The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-06
THE SENATE OF 1861.
A Memorable Body of Which but Few Now
Survive.
Boston Advertis err.

special session of the Thirty-seventh Congress.
which met on the 4th of July, 1861, having
Deen called by proclamation of President
Lincoln, issued on the 10Th of April previous
the day after the fall of Fort Sumter. This
summons to Congress was part of the same
proclamation by which 1.-The militia of the
several States of the Union, to the aggregate
number of 75, 000," were called forth to sup
press the combinations in the Southern
States opposing and obstructing the execu-
ton of the law 1t will be interesting to call
over the roll of that Senate and recollect the
men, who. less than twenty-five years ago,
met the great and unprecedented response
bilities of the time.
Hannibal Hamlin was the Vice-president
OF the United States, and called the Senate to
order, and the Rev. DIR. Sunderland offered
prayer. Both these gentlemen are still
living. Mr.. Hamlin had had long expert
ence in the Senate, having been first elected
IN l04S, and serving continually, with the ex-
ceptlon of less than two months occupancy
OF the gubernatorial chair of Maine. Until
very recently he has been in public life ever
since, serving another full term in the
Senate since the war. The two senators
from Maine were Lot M. MorrillIa land William
Pitt Fessenden Mr. Fessenden had been in
the Senate since 1858. Mr. Morrill, was new
senator elected to succeed Mr.. Hamlin Mr..
Fessenden died in 1869 and Mr., Morrill, last
year. Vermont was represented by Solomon
Foote and Jacob Collamer, both men of great
ability and distinction. Mr.. Foote entered
the Senate in 1851 and died i'll Office in 1864.
He was President pro tenn. of the Senate
during this Congress. Mr.. Collamer first en-
tered the Senate in 1855 having previously
been twice Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court OF Vermont, six years member of the
House of Representatives and Postmaster
general in Taylor's administration. He died
in office in 1875, and his statue is one of the
contributions of his State to the Hall of
Statuary in the National Capitol.
John p. Hale and Daniel Clark were the
senators from New Hampshire. Mr.. Hale
was serving his third term Mr.. Clark en-
tered the Senate in 1857 for a short term,
ending in 1861, and was reelected Mr. Hale
has been dead ten years, but Clark has been
United States District Judge for New Hamp-
shire since 1866, The representatives of
Massachusetts were Charles Sumner and
Henry Wilson. The former had been a sem
ator since 1851, and the latter since 1855.
Mr.. Sumner died in 1874, and Mr.. Wilson
the following year. Rhode Island was rep
resented by James T. Simmons and Henry
B. Anthony. Mr. Simmons had been a sem
ator from 1871 to 1847, and was reelected in
1857. In 1862 he resigned. and died two
years later. Mr. Anthony began his long
senatorial career which is not yet ended in
1859. There is but one other member of the
Senate in that Congress who is now a men,
Der of that body and Mr.. Anthony alone
has had continuous service. James Dixon
senator's Mr.. Dixon entered the Senate in
1887, served two full terms, and died in 1873
Mr.. Foster became senator in 1855 and
served two terms. He was chosen President
pro TEN. of the Senate when Andrew John
son became President of the United States.
He is not now living.
Preston King and Ira Harris were the New
York members. Judge Harris was a new
member, having been elected to succeed
William II. Seward. Mr. King had been in
the Senate four years. Both are dead The
New Jersey senators were John R. Thorn
son and John c. Ten Eyck. Mr.. Thomson
was Democrat, serving his second term.
Mr.. Ten Eyck was a Republican, and had
been in the Senate two years. The former
died in 1862. We do not know whether the
other is living or not. Pennsylvania was
represented by David Wilmot of Wilmot-
proviso fame, and Edgar Cowen. Both were
new senators. Mr.. WiImot died in 1868,
and we are in doubt about Mr. Cowen. Del
awares senators were James A. Bayard,
father of the present Senator Bayard, and
Willard Salisbury. We believe that Mr.
Bayard is dead and Mr.. Salisbury is living
Anthony Kennedy and James A Pearce
were the two Maryland members. Mr.
Pearce had been senator continuously since
1S43. He died in 1862 Mr.. Kennedy served
but one term.
John G. Breckenridge and Lazarus W.
Powell were the Kentucky members Mr.
during Buchanans term, and was
defeated candidate for the presidency. He
was expelled from the Senate the following
September, and became a general of the
rebel army. Both are dead Trusten Polk,
of Missouri, was serving his first term, and
was the only senator from that State. He
too was expelled for disloyalty. Andrew
Johnson alone appeared from Tennessee the
other senator, A. O. P. Nicholson, not APP
pearng at the opening of the session, and
being expelled on the 18th of July. John
son is dead, and probably Nicholson also.
Lyman Trumbull had just been chosen for a
second term from Illinois. His colleague,
Stephen A. Douglas, had died before the
Senate met and Mr.. Trumbulls first duty
after the roll-cal was to present the creden-
tials of 0. H. Browning, appointed senator
in Douglass place by the Governor of the
State Mr.. Trumbull still lives, but Mr..
Browning is dead. The senators from Indi-
ana were Jesse y. Bright and Henry s. Lane.
Mr.. Bright had been senator from 1845, and
during several sessions president of that
body. He was afterward expelled for dis
loyalty. Mr.. Lane has just taking his seat
having been elected senator two days after
his Inauguration as Governor of Indiana, by
this means Lieutenant-goyernor Oliver Z.
Morton became Governor. Both Lane and
Bright are dead.
The Ohio senators were Ben amin f. Wade
and John Sherman. Mr.. Wade had been in the
SENATE tell years. MI ohciHldH was u ueW
senator, having been-chosen to succeed Sal
mon P. Chase. Mr.. Wade is dead, but Mr.
Sherman is still in active political life and
member of the Senate, but in tine meantime
he has been four years Secretary of the Treas
ury in President Hayes's administration.
! Zacharah Chandler and Kinsley S. Brigham
were the Michigan senators. Mr. Chandler
had been two years in the Senate, having
succeeded General Glass; Mr.. Brigham had
also served two years. Both are dead. From
Iowa were James w. Grimes and James Har-
Ian. The latter was beginning his second
term, and Mr.. Grimes had been a senator for
two years. Both are dead Mr.. Howe's col
league from Wisconsin was James X. Doc
little, who survives him. The senator from
California was Milton w. latham. There