Opinion of Rebecca Felton

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Surprised she isn't getting any defenders, given that;

1. She was the first female Senator (if only for a day).
2. Her views were essentially identical to Woodrow Wilson's, and he does get defenders around here.

1. is commendable but doesn't say anything about her as a person so much as about the governor who appointed her (and about him only very slight positive things considering how much of an HP he seems to have been as well). 2. is possibly a question of emphasis in that Woodrow Wilson was known for plenty of other things (most of which, granted, I personally strongly dislike as well).

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't she the last former slaveholder to serve in the Senate?

I think so, and it might depend upon how you count people who lived on antebellum plantations as very small children. Even if not, definitely one of the last.