so Erastus Wells, a Democrat of character and personality.

--Omar D. Conger of Michigan was a well-trained debater before he
entered the House, and at once took a prominent position in its
deliberations. He illustrated the virtue of persistence in its highest
degree, and had the art of annoying his opponent in discussion to the
point of torture.--John Beatty of Ohio, who had served a brief period
in the preceding Congress, now appeared for a full term. He had an
excellent record as a soldier, was a successful man of affairs, and
was endowed with a firmness of purpose which could not be overcome or
changed.--James N. Tyner of Indiana, before entering the House, had
been an official of the Post-Office Department, and possessed a
thorough acquaintance with the details of the postal system of the
United States. His knowledge game him prominence at once in an
important field of legislation, and aided him in promptly securing the
attention and respect of the House.

--Thomas Fitch of Nevada was one of the noticeable figures on the
Republican side of the House. Born and educated in New York, he was
an editor in Wisconsin, a merchant in Missouri, a miner on the Pacific
slope, an editor in San Francisco, a member of the California
Legislature, a delegate in the Constitutional Convention of Nevada,
reporter of the Supreme Court of that State, elected to Congress--all
before he was thirty years of age. The singular variety of his career
could hardly be paralleled outside of the United States. If his
industry had been equal to his natural gifts he would have been one
of the first orators in the country.

--Samuel S. Cox had served eight years in the House from Ohio (1857 to
1865) as the representative of the Columbus district. At the close of
his last term he went to New York and engaged in the practice of law in
company with Mr. Charlton Lewis, a man of brilliant attainments and one
of the most accomplished graduates of Yale. But it was not possible
for Mr. Cox to keep out of the political field. His talent for the
stump, his ready wit, and, above all, his good nature and good sense,
commended him to the New York Democrats, and he appeared in the
Forty-first Congress from one of the city districts. He had been a model
of industry. In all the pressure of Congressional life, to the duties of
which he has given assiduous attention, he has devoted much time to
literature and has published several original and entertainin