THE
GRANITE MONTHLY
A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE, HISTORY, AND
STATE PROGRESS.
THE STATE SENATE OF 1879-80.
There appeared last summer in the Granite Monthly an article entitled "The Senate and its Presidents," supplemented with a sketch of Hon. David H. Buffum, President of the Senate for that year. It is proper at this time to allude briefly to the Senate of 1879–1880, the first to meet under the amended constitution of the state, providing for biennial sessions, whose regular session has just been brought to a close.
By the provisions of the amended constitution the number of Senators was increased from twelve to twenty-four, thus bringing in, to a greater degree, the popular element and, perhaps, modifying to some extent the conservative character and tendency of the body. It is safe to say, at all events, that, under the new arrangement, our State Senate proves to be more thoroughly a representative body than heretofore, and that, while perhaps yielding nothing of its traditional prerogative as a practical council of review in considering the action of the lower house, it appears far less inclined to confine itself to merely revisory work than was formerly the case. Indeed, during the late legislative session, the Senate manifested a capacity and a disposition to originate legislation almost if not fully equal to that of the House; while in the matter of debate it altogether surpassed the latter body. This fact may be attributed, however, in no small degree, to the presence of one or two active and aggressive members who would have found a more appropriate and congenial field of action in the other branch of the legislature.
It is but fair to add, without reference to the general character of the action taken during its late session, that the Senate of 1879–80 contains several members of marked ability, whose presence and action during the session has contributed largely to attract public attention, and increase the popular interest in the deliberations of the Senatorial body, and from whom the people may reasonably expect to hear again, and in other and even more important capacities in time to come.
The following short sketch of Hon. J. H. Gallinger, President of the Senate, whose portrait appears as a frontispiece in this number of the Granite Monthly, with brief notices of the individual Senators, will not be without interest. More extended sketches of several of the number, it is hoped, may be given upon future occasions.
President Gallinger.
Hon. Jacob H. Gallinger, President of the Senate, is one of the rising young men in the Republican party of New Hampshire. Starting out in life a poor boy, he has fought his way up to his present position unaided and alone, overcoming obstacles before which a less ambitious and resolute spirit would
