specially distinguished for independence
of party restraint in his modes of thought and action. He and
Judge Collamer of Vermont were the most intimate associates of Mr.
Fessenden, and the three were not often separated on public questions.
--The colleague of Mr. Grimes was James Harlan, one of Mr. Lincoln's
most valued and most confidential friends, and subsequently a member
of his Cabinet.--James R. Doolittle came from Wisconsin, a far more
radical Republican than his colleague, Timothy O. Howe, and both
were men of marked influence in the councils of their party.--John
Sherman filled the vacancy occasioned by the appointment of Mr.
Chase to the Treasury. Mr. Chase had been chosen as the successor
of George E. Pugh, and remained in the Senate but a single day.
Mr. Sherman had been six years in the House, and had risen rapidly
in public esteem. He had been the candidate of his party for
Speaker, and had served as chairman of Ways and Means in the Congress
preceding the war.--From the far-off Pacific came Edward Dickinson
Baker, a senator from Oregon, a man of extraordinary gifts of
eloquence; lawyer, soldier, frontiersman, leader of popular
assemblies, tribune of the people. In personal appearance he was
commanding, in manner most attractive, in speech irresistibly
charming. Perhaps in the history of the Senate no man ever left
so brilliant a reputation from so short a service. He was born in
England, and the earliest recollection of his life was the splendid
pageant attending the funeral of Lord Nelson.** He came with his
family to the United States when a child, lived for a time in
Philadelphia, and removed to Illinois, where he grew to manhood
and early attained distinction. He served his State with great
brilliancy in Congress, and commanded with conspicuous success one
of her regiments in the war with Mexico. The Whigs of the North-
West presented Colonel Baker for a seat in the Cabinet of President
Taylor. His failure to receive the appointment was a sore
mortification to him. He thought his political career in Illinois
was broken; and in 1852, after the close of his service in Congress,
he joined the throng who were seeking fortune and fame on the
Pacific slope. When leaving Washington he said to a friend that
he should never look on the Capitol again unless he could come
bearing his credentials as a senator of the United States. He
returned in eight years.

Among the opposition senators, some fo