The Present United States Senate

I do not think any ono will be diaposed to controvert the statement that I lie Senate of ten or twelve yeara ago, conlainod moro tulent than the Senut of to day Let those who are even moderately posted on American history and stati smauship niake the contrast between our highest legislativo body, as it waa in 1852, and as it le in 18G4, and tbe result will not go to eytablish the belief that the p-eseDt decade bas been prolifie of grcat mun. I í'requently seo in bookstores and print shops, an engraving of " the U. S. Senate, in 1852 '! It reprtBeiits Henry C'lay in the attitude of de1 nering a slieech, to which Webatar, Calhoun, Btuton, Chase, and a numbor of others equally able, though, perhapa, less reno'.vned, are listening attentiyely. ïhe artist wbo should attempt a similar sketch at the presont day, would find poorer material to work upon ; bat though the days of senatorial oratory ara past, we are not without men who aao talk, acd talk pretty sensibly at tima. Mr. Eessenden, when in the Senate, was, I think, the "readiest" debater ia that body. There was very httle attractiveness in his manner. Ho navor consulted the principies of oratory or deelamation, but for a good, commonsense talk, on whatevur might be under consideration, he was not exeelled. As the Senate now stands, Reverdj Johnson is, take him for all in all, the best off-hand speaker. There are particular topics upon which others are btterlhan he, but for general businerg debates, nene are his superiors. He cn makö some intelligent observations oa evorything that comes up. Iïls manner of spoaking is, at the eommencement of hia remarks, almost disagreeable. He rises, makes his bow to the chair, puU both hands in his pockets, and turns to the gentleman who preceded him, to whoui he mutters somethimr inaudible to the galleries. ÏM atare has endowed him wiih the fiieulty oí looking at opposita pcints of the composs at the same time - so that you can't teil from Lia eyea eiaotly what he 13 glancing at. In a fow minu'es, however, he gets warmed up with his subject, and bcoomes graoef'ul aud eloquent. Than he keeps right along, and the longcr he speaks, the leu tired you feel listening to him. Mr. Sumner has a fine, deep, sonorota voice. He seldom addresses the Senate, and hardly ever without thorough preparation. He is not a ready debater, by any means, but rnay safely be called, for so great a man, one of the poorett extempere speakers in the Senate. Parhaps he only appëars so, becauee jou ore apt to expect a great deal from on of his great learning and ability. Eyod when he makes a "set speech," you ara apt to get tired of him before he gaU Ihrough, and trust to the Glob for bia remarks, which can always be read with satisfactioü and profit. Mr. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, is an impresive speaker and considerable of an orator. He has an excellent voice, and always speaks to the point. You ar apt when you hear him in the Ssnate to wish to hear him on the stuaip, where he had " full swing," aud was not tramraeled by parliamentary rules, nor interrupted with cries of "'question." He il seldom at loss for something to say, and can particípate iuteliigentiy in almoit any debato that may spriug up in the day 's business, whether in finances, foreign affuirs, politics, or peusions. Mr. Sherman seldom speaks when bil particular forte - which is finances - it not under discussion. He is a rapid bul not a wordy speaker, not generally yery distinct to the galleries when he start, but always sufficiently so buforo he lita down-, He speaks with precisión, and apparuutly without studied uffort on hia part, and is always attentively listened tó by the Señale. He hardly ever participates ia a debate in which he kuowa the vote of the Senate is already made up, as upon questions of a purely political character. It be well it his colloagues took pattern from him, and never mude speeches except wheD thay believed that by doing so, thy could make converts to the opiuions they advocated. What'g the use of men wnatting days and weeks in dobating what ia douidcd before a word is spoken on either 8ide ? Mr. Trambull is a " keen" debatar, unexctlled in questions of law, and equaled only by lveverdy Johnson for hia ability to quote precedeuts on legal pointe. He is a very pleasant speaker, n whom you are able to get intereated very soon. His remarks are generalij we'1-timed and appropriate, and he addrns?es the Seiiate with all the fervor of a fiist olass advocate. He is undoubtedly one of the best lawyers in the Senate. Gratz Browu is not inuch of an orator - has no voice for efteotive speaking, but bas, on one or two occasions, read speeches from maDuscript that would do credit to abler statosincn than he is thought to be. Ho has. a olear head, ia a good scholar, aud somowhat of a thinker. If he could burrow sornebody elie's voice, wheu he addre?sed the Senate, he would be attentively lia'ened to, but aa it is, you soon get tired of the effort ta oatch a word now and then, and are apt to leave the gallery in despflir, and truat to the papers, whweh, by the way, are the best things I know of to put your trast iu. Mr. Collamer, of Vermont, is in th sero and yellow loaf of liíe, but still can present his views to the Sonate, in a foroible and utatesraanlike manner, when he has anyt.üing to say, whioh is very sldoin. He ia in statue tho smallest, and ia vears, the oldest man in the Senate, I believe, though his ooileague, Mr. Foot, is not much his junior. 1T3T After January let, whisky will be fcaxed $2 a gallon.