Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-28
Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot
WASHINGTON, June "a, 1873

WASHINGTON, June "a, 1884
Amid the tedum of Congressional proceed
ings and the barrenness of dull debate, thefe
is now and then an incident which makes up
for all the tedious hours one spends ABOUT the
walls of the Capitol For example such
scene as we had to-day. Yesterday, Isaac Hill
read an essay, as usual, abusive and rance
rous, which you have in the Globe OF this morn
inc. il not costing much time to report what's al
ready in writing. This essay was hung upon the
memorial from the New Hampshire Legislature,
and that memorial was then laid upon the table.
To-day, Hill moved to take it up, and upon max
inc this motion, began to read another speech
which he had cooked up during the night IN re-
plv to some remarks which his colleague, Mr..
Bell made in the Senate yesterday. 1t appears
that Hill had worked hard during the night, and
had gathered a quantity of matter which ne
was desirious Of disgorging as soon as posi-
BILE.
Mr.. President" said HILL "my colleague
Yesterday said that he knew the source from
which these resolutions came" " | call the Sc
nator to order" interrupted Clay. :" wish
to know, if upon a question of taking up the
Resolutions, he has right to reply to what was
remarked yesterday upon the general ques-
ton" By this time Hill was under tull sail
His speech was spread out before hlm--the
sheets were all arranged in regular order,-and
as it is difficult TO stop boat which the oars
have long been propelling, so it was difficult to
stop him. Accordingly he went on some time
after Clay called him to order, and it was not
till Ewing repeated the call, that he was family
stopt To be called to order! this was puzzle
to the honorable Senator He had interlned
in his speech no reply to call to order AS
he could not sit down to write one, and as it
was difficult to write reply on foot, he was in
what Jack Downing would call a COMPOUNDED
botheratOn.
A call to order! The honorable Senator was
dumb. Ifthey would lay over the question, and
give him time till tomorrow, he might make a
reply,-but a reply now! there was nothing OF
the sort in his book, -and it was unkind i'll Clay
and Ewing to interrupt written, and expect an
extemporaneous speech Forsyth threw back
his head and gigled. Wright looked as wise as
an owl Bentons red whskers actually bris-
tied. That rogueish Clay, kept on with a let
ter he was writing, now and then peepin9 over
his spectacles to see what Hill was doing
Preston stared about like a green horn Pon-
dexter held on to his sides, and laughed, though
he tried never so hard, to wear the face of a
grave Senator. The fact is, the confusion of
Hill was so indescribably ludicrous, that it threw
the whole Senate into burst Of laughter at his
expense. Van Buren, decided, that the Sena-
tor from New Hampshire had not gone tar
enough to enable him to Judge whether he was
in order or not Upon this Hill attempted to
proceed, but Poindexter getting the floor, NOV
ed to lay HIPS motion to take up the ReSolu-
tons upon the table. This, however, Hill dodg
ed. upon suggestion that he would not yield
the floor; and smiling little at the though and
then putting a fiendish aspect upon his face a
if he would chew up spikes and single nails
or make hominy of such chaps as Webster and
Clay,-he began again to read and to read
He had not got further than the next sentence
before Ewing insisted upon the call to ORDER
that abuse Of his colleague was not relevant to
the mere taking up of the Resolutions. Poin-
dexter followed up the call, AID SO did Clay
when Van Buren, remarked tnu "hat Hill said
was not in order. Hill, however, mt on mad
der than ever,-when Ewing ins ed, that he
should stop, as the Vice President Ia / prouounc-
ed him ort Of order whereupon the chair re-
marked, -"the Senator from New Hampshire
will take his seat" This was sad rebuke for
poor Hill-from a political friend too!-and Will
he ever forgive the little magician for forcing
him to keep speech for another occasion,
which in the process Of keeping, | am sure will
corrupt and purify? Hill sat down-and no
painter could draw the grim image that sat up
on his face.