The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-16
THE sCENEIN THE SENATE.

We cannot adequately describe the excitement
winch has prevailed for the as three days in this
CITY. The Senate chamber has been the great
centre ct attraction. and the denouement of the
drama has been exhibited in the vote of this
evening, which expels the editors Of the Union
from their privileged seals. All the democratic
senators have voted sgainst the Infamous 10 OF
tion. except those whose names inserted be-
law They have united with the federal party
IN The Senate in the miserable, frivolous attempt
'n attach moral degradation npun the character
ct the editors of this paper. The bond is sealed
the coalition complete. between these four men
and the regularly organized opposition To the
present administration and the great democratic
party at the Union. In vain has this admnis,r,-
lion Struggled. and succeeded in carrying out the
great and fundamental principles of the demo
ctacy. II has done more towards reforming the
abuses "i the government. and putting The ship
np"n the republican, tack - than any other Presi-
dent, who has had the power to perfect these re-
forms, since the days of Thomas Jefferson We
boldly and feariessly pronounce the fact in the
face OF The world. In vain have we s,riven our
utmost for nearly the two last years. and devoted
every energy 0f mind and body, in Gu operatno
with nur friends of the administration in achiev-
ing these important purposes And now because
the leader Of little clique. processing To belong
TO The Democratic party, has become soured and
dissatisfied. he and they have united with the
federalists TO strike u.s. and through u.s. to strike
at The administration; and 10 effect that object
they have rushed on To- strike down the liberty of
the press. consecrated il is by all the strongest
principles ut the democracy, and embalmed in the
memory of every republican by the protests of
Jefferson and Of Madison against the prosecution
OF WIN. Duane. and still more rema rkably,
against The prosecuting spirit of the seditinn law
OF old black -c0ckade federalism.
Tell MS not that it was this particular commu.
nicaiion Of" VindicaI0r' which has invoked their
vengeance upon our devoted head. indicator
might have spoken in more cOurtv phrase hit
he spoke with honest zeal for the honor of his
country, jeopardized as he believed il tn be- by the
opposition in the Senate. Consisting of the federal
party and the small balance party of that BODY. }
. indicator" might have employed more courtly
and polished phrase-but he virtually spoke the
truth as t" the consequences of their act. He be-
lleved the defeat of the ten regiment bill was cal.
cnlated 10 weaken the supplies of the nation in the
war against Mexico and therefnre he spoke of it
as JHericGn uicfory; and for speaking the
truth as To the virtual consequences of the vote,
he denounced that vote, and gave the pretext to
Inc enemies ot the Mexican war Ia strlke at us
to strike AT the adminislration-and, by so doing,
10 strike down the liberty of the press
The federal press persecutes the Presiden, with
out any moderation 1t abuses him in the most vim.
lent manner. 1t heaps charge upon charge like Pc
lion npon Ossa. upon his devoted head There ia
no punishment for them. They are free from all
responsibility. And yet the senators must punish
every Tree press which publishes any comnunica
ton crl'icIzing their What gives them
a higher claim than the President of The United
States?
we defy them all. and appeal from ambitious
leaders and their supple followers To the people
themselves. They will not desert the cause =
What becomes of us is nfttle account We are
but atoms IN a powerful community of twenty
r
millions OF people We invoke commissera-
lion upon ourselves. We defy any coalition be
tween the federal party and the mnngrel party of
the Senate to degrade us. to injnre the admin
istralon. or To STAB the great constitutional prin
cpP of a free press and free discussion For one,
we repeat. we nail our flag To The mast, and under
that glorious flag we are prepared to stand or to
fall.
The strong and indignant sentiment of the de
fnorfatlc party flowed in uppn us this evening
we have not time to dllate upon the suh5pci but
we conieni ourselves with laying before our read
ers. as specimen of the rising spirit Of the party
the following extract of a note addressed 10 us by
one ot the ables and most distinguished repubIi
cans Of this city:
- cannot withhold my word Of appreciation
and encouragement in your controversy with The
Senate. In the first place You did no more than
your duty, in letting that body know that il was
anena0le, through the press. 10 the people for its
O'""""'' "" "N'l Ie'nPmOpT i ADVISED You To
this some weeks ago, and suggested to You that,
at the head OF strong democratic journal Of this
country. you welded greater power than any
member or clique upon that flour PERHAPS II
was more prudent for you to wait unt public
opinion, ia regard to the course of Congress. had
more fully developed itself in the conn,ry. That
time has now certainly arrived and was re.
joiced to see the spirit Of the people reflected in
the columns Of the Union And the attempt To
muzze you will be regarded everywhere as an
attempt Ip sle the free voice If the press So
far, you have noby INDICATED IL. YUnr articles
have been lofty. dgnlfed, and patrptic--jnst
such as the and The occasion demanded
And you viii be sustained by the people. You
will not only triumph in this controversy with
the senate, hut the inexperienced gentlemen who
have permitted themselves to be used as the in
siTnments Of others. will have To endure The
modification Of gnominous delea in public
opinion"
We have time only. al this late honr in the
night. tU sObjoin = few more remarks which grew
out Of the scenes Uf this memorable day We
inform the country, then, that at late hour this
afternoon. the Senate of the United States perpe.
trated gross outrage upon the liberty Of the press
by the adoption Of the following resolution
"Resoirtd That the editors Of the Union--a news.
paper polished in the city Of sbington-hayipR
In publication contained in uumber Of that pa
pr dated the 9th of February; Issued and uttered
public libel upon the character of that body, they
be excluded from the privileges of admission to the
floor Of the Senate"
IT is our purpose, without delay, to express at