est Virginia for a few feeble remarks." When he lost his
temper and waged war in earnest his invective was absolutely
remorseless, as in the example I have given of it in a previous
chapter.

I have before referred to the oratory of Bingham. He was a reader
of books and a master of English. He loved poetry, and was one of
the most genial and companionable of men, but he was irritable and
crispy in temper, and a formidable customer in debate. He had
several angry bouts with Butler, in one of which he spoke sneeringly
of the "hero of Fort Fisher," to which Butler replied that the
gentleman from Ohio had shown his prowess in the hanging of Mrs.
Surratt, an innocent woman, upon the scaffold. Bingham retorted
that such a charge was "only fit to come from a man who lives in
a bottle, and is fed with a spoon." He was often dogmatic and
lacking in coolness and balance, but in later years he showed
uncommon tact in extricating himself from the odium threatened by
his connection with the Credit Mobilier scheme.

One of the really strong men in the House was John Hickman, of
Pennsylvania, who had been a prominent figure in Congress during
Buchanan's administration. He was a man of brains, courage, and
worth. Potter was a true and brave man, whose acceptance of a
challenge from Roger A. Pryor, and choice of butcher knives as the
weapons of warfare, had made him very popular at the North. Rollins
of Missouri was an eloquent man, of superior ability and attainments,
and large political experience. Pike of Maine was one of the first
men in the House, but too honest and independent to sacrifice his
convictions for the sake of success. Deming of Connecticut was a
man of real calibre, and on rare occasions electrified the House
by his speeches, but he lacked industry. One of the finest debaters
in the House was Henry J. Raymond. He displayed very decided power
in the debate on Reconstruction, and very effectively exposed the
weakness of the Republicans in practically dealing with the Rebel
States as if they were at once in and out of the Union. Among the
most striking figures in the House were Butler and Cox, whose
contests were greatly relished. They were well matched, and
alternately carried off the prize of victory. Butler, in the first
onset, achieved a decided triumph in his reply to a very personal
assault by Cox. "As to the vituperation of the member from New
York," said he, "he will hear my answer to him by ev