The Portland daily press., 1881-11-22
Hendricks Retrospect.
Events in His Senatorial Career-His Pic
lures OF Prominent Men of the Senate.

Events in His Senatorial Career-His Pic
lures of Prominent Men of the Senate.
Madison Qnd Courier. Indianapolis letter.
Many Senators whom I met at that time
we're men of marked qualities. Mr. Collam-
or of Vermont was one of the most ingenious
and plausible debaters have ever heard. He
was then a Senator, greatly respected, and
exercised q decided influence; in his oharac-
ter aud policy he was decidedly conservative
Mr.. Anthony of Rhode Island who is yet in
the Senate was then in the prime of his man
hood, courteous and elegant in his manner,
never giving ofeuse, always devoted to his
party. and very successfully taking charge of
ia interests.
met with no man in the Senate whose
Qualities interested me more than Mr.. Bucka-
lew OF Pennsylvania. He was modest and re-
tiring but when called out by duty, a debster
of rare ability, philosophic in has habits of
thought. not combatiye, punctilious, holding
strong position and exercising much influence
In the Senate. During his term he prepared a
very interesting work, outside Of his senatorial
labors, on the subject OF Minority or Proper
tional Representation 1t is the sblest work
on that subject that has come to my knowl
edge. Mr.. Buckalew was singularly retiring.
modest and democratic in his habits.
His colleague, Mr.. Cowan, was always lis
tened to with interest. He was dashing de-
batter. and came into any controversy when it
was at the highest, and was able to maintain
himself against much odds. He came into the
Senate Republican, but became very restless
under party discipline.
One Of the most interesting characters in the
Senate of that day was Garrett Davis. He
was war Democrat from Kentucky. I think
he was the most fearless debater ever heard
mot always the most considerate for the
cause he advocated.
Mr.. Doolittle of Wisconsin was perhaps the
finest orator in the Senate. During the first
part of the war he was conservative Republi-
can. By his convictions of right, and by ex-
treme hostility on the part of others to his
political position, he was carried into the ranks
of the Democratic party, and became one OF
the strongest advocates OF the Democratic
cause. AS friend he was sincere, as an asso-
ciate charming
Mr.. Fessenden was then at the height of his
very distinguished career. / think Maine has
never been SO ably represented in the Senate.
As debater he was very remarkable-quietly,
astentvely, he listened to those opposed to
him until he appreciated exactly the neld OF
the fight; then, without note, book or authori-
ty, be made his reply SO clearly that he could
not be misunderstood, and never knew him
30 leave point unanswered. / do not mean
that his answer was always successful, but 1T
uas always able. he was one OF the great
until he found himself compelled to separate
tIfs rsse -ssssi-s. tho i.sPe"ohsaent of
Andrew johnson.
Governor Grimes represented the state of
Iowa. / never knew purer man in public
life. The inf1 snce of his able and excellent
administration as governor of Iowa did much
10 establish that State permanently as Re-
publican State. He, too, separated from his
party on the impeachment question.
John P. Hale of New Hampshire was very
much observed at he time went into the
Senate and very much spoken OF. He was
Q brilliant man, but not student, as /
thought and he had come to repeating himself.
Mr. Henderson was young Senator from
Missouri, a good lawyer, strong debater, and
very sincere in his convictions. He also sepa-
rated from the Republican party on the i'm
peachment question
Reverdy johnson was the ablest lawyer in
the Senate. ] have never heard anyone who
10 readily, and without special preparation,
announced his legal propositions and supported
Them by exact reference to the authorities.
For part of the time Henry S. Lane was
my colleague. He deserves to be held in high
sstimation By his countrymen. Passionate in
his politics, but sincere and truthful, with few
Guperiors as an orator
John Sherman was not then frequent in his
addresses to the Senate, but always the same,
we'll prepared, and left his views distinctly
impressed upon the mind of the body.
The most distinguished member OF the Sem
ate was Mr.. Sumner. Many of his speeches
were political essays rather than debates. He
was man of great learning, capable of ex-
haustive research. thoroughly in earnest, never
politic, never avoided a question to accommo-
date friend or foe, not even to save his party:
he stepped at once to the front edge of ques-
tion, and required feebler and more timid par
ti%ans to follow. I have said, and / suppose
that / was correct, that at his death he left
more of his sentiments embodied in the laws OF
the country than any other man. His opposi-
Hon to Grant administration was Inevitable.
He would not say an administration was right
when he did not believe it, when he knew
that it ought to be denounced; but it cost him
his influence in the Senate.
Mr.. Trumbul of Illinois was in many re-
spects distinguished man. As a debater he
was very able, as a lawyer very eminent. He
wss chairman of the judiciary committee and
reported many of the most important bills
touching the relations of the races and the re-
construction of the states. He, too, left the
Republican party upon the impeachment of
Andrew johnson.
MI. 0QCJOuSdl Vi OdlilOIuid was UIHlldub
and attractive man, although not q man of
mt ch influence in the body. Some OF his
speeches. made upon the spur of the occasion,
without preparation, were as remarkable as
you find In the best collection OF literary gems.
II had Globe / would ike to refer you to
one or two exquisite specimens. l remember
one occasion when the bill was pending in the
Senate upon the Presidents veto OF The admis-
sion of Colorado. Senator Wade scalled the bill
mp Che being chairman OF the committee on
territories at the time) late in the evening;
some Senators were not present; Mr.. Dickson,
Senator from Connecticut a supporter of the
veto, it W as announced in the Senate, was sick,
and that he could not safely attend. Mr..
Wade expressed the thought that if Provi-
dence had favored the measure for the admis-
sion of that State it was proper for its friends
70 take advantage of that circumstance, and SO
he insisted that the bill should be taken up
and passed upon. Just then McDougal came
into the Senate, and without taking his seat,
but standing by his chair, he replied so COM
pleteIy SO powerfully in few sentences, as to
settle the fate of the measure for that night.
After McDougal took his seat Mr.. Wade could
get but one or two to second his efforts to take
the bill up. ] cannot give you McDougal's
speech. 1t can hardly be repeated. His lllustra-
ton of his adherence of the sentiment he took
from Persian mythology-the spirit OF good and
the spirit of evi-the spirit of good that brought
20 mankind all blessings-the spirit of evil
that poured upon the race its many
curses; and the sentiment he con-
6smned he compared to the latter, but
In snch beautiful, strong and classic language,
and in every respect so forcible, that the prop
esition to take the bill from the the table re-
ssived no support.
Governor Morton entered the Senate after
the middle of my term. He soon took rank as
enc Of the ablest leaders of his party. He was
extreme in his expressions of political hostility
strength and earnestness were the character
istics of his speeches
The impeachment of Andrew johnson as
President was as remarkable as any event since
the war. I never believed that it was the re-
sult Of a conviction that he had been guilty OF
any high crime or misdemeanor that required
impeachment, for it is now evident that he
was not SO guilty; but for the first time in our
history, that proceeding was regarded and used
as ,,,sans II nossihls of remoying a noliticai