The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-28
THE SOUTH IN THE SENATE
How the New South Differs from the
Old South I'm the Matter Of States
men-POints md Pen.PIctureS.

II. V. heuuelQs Letter IN the Clnclnnatl
Commercially
1t is perhaps well that the old South
made her mark in the Senate Chamber,
for the new South does not. Her great
lights have passed away or been snuffed
out, or been put under bushel, for the
roar of their oratory has ceased to be
heard in the Senate, and their places are
filled by wooden men,
South Carolina formerly took a front
rank in the Senate Chamber, her repre-
sentatives being equal in point Of abil-
ity to those sent from the other States.
The list Of her former Senators is a
long array of eminent names. But
from place among those at the head,
she has dropped to the tail end, and is
now represented by Massachusetts
school teacher and a native peanut
planter Robertson and Sawyer were
never heard of beyond their respective
school districts before the war, never
held office Of profit or trust. even to he
ing members of the Legislature, which
is next to nothing, and but for the war
would have been padding down the
stream Of life, one raising peanuts
among his native sand hills and the
ether teaching young ideas how to
shoot, at fifty dollars a month and
board. The only evidence we have OF
their ability is the fact that they do not
attempt to say anything, They have
sense enough to understand that they
have no ideas that will enlighten any.
body, and for this they deserve credit.
Once in while Robertson spreads his
wings for an oratorical flight, but his
ideas are crude, his wind short and he
soon flops into his seat, where he should
have remained in the first place. Be.
fore the war, if patriot had proposed
running either of these men for the
Legislature, word would have been sent
to the nearest lunatic asylum, inQuiring
if they hadn't lost an inmate.
AS for Virginia the mother Of Presi-
dents, it is to be regretted that she can
not call back the ghosts of some OF her
departed great to represent her now.
Messrs. johnson and Lewis are clever
gentlemen, but in healthy and well reg
ulated times the Old Mother would hard
ly select them to represent her at the
council board of the nation. If her
present Senators are fair specimens of
her statesmen, her tobacco land is not
the only thing that is on the decline.
Alabama used to loom up in the
Senate, but she hangs her rebellious
head in shame now, and well she may,
while she is represented by such men as
George Spencer He is without ability,
and il fifth OF the charges against him
are true, without character either.
His operations in Alabama as cotton
agent and his transactions with Judge
Busted, the bride taker, do not reflect
the more honor upon him the more
they are investigated.
Goldthwaite is fair man, but will
not make his mark now. If the stuff
had been in him to make it, there would
have been surface indications OF it some
time ago. He has held the office Of
Circuit Judge, and is an average lawyer.
Spencers experience as Statesman
before the war began and ended as
assistant clerk or door-keeper Of the
Iowa Legislature.
Arkansas is new State, without the
glorous Senatorial record to look back
upon, as a solace for the present feeble
ness, that some OF the States have.
Even this dubious privilege is denied
poor Arkansas. Without much repu-
tations before the war as Senator
sender, she is not in a fair way to
make any now, and, until she gets Rice
and CLAYTON out, her feebleness will be
pitiabie. How much it cost Clayton to
get in can not be stated with precision,
but as he had to buy off the Lieutenant
Governor, johnson, at a price of not
less than ten thousand dollars, and
three impeachment committeeman, at
not less than FIVE thousand dollars
each, it will be seen that his seat in the
Senate was an expensive affair. Some
of ex-Lieutenaut Governor johnson S
friends insistedthat the old fellow sold
out to CLAYTON for fifteen thousand cash,
they wanting to make it appear that he
drove a sharp bargain, but | think the
actual sum was something less than
that. He looks to me like man who
would sell out his satchel of principles
any time for ten thousand dollars, on
easy terms, say one-balf cash, and the
balance in six or twelve months, With
interest.
As for B. F. Rice, he is weak Sen:
atorial reed, even for the weak and
HELPLESS State Of Arkansas. His total
legislative experience up to the time he
entered the Senate consisted of having
served one term in the Kentucky Legls-
lature. Think of it, We gods A term
in the Kentucky Legislature as a quail,
ification for the United States Senate
1t is an estimated distance of only one
step (three feet, if the legs are not too
long, from the sublime to the rldlcu-
lous. but in this instance Rice has Ger,
tainly reversed the proposition; ana
GONE from the ridiculous to the sublime
at a leap. From the Kentucky Leglsla
ture to the United States Senate at
step! Is there another instance on
record? / hope not.
Georgia is the Empire State OF the
South, and ought to be we'll represented
in the Senate, and.s seven long years
Of contest with carpet baggers, jobbers
and robbers, she has now upon the moor
Yesterday, for the first time since the
war two Senators, honorable and quail
fled for the duties of their position; BY
an extra streak Of good luck, seldom
run upon by southera State since the
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