and literally a self-taught man. He acquired the knowledge of surveying without the aid of a teacher, and practised it extensively. He also obtained, in the same manner, a proficiency in mathematics and languages, and was, for a number of years, a successful teacher of youth. He studied law and was admitted to practice in the courts of New York in 1828, and in the course of five years after his admission, had a very lucrative and extensive business. He was elected to the Senate of New York, in 1836, and served four years in that body-was elected Lieut. Governor, in 1842, which office he held until Dec. 1844, when he was appointed a senator in Congress, by the executive of the state, to fill the vacancy (for one session) occasioned by the resignation of N. P. Tallmadge. On the assembling of the Legislature, he was elected for the residue of the term, and subsequently, during the same session, for the term of six years, from the 4th of March, 1845. Mr. Dickinson was one of the state electors for President and Vice President in 1844, and voted for James K. Polk and George M. Dallas.

Hon. WILLIAM C. DAWSON, Senator from Georgia, was born in the county of Greene, in the state of Georgia-and is the descendant of one of the very first settlers of that part of middle Georgia. In the same county he now resides. He was educated at the University of his native state. The first year of his manhood, he was the clerk of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the state, was twice a delegate to the convention to amend the constitution; was senator to the state Legislature; and was elected four succes sive times as a Representative in the Congress of the United States. During his service in Congress, (1841,) he was the nominee of the Whig party for Governor, was defeated in consequence of the vote he gave in the extra session of Congress, 1841, to tax tea and coffee, and perhaps for other causes, though that was probably the chief cause. Immediately thereafter he resigned his seat in Congress. In 1845 he was appointed one of the Judges of the Supreme Courts of the state, in 1847 he was chosen one of the senators in Congress.

Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, late Speaker of the House of Representatives, was born in Boston, 12th May, 1809. His father was Lieut. Gov. Thomas L. Winthrop, lineal descendant in the fifth generation of John Winthrop, first Governor of Massachusetts. His mother was Elizabeth Bowdoin Temple, daughter of Sir John Temple, and grand-daughter of Gov. James Bowdoin of Massachusetts. Mr. Winthrop graduated at Harvard college in 1828, studied law with Hon. Daniel Webster, and was elected to the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1834. He was a member of the House for six years, three on the floor, and three years as speaker. Elected to Congress in 1840, he has been re-elected from that time to this-was chosen speaker of the House of Representatives, at the commencement of the 30th Congress, and was the Whig candidate for speaker during the late protracted contest, and defeated on a plurality vote, by two votes. He is a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and American Antiquarian Society, and received the degree of LL. D. at Bowdoin college in 1849. He delivered an eloquent and abie address at the laying of the corner-stone of the Monument to Washington, 4th July, 1848, and is the author of several literary and historical addresses on other occasions.

Hon. JEREMIAH CLEMENS, Senator from Alabama, was born at Huntsville, Alabama, Dec. 28th, 1815, and educated at the Alabama University, Tuscaloosa-Elected to the Alabama Legislature from Madison (the county of his birth) in 1839, 1840, and 1841. He went to Texas as Captain of a volunteer company, in the spring of 1842, and was elected Lieut. Col. of Volunteers on

the frontier of Texas in July 1842. Returned to Alabama and became a member of the Legislature in 1843, and Democratic elector of president in 1844. He was again elected the same year to the Legislature. Appointed Major 13th Infantry, March 3d, 1847. Promoted to Lieut. Col. 9th Infantry, July 16th, 1847. By the reduction of the army at the close of the Mexican war, he was discharged from service. Elected to the United States Senate, Nov. 29th, 1849.

Hon. ROGER SHERMAN BALDWIN, Senator from Connecticut, is a son of Simeon Baldwin, formerly a representative in Congress, and judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, and a grandson of Roger Sherman, who signed the declaration of independence, was a member of the convention which formed the constitution, and a senator of the United States from Connecticut. Mr. Baldwin was born at New Haven in 1793, and was graduated at Yale College in 1811. He immediately commenced the study of law, at the law school in New Haven, then recently established by Seth P. Staples, Esq., and subsequently attended the lectures at the law school in Litchfield, Connecticut, under Judges Reeve and Gould, where he was admitted to the bar in 1814. Having established himself in practice at New Haven, he devoted himself exclusively to his professional pursuits.

In 1837 he was elected a member of the senate of Connecticut, and was reelected in 1838. In 1841 and 1842 he represented New Haven in the house of representatives in the state legislature. In 1844 he was chosen Governor of Connecticut, and again in 1845, when he declined being a candidate for re-election.

In November 1847, on the death of the Hon. Jabez W. Huntington, he was appointed by governor Bissell, in the recess of the legislature, to fill the vacancy thereby occasioned in the senate of the United States; and at the session of the general assembly in May, 1848, he was appointed for the residue of the unexpired term of his predecessor.

Hon. JESSE D. BRIGHT, Senator from Indiana, was born December 18th, 1812, at Norwich, Chenango county, state of New York. At the age of seven years, emigrated with his father and family to Madison, state of Indiana, where he was educated, and where he has ever since resided.

At the early age of nineteen, he was admitted to the bar. His progress professionally and politically was rapid, and marked with signal success. When in his twenty-second year, he was elected by the people to the office of probate judge, which place he resigned in 1839, on receiving the appointment of marshal of the U. S. for the district of Indiana. From this office Mr. Bright was removed by president Tyler, ten days before the annual election in 1841, and was immediately announced, without his knowledge or previous assent, as a candidate for the state senate. And the same district that had given the then executive of the U. S. a majority of 700 votes, elected Mr. Bright by a decided majority. In 1843 he was nominated by a state demoeratic convention for the office of Lieut. Governor and was elected by greatly more than his party vote. In 1845 Mr. Bright was chosen by the unanimous vote of his political friends, to represent his state in the senate of the U. S. for the term of six years.

Hon. WILLIAM UPHAM, Senator from Vermont, was born in Leicester, Massachusetts, August 5th, 1792, and commenced his education at the Academy in that place. He removed with his father to Montpelier, Vt., in 1803, and there continued his studies until 1809, when he entered the office of the Hon.

Cyrus Ward of Montpelier, as a student at law, remained in Mr. Ward's office one year, then entered the office of the Hon. Samuel Prentiss, and continued his legal studies until Dec. 1812, when he was admitted to the bar. Mr. Upham commenced the practice of the law at Montpelier, Vt., in 1813, and obtained a high reputation at the bar. He was elected a member of the legislature of his adopted state in the years 1827, 1828 and 1830, and state's attorney in 1828. In October 1842 was elected to the senate of the United States for the term of six years, from and after the 3d March 1843. And in October 1848 was elected to the United States senate for another term of six years, ending the 3d March 1855.

Hon. STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS, Senator from Illinois, was born at Brandon, Vermont, April 23d, 1813, and is the son of Dr. Stephen A. Douglas, formerly of Rensselaer county, N. Y., who died in July 1813. In early life he worked upon a farm, and afterwards, at the cabinet-making business; but his health failing, upon the marriage of his sister to Mr. Julius N. Granger of Ontario county, New York, he removed thither, and entered the Academy of Canandaigua. Afterwards, he commenced the study of the law with Mr. Hubbell. In the spring of 1833 he left Canandaigua, and started westward, for the purpose of establishing himself in business. His first location was in Cleveland, Ohio, but after being there a short time he was taken sick, and confined to his bed a whole summer. On his recovery he left Cleveland, and with slender means, he sought employment at Cincinnati, Louisville, and other places, until he was successful in obtaining the place of teacher of a school at Winchester, near Jacksonville, Illinois, in December, 1833. He soon acquired means sufficient to open a law office, and in the course of one year from that time, was so successful in his profession as to be chosen by the legislature state's attorney. In 1836 he was elected a member of the legislature of the state of Illinois. In all the leading measures for the improvement of the state, he took an active part. He was appointed register of the land office at Springfield; and in December, 1840, he was appointed secretary of state of Illinois. In 1841 he was elected a judge of the supreme court; and in 1843 a member of the congress of the United States, and re-elected in August 1846; and in 1847 he was elected to the senate of the United States, for the term of six years.

Hon. WILLIAM LEWIS DAYTON, Senator from New Jersey, was born on the 17th February 1807, at Baskenridge, New Jersey. He is of the family of Daytons who settled in Elizabethtown at an early period, and one of whom, Jonathan Dayton, was speaker of the house of representatives in the fourth

congress.

Wm. L. Dayton was educated at the Academy in Baskenridge, and at Princeton College, where he was graduated in 1825. He pursued legal studies with Gov. Vroom, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. For seven years he practised law in Monmouth county, and was then, at the age of thirty, elected by the Whig party to the upper house of the New Jersey legislature. He was very soon after appointed a judge of the supreme court of the state; but after having occupied that station for three years with great credit, he resigned it, and returned to the practice of his profession. In 1842 he was appointed by Gov. Pennington to fill the vacancy in the United States senate, occasioned by the death of Mr. Southard. In 1845 he was elected for the full term of six years. He made an able speech in favour of the ratification of the Mexican treaty.

Hon. HOPKINS L. TURNEY, Senator from Tennessee, was born the 3d of Oct. 1797, in the state of Tennessee, where he has resided ever since. His father

died when he was about six years old, leaving but a small estate, and a large family. He was bound out to learn the tailoring business, but did not serve out his term, and received no classical education. In 1818 he volunteered and served a tour of five months in Florida against the Seminole Indians, under General Andrew Jackson. In 1825 he was elected a member of the legislature of Tennessee, and was afterwards three times re-elected. In 1837 he was elected a representative in congress, and subsequently, re-elected twice, and then voluntarily retired. In 1844 he was on the Democratic electoral ticket for the state at large, when he canvassed the state, and in 1845, was elected by the legislature to his present position in the United States senate.

Hon. SAMUEL L. PHELPS, Senator from Vermont, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, on the 13th of May, A. D. 1793. Entered Yale college in Sept. 1807, and graduated Sept. 1811. Spent the ensuing winter at the law school at Litchfield, and in May, 1812, emigrated to Vermont, and continued the study of his profession in the office of the Hon. Horatio Seymour. In the summer of 1812, he was drafted in the militia, and in September, was ordered to the frontier. Served in the ranks until November, when he received the appointment of district paymaster in the United States service, occupied that place for a time, and returned to the study of his profession-was admitted to practice in the superior courts, in December, 1814-and continued in the practice of his profession at Middlebury, where he has ever since resided. In 1827, was a member of the Council of Censors of Vermont-in 1831, was elected to the Legislative Council, and during the session of the legislature of that year, was elected to the bench of the supreme court. He filled that station for seven years under seven successive elections,-in 1838, was elected to the senate of the United States, and in 1844, re-elected for six years, from the 4th of March, 1845.

Hon. JACOB COLLAMER, Postmaster-General of the United States, was born at Troy, N. York, and is the son of a soldier of the revolution. He removed to Vermont at an early age, and after pursuing a course of study at the college at Burlington, he was graduated there in 1910. He studied law, made the frontier campaign of 1812 as a lieutenant of militia, and was admitted to the bar in 1813. He pursued his profession in the counties of Orange and Windsor with much success until 1833, when he was elevated to the bench of the supreme court of the state. In 1813 he was elected to represent his district in the Congress of the United States, and was re-elected in 1844, 46, and '48. Whilst on the bench he was chosen a member of a convention for revising the constitution of the state. In March, 1849, he was appointed by President Taylor, PostmasterGeneral.

Hon. HANNIBAL HAMLIN, Senator from Maine, was born in Paris, Maine, Aug. 27, 1809, where he resided until the spring of 1833. His early life was devoted to labour on a farm in the summer, while his winters were employed in prosecuting English and classical studies. In 1823 he commenced the study of law with his oldest brother. In the winter following, his father having died, he returned home, and for two years took charge of the farm on which his mother lived. He then purchased an interest in a paper called the Jeffersonian, in Paris, and entered the office as a compositor. The year after, he returned to the study of the law, and in the winter of 1833 was admitted to the practice. Settled in Hampden, Maine, (where he now resides,) and was a successful practitioner. He was elected a member of the Maine legislature for 1836, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41, and was speaker of the house of representatives in 1837, 39, and '40. Was elected in 1843 a representative in Congress, and was re-elected in 1844, and for four

years was an energetic and industrious member of the house. In 1848 he was elected a senator in Congress to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of John Fairfield. He is now at the head of the committee on commerce.

Hon. TRUMAN SMITH, Senator from Connecticut, was born Nov. 27th, 1791, at Roxbury, Connecticut. His father, Phineas Smith, was a farmer, an elder brother of the late Nathaniel Smith, judge of the supreme court of Connecticut, and of Nathan Smith, who died in Washington in Dec., 1835, a member of the Senate of the United States. Mr. Truman Smith graduated at Yale college in 1815, was admitted to the bar in 1818, settled at Litchfield, Connecticut, in the practice of the law the same year, where he still continues to reside. He was elected a member of the house of representatives of the general assembly of Connecticut in the years 1831, 1832, and 1834, was elected a member of Congress in 1839, re-elected in 1841, in 1845, and in 1847. In the spring of 1848 he was elected a member of the senate of the United States for the term of six years from the 4th March, 1849.

Hon. S. U. Downs, Senator from Louisiana, was born in Tennessee in 1801; emigrated, when a boy, to Louisiana; was sent back to Tennessee to complete his academic studies; then entered the University of Transylvania, and graduated with distinction. He was admitted to the bar in 1825. He soon after became involved in politics, political discussions, and attracted public attention by his essays and speeches in favour of popular rights, the extension of the right of suffrage, the limitation of the judicial tenure of office, the election of governor and other state officers by the people, and the extinction of chartered monopolies. He is the author of an able argument published in 1844 in favour of the annexation of Texas. Gen. Downs has been successively chosen a member of the convention for remodelling the state constitution, a brigadier general of the state, a state senator, elector of president and vice president, United States district attorney, and finally elected to the senate of the United States. He is member of the judiciary committee, and chairman of the committee on private land claims, and prepared the minority report from a select committee on the admission of

California.

Hon. ALPHEUS FELCH, Senator from Michigan, was born at Limerick, Maine, on the 28th September, 1806, and was left an orphan at the age of three years. He was prepared for college at the academy in Exeter, N. H., under the instruction of Dr. Abbott. He entered Bowdoin college in September, 1823, and graduated in September, 1827-studied law, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1830. He practised law in Maine until June, 1833, when he removed to Monroe, Michigan, in the month of August following, where he pursued his profession. At the election in 1835, Mr. Felch was chosen a member of the state legislature. In the following year he was re-elected. He opposed the general banking law of the state, under the provisions of which the country was afterwards flooded with worthless bank paper. In February, 1838, he was appointed a bank commissioner, which office he held until March, 1839, when he resigned it and returned to his professional business. In February, 1842, he was appointed auditor general of the state. In this office he continued only about one month, when he received the appointment of judge of the supreme court. In the summer of 1845, against his expressed wishes, he was nominated by the democratic state convention as a candidate for the office of governor, and was elected. In February, 1847, he was elected by the legislature to the senate of the United States for the term of six years. He resigned the office of governor, and took his seat in the United States senate on the first Monday of December, 1847.