Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-25
anti 5InpGrp.
The Closing Debate in the Senate on the
THREE MILLION BILL.

The Senate galleries were literally crammed
A friend declared he had seen nothing equal tc
it since the nights at the Park when Fanny KEN
Bile held New York in captivity The new gas
burners kept the place in perfect blaze of light
and the ladies bore it all-the terrible CRUSHING
and trying illumination-with the unshrinkino
patience of martyrdom There was the prospect
Of strife, and the "dear creatures" are fond Of ex
citement Office beggars, "claimants," oilers
politicians, and that mscaed throng Of
Ever-stless lohers that attend,
No camp duty and no friend,
which meets you everywhere in Washington dur
ing the session of Congress, like the wind, in
scru table in its coming, and vanishing at the ut
terauce ofthe Speakers "Valedictory" as sud
denly as COLLINS at cock-crowing-had forced
and squeezed and intruded themselves into every
corner.
The loud buzz of excited conversation re-
sounded throughout the chamber. Speculation
was busily engaged in the effort to forshadow the
course OF certain Senators whose views had not
as yet been distinctly defined. The weIl-inform-
ed, however, were already pretty well assured
that the fate fthe "Wilmot Proyiso" was sealed.
But the hand on the dial was fast approaching
the hour of p, NJ, and, one by one, the Sena-
tors began to drop into their seats. Amongst
the first who entered was Mr. Calhoun He
strobe haughtily into the chamber, his face light
ed up with a smile full of meaning. Mr.. Cass
followed, He sunk into his chair, painting and
tanning himself with the last Presidents Message,
as if quite overcome with the gas-burners, lamps,
and human effiuyia, had become nigh iusupport-
able even to less plethoric habits than that of the
goodly-proportioned "ornament of the North
west" as the Senator was styled during the even
ing by one Of his colleagues Then came Mr.
Benton, with 'his martial cloak around him. and
Dixon II. Lewis, just risen from sick bed with
form undminished, but face of cadaycrous pale
ness, followed, evidently to the surprise of the
galleries, which greeted his entrance in the bus
Ting manner Of crowds when struck by some
thing which they had not exactly expected
The debate was resumed by Mr.. Pearce, of
Maryland. He entered on an elaborate histori-
cal review ofthe Spanish and French titles to
the province of Texas, in order to controvert
certain positions assumed by Mr.. Soule. The dis
sertaton would have been capital magazine ar
ticle, but was as much in place as a review of
Herman Melvile's veritable account of Types
would have been
Mr.. Dix followed in what purported to be a
vindication of the policy and resolutions of the
Empire State, with regard to future acquisitions
of territory. There was great deal to admire
in this speech, The sentiments were entirely
unexceptionable. But the effort wanted force
vigor, boldness. There was throughout shrink
ing tmidty, which, however graceful in "the
sex" was not at all to cur taste in man stand
ing up at an important crisis to enforce great
truths. There is great difference between the
violence and clamor which are to be deprecated
and avoided, and the stern vigor which such an
occasion justifcs and demands, Still, thcspeech
of Mr. Dix was creditable, 1t is because we so
heartily approve its sentiments, that we wished to
see them put in a more masculine spirit
A brief cclloquy then took place between Sen
ators Corwin and John NJ Clayton, touching the
application of the latter, in the forenoon of the
day, ofthe not very complimentary title of Mrs
Caude" to his friend from Ohio; but it ended as
such things usually do Then up rose Gen
Houston, with new jet black fashionable wig
the Sir Harcourt Courtly of the Senate-and in
tone ofludicrous solemnity announced that he
had to seek personal explanation from the Sen
ator form Maryland, (Mr Pearce) The gale
ries were in an ecstacy. All wondered what was
coming, for the Hero of San Jacncto looked aw-
fully threatening 81 desire to know, Mr.. Pres-
dent" said the warrior statesman, "whether the
Senator meant us when he spoke of outside bar
baransl" An explosion Of laughter followed.
ooh! by no means!" said Mr.. Pearce, 81 meant
the Mexicans of counsel" "Tm satisfied" ex-
claimed the Texan General, looking around with
an air triumph, and resuming his seat, amid the
smiles and Jokes of the galleries.
In the mean time, Mr.. Calhoun had stepped to
the desk of his colleague, Mr.. Butler, and whis-
pered word in his ear Mr.. Butler started to
his feet, and turning around, pointed to MIR. Dix,
"Ah!" he exclaimed, eve know what is coming!
Yesl he has advertised us of it, He has spoken
the prologue! 1t is coming-the Wilmot provi-
sol" And the Senator went on in a most furl-
Gus philippe, addressing himself directly to the
Senator from New York whom he charged with
outraging the Constitution. 1t was amusing to
study the galleries during the outbreak. Not a
trace ofpassion anywhere The ladies smiled,
and the gentlemen joIed twas the most harm
less effervescence in the world! On the floor,
the temperature was equally moderate. The pa
ges had Just brought in the evening mail; and,
whilst South Carolina stormed, and ragged, and
Numbered, in the person of Mr. Butler, Senators
from the North, South, East, and West, eagerly
sought in eagles, "Mercuries," Banners Of
Freedom" and "Tocsns of Liberty" for the
latest puff of editorial favor, or "aid the hatterng
JUNCTION to their souls of having earned the last
ing love of grateful office-beggars!
Mr.. Colquit followed his Southern colleague
but in terms of subdued tenderness! He confd
ed in the patriotism and virtue of the dear, gen
erous, undetermined, magnanimous North! He
had no fears the result
Then followed one of the manifest speeches o
the evening. Mr. Dayton replied to Mr.. Butler
harrangue with marked ability. He showed tina
the trainers of the Constitution regarded SLAYER.
as an "accursed thing" and he rebuked witt
great good feeling the violence of the Senate
from South Carolina.
Mr.. Cass rose, with voluminous manuscript
before him, AT great length he recited his "rea
sons" for voting against the proviso. Ii was a
i abstraction" But we will take another oppol
tunity of examining, in detail, the Senator'S pair
p fully elaborated effort He sat down with tn
: most selfsatisfed air imaginable; and was e'