The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-03-29
THE FoRTKSIxrH CONGRESS.


gress, March Is, marked the beginning
of new era of political excitement.
For the first time since 1860 the Demo
Gratis have majority in both houses.
In view of the peculiar circumstances
under. which Congress will meet, and in
view of the important questions that
must necessarily come before both
houses at once, the character and
political bias of the members becomes a
matter OF special and peculiar interest.
The Chicago Inter Ocean says that of
the new Senators, Houston, of Alabama,
served several terms in Congress before
the war, was a Union Democrat during
the war, and served two terms as Gov
ern or after thewar He is now sixty
eight years of age, and is pronounced a
man of ability. Walker, of Arkansas,
was Confederate officer, and is Demo
crat of the Southern school. Farley, of
California, is native of Virginia, was
Wing in 1852, Know Nothing in 1854,
and Democrat in 1856. Hill, of Col
orado, is a native of New York, and in
1860 he was professor of chemistry at
Brown University. He became in
terested in Colorado in ] 863, and, locat-
ing there in 1867 soon became one of
the leading men of the State. Piatt,
of Connecticut, was among the pioneer
Republicans, and is classed as stalwart
Call, of Florida, was originally Wing,
supported the Bell and Everett ticket in
1860, commanded Confederate regi-
ment during the war, and was elected
Senator because he is Democrat and a
brilliant speaker. Williams, of Ken.
lucky, was an old Henry Clay Wing.
He made good reputation in the
Mexican war, and although originally
opposed to secession, commanded Con-
federate regiment in the civil war. He
is now a Greenback Democrat. Jonas,
of Louisiana, is Democrat of the con-
servative school, and was, during the
war, Adjutant of Hoods artillery corps
He is an effective speaker Groome, of
Maryland, is the leader of the young
Democracy ofthat State. He has served
one term as Governor, and has been prom
inent in State politics for several years.
Vest, of Missouri, was an original secess-
ionist and served as Representative and
Senator in the Confederate Congress.
He stands pledged to support the Con-
stitution and its amendments, and ia
classed as an advanced Greenbacker.
Vance, of North Carolina, was originally
a Wing. He was in Congress in 1860,
and opposed secession. He jafterward
Joined the Confederates, and served as
Governor of North Carolina from 1862
to 1865, He was elected Governor again
in 1877, and the Democrats consider him
the ablest man of their party in the
State. Pendleton, of Ohio, and Hamp-
ton, ofSouth Carolina, are as well known
as Democratic leaders as are Logan,
Carpenter, and Chandler on the other
side Slater, of Oregon, is a native of
Illinois. He was elected to Congress in
1870, and is classed as hard-money
Democrat.
Each party will be represented in the
Senate by its strongest men. On the
Republican side are Conkling, Blaine,
Edmunds, Logan, Chandler, Carpenter,
Hoar, and dozen others, all good
organizers, shrewd managers, and able
debaters., On the Democratic side are
Bayard, Thurman, Pendleton, Lamar,
Hill, Vance, Vest, Houston, Hampton,
and others. With party questions in
the foreground there will be warm work
in the Senate and many brilliant debates.
In full Senate the Democrats will have
forty-two votes, the Republicans thirty
three, and the Independents one-Sen-
ator Davis, of Illinois.
In the House, the Democrats make
this classification: Democrats, 146
Independent Democrats, 2 Republicans,
1877; Greenback Democrats, Z; Green
back Republicans. s; vacancies, 6 Gn-
Guiding members from California, l
from New York, and 1 from Texas. J
The Greenbackers classify rs follows
Democrats, al; Republicans, 1923;
Greenbackers, IS. To say the least the
situation has enough of uncertainty
about it to make it extremely interesting.