Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-03-24
The last Scene in the Senate Chamber
Of the UHited States on the feBraska

VI tuw UhttCu DtdtC& Om tMO y W33Aa
Bill.r n fe n itoiN seadtre
Fromths Correspondence Of the N. " Tribuns.
WAsHrSoroS, s. turday, March 4. '5 t.s.aA
As entered the Senate Chamber about
10 o'clock asI night, found the new Senator
from Maine, Mr.. Fessenden, making most,
gallant onslaught upon the Nebraska conspir.
stors. II was a 81 ee:h that they will 70.
membe.-manly, caustic and defiant II vas
glorious TO see the little band Of faithful men
in the Senate made larger and stronger BY
tuei an addition. and deeply sensible, know.
are his compeers Of the strength and encouf-
agement thus brought TO their ranks An
around him were the Bullying, braggart ma
lorily, fl ed with anticip victory, and
some OF them am mortified TO say, beastly
druak. He nevertheless with undaunteds
cour ,ge held them all at bay. Twice Senator
Butler Of South Carolina advanced toward
the Senator from Maine with clenched fists
and flushed face, as il TO commit personal;
assault, but this only brought forth renewed
and redoubled blows Of eloqueuce and logic
from the new Senator. He told tie South,
what they should have teen told in 1850, that
It they desire to leave the Union, they need
not delay their departure an hour on occount
Uf the Nortl They have frightened us one
too many tines with that bugaboo, to succeed
this time. Weller, too, attempted TO reply 60
some Of the home lhrusts Of Senator Fessen-
len. His usual bombastic fourth-of-July style
IF oratory was heightened probably by too fire.
quent visits to one Of the ante-chambers Of the
Senate room. Even Douglas could not endure
the oloquence of the California Senator, and
at last compelled him to give way and yield
I ha ooA 10,
about midnight and spoke ,ll nearly three in
the morning. The reports Of his speech which
will reach you will convey but faint idea Of
its violence and vulgarity. II was made up
of personal attacks, mainly, which gave il all
the piquancy it possessed. Only tLose who
know Douglas, or those who heard him, can
be aware Of his low "Shorl Boy" style OF
speaking. His sreering lone and Aulgar
grimaces must be heard and seen rather than
described. To Senator Seward he said in
return TO a courteous explanation, "Ah, you
can't crawl behind that free nigger dodge"
| He always uses the word "nigger" and not
"negro." as it appears in his printed speeches.
! To Senator Weller he said, in Bowery style.
"Sit down, this is my fight, don't mix in.''
! His whole harangue abounded with such
specimens and with frequent colloquies with
different Senator's sa
Among the Senators who were particularly
eleVoted, were Messrs Butler and Gwin. When
Douglas arose to speak, Mr.. Butler went to
him and put his arm around his neck, and
said: "Ah, don't speak, Douglas tonight, it
is too late, you can't do justice to Yourself"
His Cd d-ns and by G--ds were heard
quite distinctly in the gallery, amid his loud
conversation.
Gwin insisted upon Wellers going on with
his speech, against the entreaties and remon-
strances of Douglas. exclaiming: "My col
league shall spetk don't care if the debate
lasts thousand years." "1here's I" Seward"
said Gwin, ct another time, shes got the
worst principles of any man in the Senate,
but he is the best friend to California know"
at the same time slapping Seward on the
back.
Sam Houston, true Temperance man,
believe, excited some merriment by having
cups of tea brought TO him while he was
speaking. The laughter among the ladies'
was caused. believe, by his manner of pour
ing the tea from the cup into the saucer, and
by his seizing the opportunity of occasional
Interruptions 10 his speech, to quietly enjoy
his beverage. He made an eloquent speech,
widely in contrast with that of Douglas.
The last lady left the galleries about o.
clock in the morning, at which time the male
portion of the audience, also, had become
somewhat thin. The Senators were provided
with eatables and drinkables in one of the
adjoining rooms of the Senate Chamber,
which they frequently visited believe
such scene as was enacted in the Senate
last night is almost unprecedented, and every
person who has the least respect for his coun-
try, will pray that such scenes may never
occur again. The horrible death Of Gardiner.
the midnight orgies of the Senate, and the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise on the
part of that body, will altogether GIL dark
page in our history. w.