The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-03-09
WASHINGTON, Feb "a,

portrays the scene:
WASHINGTON, Feb "a,
The debate in the Senate, which lasted
till pas; midnight, was the most animated
ofthe session. The galleries were crowd
ed; the House suspended proceedings, and
the uienbers crowded in to witness the
Intellectual tournay. Soon as the news
spread over the city that the ball had
been opened on the motion of Mr.. Hale
to strike out the appropriation for taking
the census of the Territory of Kansas, on
the ground that to demand such census
was new discrimination against them,
the strangers in Washington crowded the
passages leading to the Senate, seeking
admission in vain to the overcrowded
galleries. AS usual, the ladies were
present in brilliant array. Night having
closed over the scene, the officials from
the departments were on the spot in num-
bers. The Capitol echoed to the foot
steps of the thousands who were attract
ed to the scene, and when the Senate ad-
journed the crowd was still great. A
mong other distinguished visitors, I no.
ticed the foreign ministers and several
leading applicants for diplomatic posi-
tions. The bearing of Judge Douglas
was admirable. He was in capital trim,
and debated with irresistible force and
readiness. His chief opponent was Gen.
Davis, who was unusually courteous to
the Little Giant.
You will perceive, in reading over the
debate yesterday, that in the face of the
Senate, with all the representatives oi
Southern and Northern extreme opinions
around him, Senator Douglas reasserted
= the great truth, that to the people of the
Territories was committed the entire
question of slavery, belonging. as it Ger.
tainly does, to the class of domestic insti
tutions. So explicit, so direct, and sc
unequivocal was he in the enunciation oi
his purpose and convictions on this ques
tion, that all doubts which may have beer
entertained in regard to him, have pass
ed away forever. Those who have
charged him with double-dealing on this
subject are dumb to-day, and that glo
TlOuS Oouu VI mCn, "Ho up W GuiS liut
have stood steadily by his standard, fee
that their leader has triumphantly viIdi
Gated himself and that they can honora
bly, face their constituents, friends, ant
Q foes, I noticed during the splendid intel
9 lectual conflict between him and Jeffer
son Davis, many Republican members o
: the House and many leading Republican
. from different States, watching the cours
e of the debate. However they might hav
differed from him, no one could have fail
II ed to sward to him the tribute of bein,
0 sincere and conscientious, and logicall
II right in all the grounds he assumed
IS Our unfortunate Bigler, as usual, intrud
+ ed himself into the debate, and, as usua
u came out of it utterly contemplate. /
y universal litter pervaded the Senate whe
he put himself within reach of the "Littl
J. Giant" and when the latter frst extiu
/ guished him and then passed on to tn
e general question, Mr.. Senator Gwin, in
d Aated with the late mandate from tn
J. California Legislature, instructing Sena
h tor Broderick to resign, because the off
IS cials of that patronage-ridden State ha
10 been enabled to procure verdict intru