her good watch-dogs, _never barks when his friends are
around!"_

Mr. Blackburn, of Kentucky, began his long and eventful legislative
career as a member of this Congress. As the representative of the
Ashland District, he was the successor of Clay, Crittenden, Marshall,
Breckenridge, Beck--illustrious names in the history of the State and
of the nation. He was worthy of the succession, and, at the close
of ten years' service in the House, was elected to the Senate. He
came within a few votes of being chosen as the candidate of his
party for Speaker at the opening of the forty-sixth Congress. He
was a born orator. It was as natural for him to speak as to breathe.
Wake him up at any hour of the night, and he would be ready upon
the instant for an eloquent speech of any length, upon any subject.
Thoroughly familiar with all that pertained to our political history,
with a voice easily heard above the storm, he was ever in the
forefront of the hurly-burly of heated partisan debate. There was
little that was conciliatory about him. He neither gave nor asked
quarter. A born fighter, he had rather

"Follow his enemy through a fiery gulf,
Than flatter him in a bower."

Possessing neither the keen wit of his colleague, McKenzie, nor
the profound humor of Knott, he was nevertheless the hero of
more interesting narratives than any member who ever crossed the
Blue Ridge Mountains.

The incident to be related may have suggested the witty reply of
Senator Proctor to the Vice-President when invited by the latter
to come into the devotional exercises: "Excuse me, I am _paired_ with
Blackburn on prayers." This equals his reply when asked by Senator
Hale what he thought of Senator Chandler: "I _like_ him, but it
is an acquired taste."

Upon the occasion of the retirement of the Rev. Dr. Butler from
the Chaplaincy of the Senate--a position he had filled most acceptably
for many years--many of the Senators spoke regretfully of his
retirement. The speech of Mr. Blackburn, for beauty of expression
and pathetic eloquence, was unrivalled. He spoke most tenderly of
the faithfulness of the venerable man of God; how for long years
he had gone in and out before us; of his daily walk and conversation;
how, like the Blessed Master, his only thought was of doing good;
of how he had often invoked the Divine blessing upon us and our
loved ones, and lifted us as it were in his arms up to the very
throne of grace. The orator seeme