Year: 1869

Appearance-A Lively Talk With One Of


Our CorrespODdenfs--fIis Opinion Of "That


Telegraph Pole Sherman" and s'ThOse


Pulses, Cattell and Warner''-He Says He


il Crazy, Like all Great Rcformers-- He is


not After the Presidency, but ii He


Got IL Would Give ONCE Hunters


ssJesse.',


WASHINGTON, April IA, 1859.


Senator sprague being the lion OF the hour, If not
the coming man OF the Nineteenth century, your
correspondent as in duty bound, paid his respects
TO him yesterday afternoon at his splendid resi-
dence, on the corner OF Sixth and Il streets. He
admires the HERALD, and the correspondent thereof
had no trouble in gaming ready access to him,
though he waived an interview with most other
people, as the stupendous subject IN which he s now
engaged absorbs his mind greatly that he de-
cllnes the discussion Of aught else, and cannot
tolerate the ordinary and usually frivolous topics OF
conversation. His house, OF which his father-in-
law, Chief Justice Chase, is joint occupant, is one
Of those r0omy European style Of residences, with
wide hallway and all sorts Of apartments
up and down stairs adapted to the needs
Of q refined and luxurious family. The fur
niture Is OF the richest kind and distributed
about the rooms in that style Of careless
elegance which so much pleases the artistic eye.
1t is not the furniture that an iliterate parvenu
would select, but just such as one OF educated and
independent taste would group together to funl at
once the purposes of use and ornament. Going up
stairs passed the grand old form Of the Chief JUS
tlce, whose presence alone would grace the hand
soonest palace in the world. He tripped lightly
down stairs, wearing that inevitable and charming
look Of bounteous benevOlence that bespeaks
one of natures own noblemen. We found the
Senator from Rhode Island In his study, reclin-
ing before the fire. wrapped In q loose and
in
thought beyond hope OF awakening. The study ap-
peared in itself study, with all kinds OF curious
traps lying around loose. Books on top OF Bohe-
mian vases, wonderfully carved paper knives, odd
looking ink bottles, pen wipers, and host OF other
articles OF stationery on the mantel piece, on the
marble top washstand, on the writing table ami on
the foor Books and pamphlets everywhere and the
NETWORK HERALD spread out to throw food Of light
over all. General Halsred sat at the table driving
away with q pen. Near the Senator's chair stood q
small tray holder laden with the absemious fare Of
student consisting of coffee minus milk and toast
minus butter.


We took long look at the Senator's face to see II
we could find therein any trace of the malady called
craziness which his enemies conveniently attribute
to him. There was none in the eye at least, and the
other features are not generally known to offer any
sure Indication Of the complaint In question.
Sprague looks old on near acquaintance. He has a
small head, small features large, lustrous eyes,
slightly dashed with dmness that necessitaues the
wearing Of glasses. His face is Of the progressive
Just such as You see hurry.ng along Broadway
In the morning tide OF travel to Wall street


and the down sgs Of been wealth
young man at some period OF his life or he might
have been very hard-working student OF business


for on the outer edges OF his face there are burrows
that one Of his age should not have. He his
hair somewhat long and with extreme carelessness,
as though the comb that nature provides in the
fingers had been the only one he ever made use or
It certainly presents very d;hevellei appearances;
but It shows at least he Is above the small vanity
time that is better bestowed In cultivating
the inside. In speaking on the great
system Of finance and taxation he appears like one
VINO had IN his minds eye something OF such co!os,
lsh language and the finite powers Of expression
vouclsafed 10 man were wholly Inadequate to repre-
sent its mmensity Therefore 1t is tnat he hcstates
as he speaks and his eye lmoves troubOusly as
though he were lnwardly swearing at the ineficacy
Of words to translate ut once the thoughts that
without the faintest trace of outward afectation.
He could roll IN his carriage with lacdueys
to walk and we remember Several times seeing hm
walking all alone miles from the city, with his mead
bent down and the nscrutbale machinery Of thought
working, no doubt, at q hard rate within. Some OF
the results OF these long and lonely walks are now
before the world, crude in shape. perhaps but preg
hammered man is the senator from Rhode
Island; not timid, not didident in assert
ing I'm his opinions opinions and ridlcpl0usly Indifferent
the worlds wife combined He has one OF the
elements Of greatness-tcnacity. Those who sup
pose he intends to subside, quit the busy stage and
retire for ever from the living drama after startling
his audience with one or two spoken pieces, are wO-
fully mistaken. lie has but fairly commenced, and
as Samson, by vigorous and persistent applica-
ton OF assnne jawbone to the heads OF the Phil
istines, made everlasting ,, smash Of that unhappy
path with the club of truth In one hand and the
State oil Rhode Island in the other, spread terror
among the tribes Of money shysters and Shyl0cks.


al have been TO New York." observed the Senator,
"to make arrangements for the printing OF my
speeches. shall have sixty thousand copies printed,
and II the people want more they shall have them
million for tnat matter must be printed, do not
think my money could be better spent. 1t will 90
for the instruction and enlightenment OF my coun.
trymen, who want both these things badly. A
silent sure and fearful weight is crushing them 10
feel vaguely that their life blood is eb5n9
fast; tnat their substance is decayng,. dying,
/ know the cause and the cure am not going to
SIT down, fold my arms and let the country to the
devil. If felt like acting such coward's part,
would much prefer leaving the country forever, and
my means are ample enough to make life pleasant
IN whatever foreign land might go to- Look
here" he exclaimed pointing to long row OF bum
dies on the mantelpece, "there are letters from
every part OF the nation. from men OF all parties and
all conditions asking for copies OF my late speeches
Just run your over OF these handles" he
tinued, handing us lot embracing over one hundred
and ffty letters received by the morning mail.


that In spite OF all that Is said to the contrary
Sprague has touched the most vital chord In the pop.
ular heart. One letter was BRIEF simply requesting
fny or a hundred copies for distribution. Just
the music for the people was the emphatic endorse.
ment, aud then by way Of postscript, "Let us know
IL there Is any charge" Another letter might
cover two pages OF loolscap, giving the writer's
views as exactly conciding with Splague's and
winding up by an earnest request In sumner
laconisn, to ''stick.r A third letter comes
from q member OF Congress, one OF whose
constituents asks him TO send along 1fty copies



Every principal town In the country Is represented
IN The entire collection, which might probably mum.
Der two thousand letters, representing total re-
Quest for perhaps nfty thousand copies OF the Sena.
tors speeches. ordinarily senator's send their
efiusions TO the country without any specially eX.
pressed desire from their constituents but in this
instance the people sacrifice their postage stamps 10
tel the senator they want TO hear him. Most OF the
pamphlet speeches that leave here by mail find their