e a constant
surprise and delight to his hearers. No man in Congress during
the present generation has rivaled his singular power in this
respect. He was able in every form of discussion, but his peculiar
gift was in leading and controlling the Committee of the Whole.**

MEMBERS OF THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.

Several new members entered the Thirty-eighth Congress who were
destined to long service and varying degrees of prominence. James
A. Garfield came from Ohio with a valuable reputation acquired in
the Legislature of his State and with a good military record,
established in the war and recognized by the conferment of a Major-
General's commission which he had won on the field. William B.
Allison, John A. Kasson and Hiram Price of Iowa, John A. J. Creswell
of Maryland, Glenni W. Scofield of Pennsylvania, all earned honorable
distinction in after years. George S. Boutwell entered from
Massachusetts at forty-five years of age. Twelve years before, as
a radical Democrat and Free-Soiler, he had been chosen governor of
his State. James G. Blaine entered from Maine at thirty-three
years of age. Among the new members on the Democratic side of the
House were Samuel J. Randall, with the reputation of conspicuous
service in the Pennsylvania Legislature, and William R. Morrison,
fresh from his duty in the field as colonel of an Illinois regiment,
and, though still young, old enough to have served with credit in
the Mexican war. Fernando Wood, who had been elected a member of
the House in 1840, and had served one term, now entered again.
Francis Kernan appeared in public life for the first time, having
defeated Roscoe Conkling in the Utica district. Charles A. Eldridge
of Wisconsin became one of the ablest parliamentarians of the House.

In the Senate some important changes were made. Governor Morgan
entered from New York as the successor of Preston King; Governor
Sprague came from Rhode Island, and Governor Ramsey from Minnesota.
These elections were all made in direct recognition of the valuable
service which these Republican War-Governors had rendered the
country. John Conness, a follower of Douglas, who had done much
for the cause of the Union on the Pacific coast, now bore the
credentials of California. B. Gratz Brown came from Missouri as
pledge of the radical regeneration of that State.

To the Democratic side of the chamber three able men were added.
Reverdy Johnson