"
John James Ingalls was in many respects one of the brightest
intellects I ever knew. He was graduated at Williams in 1855.
One of the few things, I don't know but I might say the only
thing, for which he seemed to have any reverence was the character
of Mark Hopkins. He was a very conspicuous figure in the
debates in the Senate. He had an excellent English style,
always impressive, often on fit occasions rising to great
stateliness and beauty. He was for a good while President
pro tempore of the Senate, and was the best presiding officer
I have ever known there for conducting ordinary business.
He maintained in the chair always his stately dignity of bearing
and speech. The formal phrases with which he declared the
action of the Senate, or stated questions for its decision,
seemed to be a fitting part of some stately ceremonial. He
did not care much about the principles of parliamentary law,
and had never been a very thorough student of the rules. So
his decisions did not have the same authority as those of
Mr. Wheeler or Mr. Edmunds or Mr. Hamlin.
I said to him one day, "I think you are the best presiding
officer I ever knew.
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