The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-02-18

ume tnhe are LOT strlCtlf COrlect IlOu our
standpoint; but, take IL as whole 1t is
remarkably fair book, and not only q very
fair book but an exceedingly well written
one. The Epglish is plain, vigorous and
well sustained. ii the second volume is as
good in style as the first think the work
will become
CLASSIC IN OUR POLITICAL HISTORY.
I have just heard by the way, that Cox (Sun-
set) has written book on Congressional his
tory / shall be GLAD to see it."
While speaking OF Congressional histories,
Mr.. Thurman. may ask what you think of
Benton's Thirty Years View"
"0h, we'll that can hardly rank as his
tory. cit certainly does not rank with a
book like Blaine's. 1 happen to know some
thing about how Benton's book came to be
published 1t was really never intended to
be a history of the Senate. Benton's friends
got after him about printing his speeches.
He finally hit upon the idea of that book,
which is really little mora than a Running
account of the legislation in the Senate for
thirty years, with his speeches thrown in"
From Mr.. Benton's book the conversation
drifted to the Senate while Benton was there.
There was one thing in particular that
struck me when / went into the Senate
Chamber for the first time" said Mr.. Thur
man. land saw Benton, Clay, Webster and
others Of lsir class. They we're
NEARLY ALL LARGE MEN.
I believe that two thirds of the members of
the Senate at that time were six feet or oyer.
1t was not mere fancy. Mr.. Clay was over
six feet, so was Mr. Calhoun, so was Mr.. Ben
ton, so was Mr.. Preston, so was Mr. Semple,
OF Illinois, so was my uncle, William Allen,
and so were many others. SoEe of them
were six feet two inches, or even six feet
three inches. The men in the Senate now
are not so large; neither do they dress with
such care. The first time 1 saw the Senate
every member had dress coat on. Thay
now go into the Senate with any sort Of
them. Bayard always looks neat, but think
Ingalls, takes more pains with his clothes
than any of them. The custom OF the Senate
in the matter of personalities used to be
much more strict than it now is. Once, while
Aaron Burr was Vice President and presid-
ing officer of the Senate, q member, who had
been riding, came in and took his seat with
his boots on. Burr sent word TO him by q
page that he would be obliged if he would
retire at once and appear in dress becoming
his place in the Senate Chamber"
Mr. Thurman was in Congress part OF the
time of Folks administration, and has bean
pretty well acquainted With public men IN
Washington since 1910. Since there has
been so much said recently about the ex-
pense of
HOLDING THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE
/ asked him if he could tell me anything
about the way that Webster, Buchanan, Cal
houn, Marcy and other distinguished gentle.
men had lived while they held that Office.
81 believe" he said, every Secretary of
State We had up to the war lived within his
salary. Mr.. Calhoun certainly did. l think
be always while in Washington lived in the
rooms near the Capitol where he died. Mr..
Marcy was very economical man and am
sure he never exceeded his salary. He was
the last Democratic Secretary of State before
the war. Mr.. Buchanan was Folks Secretary
of State, and was in Washington much of
the time while he was serving IN that posi-
ton and knew him well He was probably
the wealthiest Democrat who ever held the
office. In his day he was considered a rich
man, though there were no millionaires in
Washington public life in those times. old
Buck as we used to call him, was a bache.
lor, and q very polite and courtly gentleman.
do not think he owned house III Wash
ington. he gave an occasional dinner at his
hotel, but nothing very eXtravsgsnt.
He gave one ball, which was
then considered the grandest
one that had been given by any Secretary of
State. The ladies got about him and told
him he would never marry in the world if
he did not give a ball. He finally con-
sented to do so, and il came off at place
called Carusis' saloon. 1t was not drink
ing place. but a hall-what in French we
would call salon, if you please, There
were
OVER A THOUSAND INVITATIONS
and the hall was crowded. but still it was
after all a very modest affair compared with
some Of the entertainments now given in
Washington. Mr.. Seward came into the
office of the Secretary of State at the open
ing OF the war, and he had house where he
extended frequent courtesies to foreign rep
resentatives 1t was important be should
do 30, but doubt ii he exceeded his salary.
There was nothing extravagant about Andy
Johnson's administration, but when Ora at
came in he made Mr.. Fish Secretary of
State. He was a very rich man and very
hospitable. he spent a great deal more than
his salary, and was the first Secretary of
State to do that. Those who followed him
have felt obliged to follow his example as
far as they were able. Mr.. Evarts no doubt,
spent three or four times his salary, though
of course he did not bankrupt himself in
doing So"
'Do you not think, Senator, with the in
coming Democratic administration and
an effort at political reform, that there
ought to be return on the part of the
chief officer of the Cabinet to the old way of
living?''
There must be limit somewhere.
think the country will sustain man who
draws the limit at his salary. II public cen.
tlment demands that the Secretary of State
should spend more than S., 600 a year, then
public sentiment will give the Secretary OF
State more salary. II this rule does not
hold, then it will be SO that none but very
rich men can hold the office. That would
be an injustice and misfortune