The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-05
WARRINGTON LETTER.

The Senate at RrayerS-Fre
Talk impeachment Managers -
Passage of the Silver Currency Bill
Senator Bruce, etc., ect.
WASHINGTON, April /.
FIR )m our regular correspondent.
Yesterday morning l went quite early
to the reporters gallery of the Senate, for
it was understood that the Belknap i'm
peashment articles would be presented,
ard was anxious to see the entire cere-
mony. / arrived before the opening of
the morning session. Senator Merriman,
OF North Carolina, was the only Senator
on the floor. He sat at his desk busily
writing. He is not brilliant man, but
he is very solid, Id few Senators on the
Democratic side equal him in industry
and capacity for immense toll. A few
years ago Mr.. Merriman was Judge IN
the old North State, but his decline has
been rapid. He is now nothing more than
United States Senator, the peer of Spen-
Ger, Patterson, Boutwell,, and half hun
dred other pigmies whom to write U.
5. S. were less appropriate than to use
A. for the first initial.
In few minutes the eXquisitely dress
ed Senator White, of Maryland took his
seat at his desk and also commenced
writing. The Senator from Maryland
is very aristocratic in appearance and
manner, but he will never fall on his
head until the laws of gravitation are
changed.
The next to make his appearance was
Senator Thurman from Ohio, with his
SLOUGH hat on his head, and the historic
read handkerchief sticking out of the
outside breast pocket of his old coat.
That hat was new once and may have
cest four dollars, but the Senator forgot
to take 1t oil on this occasion (the Senate
was not yet in SESSION. and its appear
ance suggested the thought that he might
occasionally forget to take it off at night.
He came in in bustlng manner with
some papers IN his hands. examined,
standing, the papers on his desk
and wrote mis- signature hurriedly in two
or three albums brought him by pages.
1t occurred to me that that signature, like
painting by master, would be more
valuable the older 1t becomes. L half
admired the pluck of the little boys who
dared to trouble him to write his name in
their books, for Senator Thurman has
way of walking, working and looking
that makes man, who has not the plea
of important business, hesitate to ap-
proach him. y manner rs suggestive,
though not rs grotesque as the Dutch
mans notice, MAYBE all you haint no
bizneSs bout here better keep away from
these grounds, amt it?'
nave made it an object daring the
week to converse with gentlemen of sup
posed political forecast, in relation to the
probable Democratic candidate for the
Presidency. l find, Of course, some di-
versity of opinion, but if a general senti-
ment may be summed and formulated, it
is this: The Northern Democrats prefer
Tilden, with Thurman as second choice;
the Northwestern Democrats Hendricks,
with Thurman as second choice, while
the Southern Democrats are about
equally divided between Thurman and
Bavard. There seems to be but weak
sentiment, here at least, in favor of the
chronic aspirants who have been making
electioneering tours over the Southern
States.
Senator Thurman is not magnetical.
IL popular man. 1t has been said of
Speaker Kerr with more poetry than
truth, that he makes IN enemy every
time he shakes a hand, but this might be
said with more truth than poetry of the
Ohio Senator. He would have been the
despair of Chesterfield. He has, doubt
less. theoretical knowledge of the
science of blessing, (since there is scarce
ly anything that he does not know but
he scorns the practice of the art, and wins
mems minds rather than their hearts.
Hence it is that his popularity is great
with those who have heard OF him, not
once but after, on great constitutional
and political questions in the Senate
where he has so long stood almost alone
against the majority, unfaltering even in
the apparent eclipse of party fortune.
But to return to thu Senate chamber,
Senator Thurman remained only two
minutes, and when the Vice. Presidents
gavel was heard, only three Senators
were present TO listen to the Chaplain's
prayer. They were Merrimon, White,
and Herman, of New York. l mention
these three good (?) Senators not espe-
cially to commend their piety, for |
think their presence was accidental, but,
as, perhaps, suggestive of the estimation
in which the average legislator holds this
branch of the civil service.
The impeachment articles as presented.
BY the Chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee contain nothing new. They are
based upon the corrupt sale of the Fort
Sill leadership by the late Secretary OF
War, and are characterized by the usual
legal verbosity.
At the Democratic caucus last night,
impeachment managers were elected
They are Messrs Lord, Knott, jerks,
Hynde, McMahon, Wheeler and Hoar.
1t is understood that General Belknsp
will be defended by Ex-senator Matt.
Carpenter ana General Butler, each of
whom it will be remembered, bore prom
inent parts on opposite sides in the i'm
parchment of President johnson.
The bill to substitute silver for paper
fractional currency has been passed in the
House, and will it is believed, have the
concurrence of the Senate.
Senator Bruce, (colored) of Mississippi.
made his maiden speech in favor OF the
resolution of investigation into the Mis-.
sissippi election. The speech was not
remarkable but was commehdsble for
moderation in temper and tone.