Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-29
IN THE SENATE.


His parents were English Jews. who
on their way to America. landed in one
%: the West Indies. where Judah was
porn. His early bOyhOod was spent in
North Carolina but removing To New
Orleans he was called IL the bar in 1882
ana won nigh respect as a lawyer ana
advocate. In 1897 | made his acuunint-
ance when he was a Senator with Sill
dell, of Great Memory. rs his colleague
lie was low. stout, genial. smiling
man, of decided Jewish cast. with
bright black eyes. and all the grace
and suavity of polished Frenchman,
looking as If he never had a trouble
10 me he was one OF the most at
tractivc and fascinating men ! ever
met In puhlic life. While Senator he
not unfreGuently appeared before the
HnnreLne Annt. .i+3i " IA i
sue a case there was as much anxiety
10 hear him rs there is now To hear
Joserh II. Ohnatc or James {. Carter.
In the Senate. whore were such men ne
Douglas. Green. sumner puEh he had
no superior as Il debatcr. One Of his
hest-known speeches. which during its
delivery filled the galleries and nearly
emriied the House of RrprCsentatjVS
was in reply 10 Seward and in Vindica-
ton of Judge Yancey and the bred
Scott decision.
The exposure Of the sophistry and
MISREPRESENTATION of the New York
.N'H.itt WIS SoIlitlllUS terrible. ana Vet
after the numerous and cordial con-
gratulations were over the New
Yorker. who had listened with stoIid
compoSure to the mercilcss casiica ion
and exposure, approached BENJAMIN
and shook hands with him Years af-
forwards I asked BENJAMIN what Sew
ard had the cheek to say so calmly
after the argument. and was told that
after some pleasant compliment about
the ability of the speech Seward took
mild exception to some statement as To
his positions. Another great speech. n
powerful defence of State rights. heard
with admiration by Sir G.. G. Lewis. Of
England. was made in the Senate on
the 31st of December 1860. BENJAMIN
was collected and self possessed in de-
nate, had voice as musical as the
chimes of silver bells. memory like
Macaullay's and no notes. and while
earnest in manner and delivery seemed
as iresh at the close of discourse as
when he uttered the first sentence
IN TIE CONFEDERACY.
His versatility and his capacity for
Work was immense and he turned from
one subject or duty to another with
such facility and cleverness that h.,
seemed to have no special aptitude or
preferences. In making up his first
cabinet. Davis selected BENJAMIN as
Attorney General: subsequently, on Inc
resignation of Leroy Pope Walker he
became Secretary of War. and after
ward on retirement of r. NJ. T.. Hunter
ne was transferred to the Department
of State. filling one by one these varied
positions with equal credit and skin
When at the collapse OF the Confeder
acy the President dissolved the council,
of advisers and told them to take care
of themselves, Benjamin, with on.
travelling companion. was making his
way through Southern Georgia. He
sought shelter at the temporary resi-
dence of a Confederate and represented
himself as an Italian. When the ser.
want had, left he threw off his disguise
and talked freely, commenting with
injustice upon the surrender of General
Joseph f. Johnston in North Carolina