The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-02-14
(washingtSn I,etter.)
THE FEDERAL SENATE.
A pen Picture OF the Mcn who now Gem.
pose It.

Your correspondent, after the last
Senator bad left the Chamber, went
there, and for q while gazed upon its
loneliness. It looked to him as DESC
late as the White Sulphur in January,
or Virginia County Court House the
day after the circus. Silver-haired
Captain Bassett. whom neither q Dem
ocrat or a Republican Senate will
ever remove from his post as one Of the
doorkeepers, gazed upon the vacant
seats as Marius did on the ruins of
Carthage, and recalled the fact that
there where Webster, Winthrop, SiIas
Wright and Lewis Cass once sat, pig
mics now burlesque the exalted posi-
ton Of Senator. Your correspondent,
from his standpoint, only thought Of
them as they are, and made no dis
Paraging comparisons. He recalled
Blaine as the most unscrupulous, but
the most brilliant and unlucky dema-
gogue this generation has produced;
Conkling as II Senator, with the head
OF Apollo and the walk--well, / won't
describe it.; Dawes and Hoar, who we've
never more like aged ministers than
when Blaine tosk them at disadvan-
tage in presenting the statue Of Mr..
King to Congress, and inhicting upon
them the cruel and unusual punishment;
Plumb, Of Kansas, whose record by
contrast, makes that Of Credit Mobi-
lier statesman look immaculate; Ingalls,,
Of the same state, who is for all the
world like lean lecturer on biology,
or the man who plays the big fiddle in
burlesque opera; Davis, of Illinois, who
reminds me Of Dixon II. Lewis when
at light weight, and who is az honest
as he is gOod-nstuIed; Edmunds, whose
Darwinian face would entitlc him to
be Chief Justice in gorilla country,
but whose admirers say resembles the
Apostle Paul; Teller, Of Colorado, who,
if the Senate were pack of cards,
wonld lbs tray of spades when clubs
were trumps,a and yet whom the Repub-
licans were forced in their extremity TO
put at the head Of the Blaine Commit
tee; Thurman, the best specimen of an
American statesman in either body,
who does not hesitate to take part in
any debate, and who is always ready 70
answer successfully the prepared speech
es of the Radical leaders; Eaton, as an
honest Bourbon, who refuses TO learn
anything under the new dispensation;
McCreary, in appearance and oratOry
like the late big-hearted andaccomplish-
ed Judge Brockenbrough; Bayard, as
the polished, incorruptible aud accom-
pliHhed Senator; Lamar, who adds TO
oratory and culture broad statesman
ship; Ransom, who is as powerful in
debate as he is brave in war; Merri-
mon, his colleague, who knows enough
law TO be on the Supreme Bench of the
United States, and who never speaks
without speaking well and to the point;
Butler, who is worthy of the honored
name he bears, who is cool when others
are excited, and who is not only
strong debater but can be as eloquent as
Demosthencs, when he pleases; Gordon,
who is the soul Of gallantry and honor,
whose Senatorial career has shown that
he is as successful a statesman as he
was gallant as General; Voorhees,,
who is the most brilliant orator in
either body, and who never fails to
come to the aid of the South when his
services are needed; Randolph, whose
political faith is as fixed as the creed of
u Covenanter, and who never speaks
without giving the Senate accurate in
formation and IA strong presentation of
his side of the question; Hill, of
Georgia, who is one of the most bril-
liant men in either body-who is often
immense, and at other times makes
striking failures.