Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-05-10
From tho Baltimore Patriot.

HE ExPUNGING scENE.--We sub.
join an extract from the speech of Mr..
Wise at Norfolk. 1t is his descrip.
ton of the memorable scene that took
place in the Senate Chamber on the
night Of the 10th Of January last
when band Of traitors violated and
trampled in the dust the sacred consti-
tuition they were sworn to protect and
defend.
Last winter, sir; the deed was actu.
ally done. The scene of the 10th OF
January, 1887, in tho Senate of the u.
States, never has been and never will
be described as it was. That day the
Senate fell trampled under the feet of a
tyrant's slaves. About or 5 o'clock
p, M. the House of Representatives
adjourned. The members generally,
all ofthe mess to which | belonged,
FASTENED to their dinners as usual.
Judge White (of Tennessee, was of my
mess and we waited dinner for him
we waited until it was concluded the
Senate would sit until the night; and
sit ever so late, it was known by all
who knew him that he never left his
seat until the Senate itself adjourned.
When had finished my meal look
ed out towards The Capitol and saw the
Senate flag still flying. "What can de-
tain them so % was the question and,
"they are upon the expunging resolu-
lion," was the reply. Is it possible
that they treat the farce so seriously as
to burn candle over it Yes, indeed,
this night Benton is determined to play
the play out. Then | determined to
see the play out. No play did | find
it-no farce in fact; it was a solemn,
affecting tragedy; it was the obsequles
of a record, oftruth, ofthe constitution,
of the Senate, | went up to the Senate
chamber, the candles were lighted
the light of day was not the light to
shine upon the Internal orgies, of era
sing a truth from a record which men
were sworn "to keep. When | en-.
tered the room where once a Senate
sat, heard. -ifthere be any true hear
ted North Carolinian present beg his
pardon-l heard a Strange voice from
the Land of Sleep. 1t came upon my
ear in feeble, broken tones incoherent.
y, as from man muttering he knew
lot what, in a dream, as il he were rid
len by the hight mare. After this fee
Die voice had ceased, the strong and
manly voice of a man always wide a.
mind Of a man who might
DC presented to The world as a speci-
men of America 'ssons-strong in frame
wrought into labour's mould-a labori.
us man, always practical-a son of
'irgina, Senator Of Ohio scion of
he West, man truly of the people |
Who has done more honor to them than
hey can do for him; he has vindica-
ed his origin and their character.-
Thomas Ewing spake, as a man
hould; every argument or pretence of
rgument TO shame for doing a shame
al deed.
When he had concluded, Daniel |
Webster rose and read for himself, and |
is colleague, and the State Of Massa.
husetts, solemn protest, which for
implicitly and beauty of style, for con-
entration and strength and clearness
f argument, for tone and temper, for
gnjty of thought and expression, and
or elevation of moral feeling, is un.
| venture to say, by any
tate paper ofany time or any occasion.
Whilst reading this paper there was
lot whisper: silence seemed to ap.
rove every word every sentiment,
Ieep and even painful attention SEEM
ID to promise that Il conviction was
in the minds of many, and all
eemed as if just arrested in the act Of
some hortid deed, unin-
from which their minds see.
ned for a moment to revolt. Hope
rose up within me-that is the word,
that is the speech, that is the paper,
nothing more, nothing less than what |
prayed for then. any thing could
have touched the minds and hearts of
such men, the protest of Daniel Web.
ster and John Davis, of Massachusetts,
would have wrought upon them. New
err, never, shall | forge, the manner in
which he uttered the word" we have
collected ourselves to witness the
scene" He spake triumphantly OF
Massachusetts-she stood erect-she
had not bowed the knee or the neck
her sol! was mired with the best blood
of the revolution. was losing my.
self. | wildly looked to the seats OF
Virginia Senators-Where was Leigh,
where was Tyler ?-I could have shire.
ked for them-the genius of Virginia
did agonize. No Leigh, no Tyler was
there-they were already dragged out
from those seats; snatched from the