The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-07
An Eloquent Picture of Douglas in
no1ha&o

The Washington correspondent of the Albany
Evening Journal, thus sketches the animated
scene in the Senate, when DOUGLAS made his
last speech against the Lecompton usurpation.
The correspondent is Henry b. Stanton of
Seneca Falls
Douglas, paler than usual, but W it'll firm step,
entered The Chamber few minutes before
seven. AS he emerged into the full light of
the blazing chandelier, the audience greeted
him with hearty ap,laus One of the most in
tcresting features of this spectacle was the pres
ence Of Mrs. DouGL AS herself: who. in the ful.
ncss of her beauty, and accompanied by sim
gle lady friend sat in the reporters gallery, over
the Nice-Presdent's chair, and divided with her
eminent husband the gaze of the brilliant throng
which filled the Chamber.
When the hammer fell, every available spot
within ear-shot, where human foot-sole could
End rest, was already occupied. Seward and
Gwin simultaneously moved that latiies-a
crush OF whom were standing without the doors
be admitted within the Chamber. Frieid
parliamentary rules melted away before the
gallantrv Of the Senators, and instantly stream
OF smiles and graces rolled in and flooded the
floor.
The Chair announced the question. San Act
for the admission of Kansas into the Union the
Senator from Illinois has the foo.''
lhe-hum of conversation and the rcstlessness
OF fati2ue died away, when DoUGLAs, in those
well-known TOMS wherein firmncss ard melody
strangely m ngle, p onounced the familiag " IDS
-"Mr. President and commence his srccch.
lie began b. giving rapid sketch Of the adop-
ton Of the Missouri Compromise line and lis
Subsequent connection therev ith-of he COM
promise measures Of 1859, and the passage of
tn" Kansas n ebraska act-ail this being merely
preliminary to dis ussion of the events that
cluster around and have followed, thu formation
OF the Lecompton constitution. On this latter
subject he expended his main force.
On account of his recent illness, it was antici-
pated that he would be mrie languid than usual
Bat, as he warmed with his theme, his irts
wellcd up from full fountains-his argument
was vigo Gus and massive-his sentences were
round and flll-his voice thrilled tn ough he
Chamber like magnetic fluid along the electric
wire. Long ere this you have read his SPEECH.
Therefore, need not take your space to say
that il anninlated the last semblance of proof
that this Lecomp on fraud is the act and deed of
the people of Kansas His winged words on
This point, and his glowing protest against fore
ing constitution upon an unwilling people,
as not only despite in itself, but violation of
state rights; and his warnings to Southern
Senators not to enter upon this road 70 ruin,
told with prodigious power u.on his auditory;
bringing frequent interruptions from Hammond,
of S. c., and Brown, of Miss coupled with
threat from Toombs, that he would answer the
Senator when he got ,hrough;' but these ir tia
ling cross-tirings only reused the "little giant
to higher pitch of eloquence. How he thun-
dered and lishtened for the space Of half an
hour the oligarchs quailing before the storm
like West India negroes in a hurricane.
Then he paid his respects first, to Lecompton
Calhoun, "who carries the destinies of State
in his breaches pocket" and second, 10 the
w ashington Union, which breads him Doug
las) out OF the democratic party three times
week How he withered Calhoun with his
wit, AID blasted him with his sarcasm, setting
the galleries in roar, and wringing smiles even
from the grim visage of Greene, Of Mo. And
how he rained down a whiting shower Of con-
tempt upon the official organ Of the administra-
ton. But all this was mildness compared with
the glittering storm of invective v hich he
poured out upon the administration itself-a
storm like that which scathed Egypt when "fire
mingling with the hail, ran along upon the
ground p AT this portion of his sreech. the
pressure upon Toombs, Benjamin, and Bigler,
was terrible. Poor Bigler writhed on his cush-
Toned seat, as if it were sheet of red hot iron.
Little Benjamin nervously eyed Douglas, as
does the bird when fascinated by the serpent
while the handsome face of Toombs glowed
with the most intense passion.