Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-03-12
Washington, March 4fh, 1895.

he twenty third Congress Is no more.
] was a witness, last night, Of The expir-
ing agoni,s, and heard the dying de-
clarailons. An the ruling passion, by
the way, was slill strong TO the end
When every thing was to be done, and
but an hour or two remained for the do
ing, it was yet talk, talk, talk. Was
there ever such a people Of specch-ma-
kers? However, the scene was mos,
extraordinary. | cannot conceive Of
any thing of greater interest, attached
or incidental to the process Of Legislation
in any country. The hurry Of business,
postponed and accumulated-the ankle
ty of private claimants, whose last chance
is now critcal-the feeling OF party, ex-
listed occasionally TO its utmost-and then
the feeling of separation after long and
intimate intercourse-a stimulated by
the presence and intense sympathy Of an
immense audience, from all quarters of
the Union,- --and from all the Nations,
perhaps, Of Chrisiendom! The crowd
last night was prodigious. 1t is n privi-
lege Of the evening session in the House,
that strangers are admitted on the floor.
They availed themselves Of it, with
vengeance. From tea-time to twelve,
the ladies' poured in, and pressed on, as
the Ostrogoths marched upon Rome, in
the days Of its decline! They filled up
the areas, like flood, at once. They
drove back the defeated delegates lite
rally from "pillar to post" till they even
gained upon the seats Of the members,
and occupied the outer rows; while the
galleries above were all round crammed
to such an extent, that the bonnets, and
feathers, and ribbnnds, and rosy cheeks,
seemed absolutely bursting out over the
rim, in full tloom, like bouquet from
wine Q lass. The noise at times was vc-
ry great, and the Speaker, in so much
excitement, found it hard to keep order,
though he acquitted himself well--very
we'll. Again, there was disgraceiul
confusion, and INSTRUMENTATION, which, |
am grieved to say, might have better be.
fitted a Hotientot Kraal, than a Hall of
Congress. The time-that is, to irelre: !:
was pretty well used up, 81 guess
The hands of the clock, cut all sorts of
capcrs. |, changed from hall past 1 1 to
half past 10, while l was blowing my
nose! Don't be alarmed. am not
mad. Whether there was magic in il,
you must judge,-but so it was, and it
happened simultaneously in the Senate,
and was repeated in both places after
wards. AT what time the adjournment
took place, is no concern of mine. 1t
was'ent twelve, however-by The ciock
1t would never have been so late as that,
if they had'ent been tagged out. They
were desperate at last; and though eve-
ry thing was left undone-I mean in the
House-they broke up in a confusion
which nothing could restore for mo-
ment finally but the farewell address of
Mr.. Bell, and that was truly very fine
The House gave him some lively rounds
of applause, and went their way; and
that was The end of that Congress.
The judiciary Bill was artfully suffo-
Gated with amendments in the last stage.
The Cumberland Road Bill, and the
monstrous Branch Mint Bill, with the
addition of fourth at New York, were
got through; and so were few others.
But sirty bills from the Senate, were ne.
elected. The Post Office was one; the
Deposite, and the Custom House, were
also lost. Nay, the Forfifcation appro-
priaiions are all LOST All by this mon
strous looseness-not to say more-of
the House. The Senate acted on all
their business promptly. They despatch
ed the appropriations some days since,
and added some important item of de-
fence, and returned the Bill. The House
left it ill ten last night, and then sent in
an amendment Of an appropriation of
THREE MILLIONS, left with the President
to be expended in national defence, at
his discretion! What could be done. -
Webster rallied the Senate, and they
disagreed, 90 to l9.--Whitc in the ma
jo,iiy. Ii was RENTED. The House
adhered, and sent it again. Webster
rose in his scat, and gave uiterance in IL
speech of about ten minutes, to such a
burst Of eloquence, as, according to all
accounts, Of friend and foe, never was
heard in the Senate before. 1t was cleo
trifying; but | cannot attempt TO describe
7 it, The vote was taken again--29 to
II, and the bill returned. The House
let it lay long time, and at length ap-
pointed a committee. The Senate met
them, and gave them 100000, with
proper specifications. The committee
returned, (Cambreleng, Chairman and
made no report at all, and so the country
( is left. have heard but one opinion of
this affair, from independent men of all
parties; but it is needless to say more
The thing speaks for itself. As to Web
stcr, no report can do hun justice. at
was magnificent" said one of his oppo-