The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-08-28
A NIGHT AT THE CONVENTION.

tion, recently held in this city, as he might
think calculated to interest the general read.
err regrets that circumstances over which he
had no control" prevented a constant attend.
ance. on his part, at the sittngs of that high
ly respectable body Besides, he understood
that they had, at the outset, a regular set to
about admitting reporters" on the floor Of
the house, and as your correspondent had not
been honored by those "in authority over
him" with an appointment as q delegate. he,
in his exceeding modesty, would have been
shy in presenting himself at the door, even
had the circumstances" already alluded to
not had an existence.
| But one night learning there was to be an
evening session, l determined to step round
and see what chance there might be to pick up
an item or two To my surprise no obstacle
presented itself to my entrance. I passed
the door-keeper (whose vigilance, too. is pro-
verbiaD without word, amongst some other
outsiders. l have before remarked that this
was "very respectable body" and the scene
that displayed itself to my admiring eyes, as
|
elegant room where the sittings were held
1.-THE lst Presbyterian Church. was well cal
culated to produce such nm impression. True,
to one who had never witnessed a session of
that intensely decorous and orderly body, the
House OF Representatives al Washington,
there might have seemed to be prevalent a
very slight degree Of ''noise and confusion,"
but this was only in appearance, for there
cannot be doubt thst each and every one Of
the forty or fifty members then struggling for
the floor felt himself charged to the very
hrim with ideas Of infinite Importance, and
fully appreciated the weighty and awful re.
sponsiblity resting upon him.
just as your reporter wa. taking his seat,
the President (beng skeleton) rose and
with a loud rap of his hammer, recognized
"the gentleman from North Carolina" who
proceeded to make an explanation, every
word OF which was, doubtless, distinctly
audible to the vast concourse, and was like.
wise perfectly satisfactory. 1t appeared to
me that vote was then ordered, though from
my remote position from the Chair, | could
not well make out what il had reference to-.
At all events, Virginia was called for by
Congressional districts, and straightway a
contest arose as to who should give the vote.
Amidst this apparen. confusion, member
from Tennessee vociferously demanded per
mission TO light cigar but the Chair, in.
stead of according the same, put an extn
| puisher IN tha pnapnhar which oJJoJ
to the satisfaction and hilarity of the Con
vention. Finally, by the almost superhuman
exertions of the President, the vote of Vir.
ginia was anrounced-l to l. The result
was received with great applause. One Vir.
ginian perhaps the minority man, begged to
say that he Inexperienced the question; but
he was seated, incontinently and drew back
on his dignity in perfect disgust.
There next arose debate about the cline
of steamers" Norfolk was warmly advo.
Gated as the pint to start from-an "Old Rip"
"reckoned" that Wilmington was the place
portly South Carolinian must be permitted
to say that the suggestion Of any other port
than Charleston, in this connection, was per.
fectlv absurd-whereas, a wiry, shire look.
ing young man from the region of the "long.
leaf pine in the lower part of Georgia."
rather thought Savannah was "some pump.
kins" For my part, was grieved, mortified
beyond measure. to hear no claim put in on
behalf Of Knoxville-destined as it is to be
come the "Great Central City of America"
But was informed by delegate that this
was "out of respect to our guests" and after
snch an explanation, could not do other.
wise than curb my Indignation and keep on
my-suspenders ]"
A series of motions to adjourn now began
These produced some excitement, as many
members had not let off their blasts A
Judge from Alabama or Georgia made some
But soon arose the camor again, "adjourn
adjourn" Mr.. Page, in some very appropri-
ate and sensible remarks recommended the
propriety Of adjourning until to morrow but
his motion was negatived by large majority.
Whereupon, facetious neighbor good .humor-
eddy remarked that page would have to turn
over a new leafl'
Then it was that choleric old gentleman,
hailing from "Rackensack," rose up on his
pins, and so far as | could gather, pitched
into everything and everybody. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY his opinion that there's something
rotten in Denmark" In the midst of this
fiery DISCOURSE the Lion of the Convention
succeeded in bringing members to a some
what bosterous vote on a motion, submit ted
by him, to adjourn instantly, "until to-mor-
row morning at Q o'clock" The President
Cooking as if utterly tagged out-weary and
worn, and bored generalIy-consequently
more and more skeletou,) put the question,
aud it was carried enthusastically--l would
say unanimously, but that when made my
escape my testy old friend from Rackensack
was seemingly protesting, with furious ges-
ticulations, against this summary method Of
putting a man down. For aught know, he
may be Eliminating to this day; if he is.
! must say honor his spunk.
The Convention adjourned on Thursday
.evenng, 18th inst, to meet, formally, at
Montgomery. Ala, on the second Monday in
May next, but, Informally. they assembled
again that evening at the Deaf and Dumb
Asylum, where there had been prepared for
them magnificent supper. The building
was, for the first time, brilliantly illuminated
with gas, and presented an appearance
worthy of the State. For getting the gas in
troduced into the house, at such short notice.
| think Mr. ,RRAy the filter and tha neonla