Litchfield enquirer., 1872-11-28

sided in the Harrisburg Convention that nominated General Harrison, ill 1889, and the survivors of that uncommOnly bril- liant body Will remember his strikingly dighified and imposing appearance Phil ip P. Barbonr was sharp, keen man of a metaphysical turn of mind. The differ ence between the brothers is we'll de- scnbed by the remark attributed to John Randolph. An acquaintance meeting him descending the steps of the Capitol, in quired what was going on- 'sNot much, ]" said the old cynic. sIve been in the Senate listening to Jeemes Barbour, and in the House hearing Phil. Jeemes fired at barn door, and missed 1t; Phil fired at hair, and split it. "
 Henry R. Storrs was in the House from New York, while his brother William was Q member from Connecticut. They were both uncommonly able men. have spoken of the elder brother in another place. William did not shine specially as a floor member, but he was a sound comprehensive mind, quick perception, excellent judgment, and of perfect probity and uprightness of character. He resign | ed his seat in the Twenty-sixth Congress, having been chosen judge of the Su- preme Court of his native State. He was afterward made Chief Justice, and died on the bench-a jurist without reproach, pure, firm, enlightened, and wise. Con necticut has been distinguished for the 1 elevated tone of her highest judicial. tri- bunals, and few men have contributed more to her reputation in that respect l than William l.. Storrs
 Joseph R. Ingerson and his brother | Charles Jared were members of the twen- ty-seventh Congress. They were on op- posite sides in politics, and they were wholly unlike, mentally and morally. Joseph, the Whfg was a mild amiable gentleman, with kind word for every body; not distinguished for intellectual greatness, but an intelligent legislator, industrious and attentive to his duties, and conscientious in their discharge. Charles Jared was an irascible man of generous impulses, but inveterate' ill his prejudice and vindicative in his resent ments. He had Q sort of morbid dislike to England and every thing English, which had settled into feeling like per sonal malevolence. He had been engag- ed in controversy with British writer in regard to the respective merits of Eng land and the United States, which was conducted with much acrimony, and he never could speak of the people or gov ernment of Great Britain in terms of moderation. His historical knowledge was extensive and accurate, and his speech es always interesting and instructive, were frequently garnished with opposite class ical allusions and quotations that gave them additional zest. Sometimes his ha- tired of John Bull broke out in a strain of vituperatiOn so coarse as to shock the woak nf fho 1o1inoto I,roth ren.
 John A. King, afterwards Governor of New York, was a member with his broth CT James G. in the Thirty-frst Congress. The latter was Representative from New Jersey. But brothers were so often in the House together that the instances are hardly worth particularizing. The Wash burne family was more numerously repre- sented in Congress than any other of which we have any recollection. Four or five of them have been there, and some times three at once. Three or four gener- ations of Bayards have successively repre- scented Delaware in the Senate. Richard H. Bayard was followed by his brother James A., and the latter was succeeded by his son, who is now a member of the body.
 THE NAVY.
 The officers of the navy constituted an Important element Tn Washington society They were generally more popular than the army officers. They had seen more of the world in foreign parts as we'll as in their own country, and hence were more enter taining companions. And the jolly sai- Tor has always something attractive about him, particularly to young people. Even the diplomatic corps, which usually con- stituted 8 strong social force, was hardly able to hold its own against the dashing tars, with their rich uniforms and frank. easy manners. There was usually large body of them in Washington, more espec- ially in the winter Navy men are divid- ed into two classes: the sea-going fellows who are called upon for all the disagreea- ble service-tO command and officer ships ordered on unwholesome stations. and generally to discharge the duties from which carpet sailors shrink, and manage to avoid. The other class hang about the seat of government, dance attendance upon the executive and the secretaries. have schemes Of naval reform to press upon Congress, and fill the manifold bureaus of the department. It used to be a common saying in the navy that winters cruise in Washington was better than two years service on a foreign station, so far as pro- motion and government favors were con- cerned. For years the old Navy Board controlled the service in every respect. The secretary was generally nothing but @ respectable fgure-head who carried out the plans of the old commodores, who took care to fortify themselves by showering favors upon such officers as were willing to become their tools, and had influential connections in Congress. The navy had only nominal existence prior to the war of 1872. The exigencies of the country in that momentus struggle necessitated a resort to the commercial marine for sea men to command our national ships. Many of the bravest and best officers in, the navy were recruited from the mer- chant service. A large proportion of the elder post-captains were obtained from that source. Of course they were imper- fectly educated in the scientific reauire- ments of the profession, and although skillful navigators, and every way compe- tent to fight ship, colud not manoeuvre fleet, and probably not one of them could have answered the questions now propounded to midshipmen when under examination preparatory to promotion. Hence arose feelings ofiealousy on the part of the old sailors toward their juniors after the war. The difficulty with the pii- ratical states on the Mediterranean. and subsequently. the necessity of protecting our commerce from the picaroons in the Gulf, had rendered large increase of the naval force indispensable. During the administration of Mir. Monroe the ei- der commodores, headed by Bainbridge. Rogers, Stewart, and Riddle, combined together with determination to force the government to create the rank of admiral. post-captain then being the highest grade in the service. And such was the pluck and influence of these brave old tars that for several years they were able toprevent promotions above the rank of lieutenant. A large naval force was maintained in l the Mediterranean, Commodore Bain- bridge being the senior officer. The most distinguished officers of the service were there on duty, Perry, Macdonough, Bid