubt about
anything did his mind He was bold when
wiser men were timid. He leaped in where statesmen
would not have dared tread aud carried the field be-
fore him by sheer abandon. His stock in trade con-
sisted of two three distinct ideas mouhul of not
choice English plenty of grit, self confidence and
experience. He not ready Butler. He was
not nearly able Stanton. But he surpassed both
of them in his power of inspiring confidence in him
self and then he had fine for the display of
his bullying bad manners his Congressional skill his
marked personal appearance and jerky slp-shod Rad
icalism.
Butler does not cut so good figure He is ready
of tongue and striking in appearance. But he leers
he froths he swaggers. He has low geniaity in him
which, added to the prevailing cunning of his nature
gives him responsiveness that Stevens did not have
There was game cock air about old Thad Butler is
an overgrown dunghll playing game cock and relying
on his size and muscle and surroundings. He knows
that he is safe. His wit assures him of that Ample
protection surrounds him. He has the House with
him. But old Thad would have fought against all odds
and with the consciousness danger just recklessls
as he did fight when the field was clear Butler Is d
moral coward. They say down in New Orleans that
his practical administration not without careful
eye to his own safety and advantage After Banks the
people waited Butler back. Butler was rogue who
permitted to steal but himself; and he would
change his political garments TO morrow if they ceased
to be fashionable. He is not sincere courageous or
consistent. 1t is game of buster with him. If it
does not win he will lose no sleep.
"Of Stanton it is too early to speak he deserves
to be spoken Of History, we rather think will pro-
nounce him the most original and the abIest of the
Republican triumvirate In him there was an absence
of the of virtue He had no moral nature at all
and this will account for much of bis conduct that s
not easy to trace to its source He was not cruel But
the absence of humanity in his makeup caused him to
be Indifferent to cruelty. Unscrupulous careful as to
the ends but perfectly reckless of means he made an
active and wicked Minister of War at time when
bad passions held possession of the popular heart and
the land was being deluged with blood His own party
never respected him. He had no private friends In
his manner and in his person he COARSE and when
he ruled, be ruled without remorsen
The INCOME Taxa Washington dispatch of the
7th says there is good deal of talk among members
of Congress about the income tax and some of them
are receiving letters asking if the tax must be paid
this year. The law is so plain that it would seem as if
no one need to raise this question. Taxes cannot be
laid this years income; but they must be paid this
spring on last years income and the Revenue Bureau
are now having the proper blanks printed 1t is not
yet certain what action the Ways and Means Commit
tee will recommend in reference to the continuation of
the tax but it is not at all likely that Congress will
re-enaet at five per cent The Democrats generally
show disposition to 60 against the whole thing in
any form, but the probabilities that three per cent
will finally be laid with change in the exemptions
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REMOVALS THE PREsIDENT.--The criticisms on
the President, which made some days since for his
not giving the Senate his for the removal of
officers when he sent in his appointments rested
IN false assumption. A Washington exchange
states that he is required by the present tenure-of
'fce act to give any reasons unless they are called
or by the Senate. The old law required him to make
statement in writing but that of last April gives him
'ower to remove and appoint on his motion, SUBJ
ect merely to the consent of the Senate which can do
s it peases about asking the Presidents reason His
have not been asked for in any case this ses
ion, and so, of course, have not been furnished
--------<9<---
NEW ORLEANS Recommendations of the op-
onents of Collector Casey, of New Orleans have writ
en- letter to Southern Congressman at Washington,
] which they give the and anteeedents of
arge number of Casey's appointments in the Custom
louise. Among the number appear the names OF sew
raj persons formerly clerks in the Treasury here. who
ere discharged. by of their having voted for
eymour and Blair and being hostile to the present
administration. The Louisiana delegation in Congress
as asked for Collector Caseys discharge
On THE LEGAL TENDER CAsEs-The WASHINGTON
profess to be in possession of reliable
formation that the Supreme Court has not vet held
~ consultation on the legal tender cases. socalled
I'd is not likely to do so at present. as they have not
zen reached, and it is thought by some persons that
icy are to be again argued after two more Judges are
1t on the bench
VIRGINIA NEGROES EMIGRATING.-A Washington
spatch of the 7th to the New Orleans Times. states
at the migration of blacks from Virginia to the cot
n States which commenced in dribets has increased