St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-04


associates and became the congressional
leader of the slowly swelling forces of
the newly formed Republican party,
once its caucus candidate for speaker
and finally the presiding officer of the
first war congress.
1.-The great triumvirate of Webster,
Clay and Calhoun had already been
broken" said he. "by the death of CAL
houn before l took my seat in the
house. Webster and Clay died the fol-
lowing summer. Thomas II. Benton.
their old-time rival, however, survived
them number of years.
AFTER Benton retired from congress,
and while he was engaged on his con-
densation of congressional debates, he
sent for me one day and asked that. as
had to pass his house on my way from
my lodgings to the capitol, would drop
in daily and tell him what was going on
In congress. did so for long time,
and. as consequence, enjoyed many
long and pleasant chats with him which
are among the most delightful recol-
lections of that period of my life On
one occasion remember, while the re-
peal of the Missouri compromise was
under discussion, asked him how he
thought Gen. CasS, then senator from
Michigan, would vote on the measure"
Gen. Cass,' said he in ans wer
vote on repeal. He is a man that is
very easily seduced. 1t is very fortunate
for Gen. Cass, sir this after moments
thought, that he WASN'T born woman.
If he had been he would have been
without character before he was six
teen years old, SIR Afterwards we
were talking of Senator Douglas posi-
ton on slavery; he said: They say
Douglas is leading the Democracy off.
No, sir; the Democracy is leading
Douglas off. sir. He would go to hell,
Sir, if the majority were going there
civilian II. Seward came to the SEN
ate from New York in 1919, where he
soon became the leader in debate, first
Of the anti-slavery Wings and after
ward of the Republicans. No man
could have done better than he the
work he was then called OH to do. but
in the management of men he was not
thing that he failed to receive the Re-
publican nomination for president in
1869, and that the wise and patient Lin
coin was nominated in his stead. John
P. Hale had been in the senate four
years when took my seat in the house.
He was very INDECENT man, and for
that reason he never rose to the position
for which his abilities fitted him.
Some years before the repeal of the
Missouri compromise Senator Slidel in
troduced bill apprOpriating some $780,
00JO00 for the purchase of Cuba, the
object Of course being to strengthen the
slave power. General Cass made an
elaborate speech supporting the bill, on
the ground sthat it was dangerous to
our government to have a dependency
of foreign power so near our shores as
Cuba. Hale followed. Consistency
said he, 'has always been a browning
jewel in the diadem of the senator from
Michigan. He favors the annexation of
Cuba because its proximity is constant
menace to our welfare when every night
of his life when he is at home'-General
Cass lived in Detrolt,-'fIom the window
of the room in which he sleeps you can
throw neintO the possessions of her
Britannia majestv.'
'Ben Wade entered congress as a
senator on the same day that l entered
the house. During the following twelve
years we were thrown much together,
and | came to know him very init
mately. He was one of the most manly
of men. thoroughly honest and terribly
in earnest.
IL recall one occasion when George
E. Pugh, his colleague during the first
part of his senatorial career. and one of
the most plastic of doughfaces, had fin
ished pro-slavery speech which
aroused Wade's anger: he said: while
listening to the words of my colleague l
have wondered why God Almighty did
not make some men soaniels instead of
men, Toombs. of Georgia, one of
the Southern leaders in the SEN
ate. was a good deal of blum
derer. While the bill for the pur.
chase of Cuba was up Toombs one night
made speech in support of it. He
denounced the Republican senators as
demagogues. who were afraid of the
'lacklanders' of the North When he
had finished Wade, who sat next to him,
sprang-to his feet and turning upon
Toombs, his eyes flashing fire. burst
out: Afraid, are we, Afraid, are we!
There is no man or thing on Gods
footstooI that am afraid Of and he
brought his fist down on Toombs desk
with vigor that made the latter vince.
1 except the senator from Ohio from
my remarks said Toombs. All right,
if you want to back out you cam re-
torted Wade. we gladly accept the
issue which the senator from Georgia
presents and will go to the people on
it, land for the landless against niggers
for the niggerless.'
"Salmon P. Chase was in the senate
from 1S52-1S61, and his pre-eminent tai
ent rendered his services of the greatest
value. Chase's vanity was his besetting
weakness. When he became member
of LincoIn's cabinet 1t surrounded him
with mischievous advisers. who greatly
impaired his usefulness. Other strong
men on the Republican side whose
friendship 1 enjoyed during these years
were Charles Sumner. Henry Wilson.
Hannibal Hamlin, Jacob Collamer. Ly-
man Trumbull and William Pitt Fes.
sender, all pure and able men. Toombs,
Jefferson Davis, John Slidell and Judah
P. Benjamin were the leaders of the
Southern contingent. Davis was the
most superciious and condescending
and Benjamin the widest and brainiest
of the lot In the art of making a weak
case appear strong. Benjamin's gifts
amounted almost to genius"
"There we're also strong men In the
house during your period of service?'
"There were indeed. Thaddeus
Stevens was member Of the house dur
ing the latter part of my congressional
life, and whenever he was there. of
course. he was always prominent
figure. He was equal to anv emergency.