iver Cromwell. After
the defeat of the royal forces at the battle of Worcester, Colonel
Mason escaped to Virginia, and soon afterward established a plantation
on the Potomac, where his lineal descendants resided generation
after generation. The future Senator was educated at Georgetown,
in the then infant days of the Federal city, and the society of
such statesmen as then sat in the councils of the republic was in
itself an education. He possessed a stalwart figure, a fine,
imposing head covered with long gray hair, a pleasing countenance,
and a keen eye. No Senator had a greater reverence for the peculiar
institutions of the South, or a more thorough contempt for the
Abolitionists of the North. His colleague, Mr. Robert M. T. Hunter,
was of less aristocratic lineage, but had received a more thorough
education. He had served in the Twenty-sixth Congress as Speaker
of the House, and he was thoroughly acquainted with parliamentary
law and usages. He had also paid great attention to finance and
to the tariff questions. Solidly built, with a massive head and
a determined manner, he was very impressive in debate, and his
speeches on financial questions were listened to with great
attention.

John P. Hale was a prominent figure in the Senate, and never failed
to command attention. The keen shafts of the Southerners, aimed
at him, fell harmlessly to his feet, and his wonderful good nature
disarmed malicious opposition. Those who felt that he had gone
far astray in his political opinions did not accuse him of selfish
motives, sordid purposes, or degraded intrigues. His was the
"chasseur" style of oratory--now skirmishing on the outskirts of
an opponent's position, then rallying on some strange point, pouring
in a rattling fire, standing firm against a charge, and ever
displaying a perfect independence of action and a disregard of
partisan drill.

President Pierce felt very unkindly toward Mr. Hale. At an evening
reception, when the Senator from New Hampshire approached, escorting
his wife and daughters, the President spoke to the ladies, but
deliberately turned his back upon Mr. Hale. This action by one so
courteous as was General Pierce created much comment, and was the
subject of earnest discussion in drawing-rooms as well as at the
Capitol.

[Facsimile]
Lewis Cass
LEWIS CASS was born at Exeter, New Hampshire, October 9th, 1782;
crossed the Allegheny Mountains on foot when seventeen years of
age to Ohio