Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-04-16
Ubt Nree presa'
THE DEBATERs N THE SENATE.
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL

THE DEBATERS IN THE SENATE.
We copy from the y. Y. Tr'bun' the fol-
lowing notice Of the principal speakers in the
T. :. Senate during the recent mcmora-
blc debate on the Lccompton Constitution.
1t will br observed that the Scnatorslron Yer
mont have honorable mention.
The great debate ON the I.ccomptpn Con
,ttutipn. which has Just closed in Congress,
is ono of the most marked and able in our
history The fate OF an administration, and
Of great party, and the peace of the country,
have been involved in its results. Millions
have eagerly watched its phases and the ap-
pcarincc of II single now champion in the
conflict has been flashed over the wires and
everywhere received with excited interest.
The d,hat" has been followed in the lower
iiuu- 10y Ga" iull'-, Not. eyer cast in that
body.
Tia, talout and feeling Of b,lh HOUSES have
been brought out To- a. extraordinary degree,
but it il in the Senate that we have seen the
fullest exhibition of power. We have pub
liShcd several of the speeches. and on these
our readers have already passed Judgment.
The effort of Mr.. Seward was marked by
great elaboration, displaying a vein of bold
moderation and lofty prcsciencc of coming
events, that have clicitcd an unusual degree
of attention from all sides. The frank auda
city, the sectional spirit and high Senatorial
bearing of Governor Hammond, of South
Carolina, have been hardly less noticed. The
sound augmentation and icictOus diction OF
the Ncstor Of the Senate, Mr.. Crittendon,
were never moro distinctly displayed or more
heartily appreciated Animating these was
that spirit of lofty patriotism and glow ot
generous sentiment for which the senator
from Kentucky is widely and sincerely hon
orcd Mr. Douglas never excr ed himself 60
powerfully, and never exhibited more Of that
vigorous grasp and close treatment of his
subject which characterize all his efforts, nor
ever displayed more resources both in assault
and defense. than on the various occasions in
which the discussion brought him to his feet
The Senator's from Maine have added much
to the power and the interest of the debate
the strong legal arguments of Mr.. Fcssendcn
and the warm and hearty sincerity Of Mr..
| Hamlm being both conspicuous and effective.
| Mr. Fessenden on more than one trying oc-
casion, was especially admirable. In his con-
test with jeff Davis, and in the dignifed
| and determined manner in which he led the
| Opposition during the memorable night ses-
sion, he displayed the courage OF fearless
man and the bearing Of a model Senator Mr..
Benjamin. of Louisiana, illustrated his ac-
knowledged legal ability in speech OF great
! ingenuity and research, delivered in periods
of harmonious language, with manner both
gentle and frvd, and in "A voice silvery as a
woman's. The Senators from Virginia never
| showed to more advantage. The argument Of
Mason was original and strikngly able and
compact Mr.. Hunter flowed forth in one of
hi, best Efforts marked by great moderation
of tone, all the strength Of argument his
case admitted and a great beauty of rhetoric
| New hampshire was represented in Il manner
Of which that State may be proud. Mr.. Hale
made very early in the debate. one OF his
most effective speeches. The light artillery
Of his wit did all its usual service, while the
solid columns of his logic We're singularly
successful in demolishing the opposing forces
against which he launched them. Mr., Hale
may he truly said to have torn down the ar
| gumcnt of the majority of the Supreme Court
in the bred Scott case, brick by brick, and
to have scattered the ruins. His colleague
distinguished himself in IA maiden speech
OF great length and unusual variety, over
turning the positions Of Mr.. Benjamin a. t,
the common law respecting Slavery, as thor
oughly us Mr.. Hale did the dicta of the
Court Vermont tup threw Il great weight
of metal into this contest. Mr.. Foot wa
clear energetic, and emphatic Mr.. Cola
mcr backed his mastery report by spccci
equally mastery, in which the qualities ,
both Judge and advocate were exhibited in :
combination a. striking a. it is unusual. h
clcarncss. in cogency, in logical directncS
and force. Mr.. Collancr'r efforts are not cx
ccllcd Massachusetts was represented by I
man of the people, sprung directly from hc
roil lie amply justified her choice in hi
thorough knowledge and and iurciblc state
mcnt ut the views she sent him to cXpoun
and Defend Little Rhode Island could no
have found better man to represent h"
conservative Frcc-Soil sentiment than Mr.
Simmons. Though not belonging cspeclall
t. the distinctive school that founded the II,
publican party, Mr.. Simmons is one OF II
sincere members. His speech though les
elaborate than one he has lately made upo
the financial state of the country, was mark
ed hv all that individuality of thought AN
expression, and all that keen mother vii
breadth of view, and unequvocal force {
mind that characterize all the utters. Mort
/ Carolina has neither Badger nor ManGul
ON the floor of the Senate, and her voice WI
- unhcard but IN "A faint echo of others thuI
der Connecticut had two young but earne
=, advocates Delaware spoke by the mouth
, a lawyer who never yet failed to oeXhibit abb
itv, or t. frd reason for any course he ha
/ determined TO follow. Maryland found br
n ono Of her Senators ready 10 speak for he
q and he not her ablcst representative.
is The most powerful debater on the Admi'
= istration side of the question, and the ma
who carried the argument most tiereely In
f the ranks of the opposition, was loombs
h Georgia Ills first speech was masterpiece
extcmppraneous discussion, curt IN statcmel
a broad in principle, distinct in view and Po,
~, criul i'm manner His last exhibited q
p pucl, and power Of strong man struGgln
:, under a load that was crushing him at eve
- step. vet rrsulutc to the last. Clay of Al
, balna and Brown of Mississippi each urg
- their view, with less of passion than l. usu
+ with thps" gentlemen, especially th' trm'
h, Mr.. CLAY i'd speaker OF unusual siren"
/. and Violence. lie displayed much oi
a h.>I and httl..r his worst Characteristic
. the pr,- nat occasion. W. should not uNt
il look the marked and significant cn'ri- ui {
ns two colleagues of thr two mo,t pomln'
+, Northern opponents of Lecpmptpn W"
II ludc To- Trumbul of Illinois ami Pro,
r., Kin. of New York Mr.. King l. J d
, , member, and contcntcd himself with 5
r., Gle exposition of hi, position and hls Nl"N
IN which lartprk ~uikugly of that st'a
nj manhood aud undermining r'ctiudr
,,' purpose that have di5uiliod hi- hou
me- able currcr Mr. rrumhull, WomIt, r''t'
a. and defiant never missed .u occasion
=, maintain hi side u' the argument. viii
N. power always t,lt, and often admird
~, successor ol Mr. Cas- also brought spt
sense intrepid rc,olui IA and Nnu.-W'~t
49,. energy. into effective pay m tli- debate,
i, most happily illustrated that practical az
.., ul American character which Show a, IiH
tl.lltlt ir.sli tp the ,.yipruti.- of tlp' u,