The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-02-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Il

found The Senate yesterday, engaged IN
debate OF a very spirited kind, upon the
reference of petition from the State Of
Maine, for the modification of The fugitive
slave act.
The Senators had received the inlorma-
ton of a negro riot in Boston, in which
negroes had forcibly rescued a man from
the custody of the Marshal, in open Court.
THIS was the reason for the departure by
the Senate from its usual course, as taken
a, this session, OF entire Indifference 10 the
presentation and disposition Of the hun
dreds of PETITIONS on this subject.
The Callaries and the privileged seals
were throngpd; for there are one or Two
Thousand visitors here, of recent arrival
mostly from the North. The petition had
been referred. sub silentio. Mr.. Archlson
moved reconsideration. The debate had
been commenced before entered ,be cham
Der. and found Mr. Pearce. OF Ey'and.
on the floor, and the vast az cham
ed BY his eIoqnence. -
Hale. Of New Hamp1
agitation. Hale's replyW0 -
STYLE of bold aud reckless decl nTon.-
Pearce's rejoinder was humorous and sar-
castle, and rich in illusions, historical and
poetical. He had in his first speech,
brought gu, in strong relief, the first aglla-
ton in the garden of Eden; and, in his re-
ionder. he managed with great art. SO to
use his adversaries points. as TO repr'se
him (Hae) as the devil himself.
The Senators were apprehensIve that
continued discussion would lead to some.
thing beyond mere contest OF wit, and
were DESTROYS of checking it. They in-
sisted upon the question. But, at The mos
men,, uprose a Senator, who always re =.
minds me Of volcano, with frosty head,
and fiery eye-Judge Butler. He is man
who can stir up the passions from their
very depths; bu, as debaler, while he is
armed at all points, and ready to attack, he
has generally chosen to act on the defensive
and to receive the shafts Of his opponents
upon his polished shield of good humor.-
When Butler rose on this occasion, caught
glance OF his eye, and | saw IN 1t, not
passion. hut humor. He had long ago, de-
lermnpd. as well he could. to keep cool.-
He said. addressing the Chair-T must dlf.
fer from the Senator from Maryland, as TO
the attributes Of the first agitator. lie was
not vociferous rhetorician. declaiming as
loudly as # he were calling 10 the ferrv>
man across the Styx; but he appeared IN
the form of serpent, gliding into the gar
den. approaching mother Eve. and softly
whispering in her ear, there is "HIGHER
law" The effect was magical. Every
one sprung up-laueh,er and applause rama
through the chamber and galleries. IL you
have heard Hale aud heard Seward, you
will see the aplness of this contrast In
the whole compass of parliamentary anec'
do,e, | will venture to say that there has
been nothing equal. in point OF wit and
humor, 10 this sally OF Mr.. Buffers.
10 the course of the discussion above re.
rerred to. was very clad TO hear Mr.. Rhe'l
call in question a remark from Mr.. Cooper,
of Penn. Until Pennsy vanla shall repeal
her laws obsrrnc'ing the execution of the
fugitive act Of 1898. her Senators have M
right 10 say, as Mr.. Copper did, that Penn.
sylvana will sanction the law Of 1867
This was Mr.. Rheu's point.
The House is not yet prepared 10 take
up the appropriation bills. Doubts are ex-
pressed whether all of them will gel
through. The Chancellor Of Exchequer.
| Mr.. Bailey. has told the House wha, no
one knew before. that the appropriations
70 m -,pJ. erceed in the aggregate the large
and astounding estimales.-Cor. Char.
COur.