The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-04-07
Correspondence of the Charleston
Mercury.
WAsnINGroN, March %, 1856

The Senate met yesterday morning at
10 o'clock, and continued the scene Of
most intense excitement until near mid
night 1t WAS expected the vote would
be taken on admission Of Kansas, and it
was understood also, that Douglas would
address the Senate.
Bv eight o'clock in the morning the
ladies gallery was nearly full, and by ten
O'Clock every possible space 10 the gale
res, corridors, and stair cases, was pack
ed with human beings. Stuart, Of Mich
igan, had the floor, and made an argu-
ment full Of special pleadings against
Pugh's amendment. He is very un-
prepossessing man, with a mean, repul-
siVe countensnce, which, with his harrow
llllberal feelings, more BELTS him for pet
" constable than a Senator. lie was
followed by Mr.. Bayatd, Of Delaware,
one Of, if not the most able, jurist in the
Senate, 10 powerful argument, which
completely annihilated the Michigan Sen
ator. During the debate Mr.. Douglas
appeared and took his seat Mr.. Rhod-
erick, Of California, next took the floor,
and devoted himself to abored reply to
Mr.. Hammond, Of South Carolina, when,
It, being p. m, the Senate took recess
until o'clock.
AS soon as the galleries were cleared,
the immense crowd that had been wait
ing outside, now rushed in, and re.
snendous compression Of hoops, and Grim
ohne, squeezing, pushing and clowding,
took place, amid all SORTS Of ejscula,ions
from the fair as well rs the rougher sex.
The reporters gallery was also taken
possession Of, in which sat, conspicuously
the beautiful Mrs. Douglas and her moth
er, while every niche and recess 10 the
windows was filled up. The anti room
and vestibule Of the Senate was also
denscly filled with the ladies Of Senators
and their friends. On the re.assembling
Of the Seuate, DR. Gwin, Of CAL, moved
to admit the ladies to the aoor, which mo-
ton bad failed in the morning, but was
now carried, when perfect stream Of la
dies pourd into the Senate, filling eveny
possible space. A large portion Of the
members of the House was also present,
filling up .he aisles. The eoupd all was
really bewildering and thrilling. The
President Of the Senate having announ.
ced the subject still under consideration,
the Clerk read the title of the bill, when
Mr.. Douglas rose from his sea-, land plead
ing debility from his late illness, proceed
ed 10 defend himself and his position
To 10 him justice, he made many good
hits, and his fervor, once or twice, brought
down the applause from the galleries.
He plaiuly showed how deeply and Bit
terly he felt his position, and the attacks
that had been made upon him. At one
time, he was bold and defiant; but to
wards tie close, his manner was suppl
ant and a great leader Of the Democratic
party cut off and isolated from the broth.
erhood, separate from those friendships
Of political ties which once made him 80
popular in the South.
On bis concluding, Mr.. Toombs rose to
reply, and, in a withering, crushing speech
came down with such force on the posi-
tons assumed by Mr.. Douglas and his
defence, that the "little giant seemed
perfectly overcome. He refused to an.
swer the questions propounded by Mr..
Toumbs, and effected to treat his interro-
gator With scorn and contempt. 1t would
not do, however. and when Mr.. Douglas
put on bis overcoat 10 retire, Mr.. Tombs
asked him to remain, as he intended TO
contradict bis every position. Mr.. Tombs
said the Illinois Senator had voted for
cramming down the throats Of the peo
pie a free 81 t,te Constitution, against :heir
will, on former occasion but now hat
there vas nigger in the question, he
(Douglas) felt, for the first time, that il
choked theml Mr.. Toombs was uurelen.
ting in his charges Of hypocrisy, and
when he finished, it was felt that Doug
las was demolished, and he excited gen
eral feeling Of pity.
Tho great feature in the House Of yes
erday was the speech Of Mr.. Bishop, Of
Conn, in favor Of Lecompton. II was
bold, fearless, manly exposition, sustain.
ing the South, and calling upon her to
support Northern Democracy Of the true
school. It was the speech Of the season
aud brough: down frequent applause from
the galleries.
la the Senate to-day, Mr.. Green, Of
Missouri, made his master effort. lie
has taken position among our first states
men. He combated successfully every
argument that had been made agains,
the bill, and nobly vindicated the course
Of the President. At half past FIVE o'clock
the vote was taken on the passage Of the
bill, which resulted in yeas 33, nays 25
Mr.. Sumner, Of Massachusetts,, for the
second time this session, appeared to day
in his seat, to vote against Lecomp,on. =
This masterdon Of hypocrisy, cowardie,
and infamy, as he passed out Of the Sen
ate to the kotuuda, with hia hang do,
look, excited the redicule and contemp
| of tha spectators "A thew Looked nnon n;