Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-07-02

it WIS an imposing spectacle. The circular
lobby outside the bar (aHd into which none
are admitted but privileged persons whose right
Is specified by law )as well as the logia, or open
area behind the columns Of Tie rear Of the
! Speaker seat were filed with members of the
Senate, EX-goyernors of States, military and
nava! officers, Chose only, however, who had
| received votes of thanks by Congress for meri-
torIous sersice) foreign ministers and their Alta
ches, Judges of the Supreme Court~-in a word, ,
with all whose envied distinction it was to pass
the vigant scrutiny Of the doorkeepers, now
doubly yigiIant, and all upon the quiriue. A
restless movement of the members within the
bar, and a general murmur like the alarmed
hum of bees when their hives are disturbed,
gave token of the state of feverish anxiety which
prevailed throughout the body. Could any re-
vealing spirit have opened to human view the
hopes, the fears, the boiling passions, which
tumultuated within those fierce bosoms, how
would the painful interests of the scene have
been yet further heightened in intensity?
At length the Speakers hammer fell. A
dead silence instantly prevailed, and the respec-
tive delegations assembled and took seats
around the table prepared for them.
1t was my privilege, from an elevated position
on the right of the chair, to enjoy full view
of all the groups; and have preserved rude
and hasty sketch which caught of their posi-
delegation appointed one of ther number to act
as Chairman, collect their votes, and report the
result The delegations voted by pluralities-
Whoever in each, received the most votes, was
reported as the choice of that delegation.--
There were twenty>four of the groups; and
when the votes had been gathered in each, they
were called upon to report, which they did in
succession, rira roce, commencing with Maine.
The silence was like that ofa sepulchre. Mems
breath was suspended as State after State
uttered its vioce; and oh, can ever forget the
moment when the Speaker, standing up in his
place, declared in a clear, sonorous voice, that
seemed to pierce through bone and marrow,
that John Quincy Adams, having received a
majority of the votes cast, was duly elected
President of the United States for four years
from the 4th of March next ensuing"
Then arose such a shout from the galleries
as seemed to lift the very dome Of the hail.
Mr. McDufie, (whose candidate had been de-
feated, whose eager hopes were blasted, and
whose personal pledge for the good order of
the assembly was remembered by all, (sprang
in much excitement from the ground, and in
voice that rang above all the tumutuous plau-
dts of spectators, cried, "Mr Speaker! move
that the gallery be cleared" The question
was put and carried. "Yes," said foreign
minister to another who stood by his side, ''but
how are you going to do it!" A natural ques-
ton enough for European, ignorant of the
country and the people. Here were no guards;
no gems d'armes; not even a constable; how
was the order to be executed!
He soon saw, and while he gazed, seemed
penetrated with speechless wonder. No soon
er had the Speaker given the order, "The
Arms will clear the galleries."
than an active, slender young man, of graceful
form, and with brilliant black eye, darted from
his place, and mounting, q did not see how,)
the broad stone cornice which runs all round
the hall in front of, and below the breast work
Of the galleries, motioned with his arm to the
dark, dense, and almost suffocated mass of
human beings before him, exc amng, "Gentle-
men, the Speaker orders the galleries to be
cleared: you must retire--clear the galleries"
And at his word, like flock of quiet, passive
sheep, when the gate of their pen is thrown
open, out went the entire crowd, without
word Of complaint or remonstrance, and in an
Incredibly short time not a soul wasleft behind.
The foreign minister lifted up his hands in
and exclaimed, "What govern
nent! What a people!'