Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-16
TIE NEIT CONGRESS.

A glance over the list of members for
the next Congress discloses that it is to be
a body of marked ability, ranking high in
the best qualities of craftsmanship, as
well as in the personal worth and honor
of its members. While the Senate will
rise above the average of that body in
dignity, integrity and intellectual power,
the House will challenge comparison
with the ablest and best that ever assem-
bled in this country The Senate will
part with Mr.. Trumbull, but lose nothing,
since his prostitution of his Office to the
schemes of demagogues has made it
worthless in his hands. The republicans
will have the men left to them who have
been the sure reliance ofthe party and ma
ton, Sumner and Schurz will 90 over to
the minority, and Wilson will probably be
succeeded by Boutwell,. The character of
the House is sketched as follows by the
Albany Journal.
During the past few years the House of
Representatives has been scarcely inferior in
ability to the Senate, and taking its general
average character, it would not be unjust to
say that it has been the equal if not the supe-
rior of that body. There are two reasons for
this. In the first place, the House has con-
tanned many men of great mark. And in the
second place, the Southern element is not
relatively as large and appreciate in the
House as in the Senate. 1t is not to be dis
guised that since the war the Southern States
as whole have not been represented in eth
- l. l. L.
truth, such timber has not been available.
The effect Of this contrasting element is more
perceptible in the Senate than in the House,
because in the former it bears a larger ratio
to the whole. In the Senate Florida has nu-
merically the same strength as New York
but in the House Florida has only two men,
beers, while New York has thirty three.
While, therefore, there is in the Senate great
brilliancy offset with considerable weakness,
the ability and character of the House are
more evenly distributed through the whole
body and leave a more uniform and general
impression.
The next House will contain an unusual
number of able and prominent men. Begin
ming with Maine, Speaker Blaine, whose con-
spicuous talents and sagacious statesman
ship are recognized throughout the land, re-
turns for his sixth term, and is accompanied
by excellent associates. Mr.. Poland, of Yer
mont, has served in the Senate, and is a sol
id and influential Representative. Massa-
chusetts, always sending a strong delegation,
will in the next Congress surpass herself.
Mr.. Dawes, whose wise counsel and faithful
services are invaluable, takes the lead. The
presence of Judge L. lockwood Hoar is a
matter of special congratulation. He is
known to all the people as the late Attorney
General of the United States, and as one of
the purest and ablest men in public life. Viii.
liam Whiting, who was solicitor of the War
Department during the war, and is lawyer
of the first rank, adds strength to the repre-
sentation, while Samuel Hooper and George
+. Hoar are wisely returned. The gain of
General Hawley, of Connecticut, is one of
the special prizes of the late election. lie
belongs TO that high class Of earnest, con-
scientious, statesmanlike thinkers and actors
who combine lofty and ideal conceptions with
the most practical methods, and his influence
in the House, both progressive and conserva-
tive, will be exceedingly salutary.
Coming to our own State, we have rarely
of late years sent so good delegation to Con-
gress as we have just chosen. The truth is
New York has not always been represented
in manner commensurate with her primacy
and Importance in the Union, and we have
had some foolish customs which have inn
f,1hSu DAI just luluenCS NJ w washington.
This year we have done something toward
remedying it. The return of such iudicious
and strong men as William A. Wheeler, Ell
lis II. Roberts, Freeman Clarke, and others
increases their own usefulness and our pow
er. Lyman Tremaine's intellectual vigor
and eloquence will place him among the
foremost on the floor, and Of the other wor.
thy new members We shall not seem invidi-
GUS in referring especially to General Wood.
ford. Pennsylvania returns Judge William
ID. Kelley and Glenni w. Scofeld, two of
the most valued members of the House. The
Ohio delegation is weakened by the loss of
Judge Bingham and Judge Shellabarger, the
former of whom was one of the finest speak
ers in the House, and the latter cool, calm.
weighty man who, with little show, carried
great power. But General Garfield returns,
and he is sufficient to give distinction to any
State representation. We may also make
particular mention of Goodlove s. Orth and
William Williams, of Indiana, John A. Kas-
son, of Iowa, and Horace Maynard, of Ten
nessee. The democrats will have some
marked men in both branches, though sew
eral oftheir best, such as Mr. Kerr, of Indi-
ana, are beaten. The Forty-Thrd Congress
will thus be as strong in ability and charac-
Ter as it will be overwhelming in its republi-