The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-25
DECADENCE OF IHrE SENATE.

We hear, upon all sides, an expression
of the idea of "a decadence" in the United
States Senate, falling off in the high tone
of character ability and integrity which
was formerly thought so requisite in a per-
son OCCUPYING this high station. 1t must be
confessed that taken as a whole, the SEN
ate is not ''what it used to be-" Compare,
for instance, the days when its seats were
hlled by such men as Clay, Calhoun,
Webster, Berren, Benton, Marcy, Silas
Wright, Cass, Ewing, Phelps, and their
compeers, while the lesser lights were al
most equal to the leaders of the present
day, with the Senate of today. Go back
still further to the days of Langdon, Jere-
mlah Mason, Adams, Oliver Ellsworth,
Jonathan Trumbull. Nathaniel Chipman,
Bradley, Israel Smith, the Robinsons,
Schuyler, Clinton, Gallatin, Charles Car
roll of Carrollton, Pinkney, Monroe, Gail
lard, then run over to days list, and ask
yourself if it is strange that the people
thlnk and talk of a decadence in the Sen
ute. We cannot, if we would. discuiso
Inc TACT that the material if it is per-
mltted to use the word, from which Sena-
tors are now selected has sadly deteriorated.
and that the work of deterioration is con-
stantly going on. So far as certain parts
OF the country are concerned, there may be
reason for this to certain dcgree-that
is i'll respect to ability. In the more re-
mote and newer states Of the west. and.
perhaps, in the unsettled condition of the
south, it may not be possible to select men
of sufficient ability for the position. We say
ut may not be possible" because we
presume that the people of those sections
would resent the idea that they had not
men among them as liable" as the ''ablest"
the country ever saw. This same deterio-
ration is seen in some of the Older States.
Think, tor instance. of John Scott occupy
ing seat in the Senate, and the place on
The committee on finance, of Albert Gala
tin; or of Louis V. Bogy being the success
SCR Of Thomas ii. Benton. But compari
sons are invidious. 1t Is not the glamour
which time throws around men and events
which suggests the idea. The men of
whom we have been speaking stood as
high, If not higher, in public estimation
during their terms of service as they do
now. Their talents commanded rcspect
as real talent will always command re-
spect. Added to this high craftsmanship
was reputation of, and an actual integrity.
Their private character, in this respect
were irreproachable. No man dared ap
proach one of them with job or bride.
No man dared to suggest to one of them
that the vote of this, that or the other man
could be bought either to secure his own
election, or to secure or defeat a particular
measure. Is 1t so now? We need not
answer the query-the records of the Sen
ate, the newspapers of the day, sworn tes-
timony, the assured belief of an intelligent
people without distinction of party affords
the ready answer. Of one thing Vermont
has reason to be proud. She has not con-
tributed to this decadence. Examine her
roll OF Senators, commencing with Moses
Robinson and Stephen X. Bradley, and
ending with George F. Edmunds and JUS
tin y. Morrill, and they haye, each and