New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-19
FROM WASHING TON.
A JOLLY TIME IN THE SENATE.

From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb II, 1859.
The Cuba debate went on yesterday in speech
of Senator Thompson of Kentucky against Slidell's
corruption project. The speech was very able, full
Senate was full and the galleries crowded. The
entire audience were often convulsed with laughter,
and the VicePresdent st last grew too weak to rap
any but the most gentle admonitions. Indeed, it
was about the only occasion / ever wtnessedin the
Senate in which the attempt to preserve order was
abandoned. The fun got TO be so universal and up
roarious that it was idle TO attempt to stop it.
Although Senator ThOmpsOn's name is not one
of the popular celebrities of Congress, he is no
new man, but has been in one branch or the other,
" of and on" as be himself expressed it to-day,
for twenty years. He is not rising man nor a
growing man, for he described himself IN DEBATE
the other day Is political corpse lnmedialeiy
adding by way of relief to bis sympathlzag friends
that be saw several gentlemen around MN III
equally bad health" Mr.. Thompson is an old
Wing and Just now belongs to no existing political
organization. One of his most enthusiastic mo-
ments to-day was, where he alluded to Henry Gay
az Cpur de Lion, and himself as one of his Field
Marshals.
What Mr. Thompson said, shall not undertake
TO recall or TO repeat, even in brlef. 10 measure
its effect, the matter of the speech is not alone
sufficient, even if presented in the full verbatim
report of The Globe. To give true idea OF II,
needs the time, the audience, the circumstances,
the appearance of the speaker. with bis apparently
shattered constitution his feeble frame, his entire
concentration on bis subject, his imperturbable
gravity his evident sincerity, his nervous suscepti
biity, bis eccentric ways, his intense anxiety oil
expression, his restrained but effective geshcula-
ton, and finally bis sitting posture, in which iren
weakness, be delivered all but the first fifteen
minutes of his speech.
Around the Speaker sat Senators Of every name
and degree. There was Pugh, who laughed I'll the
tears ran down his cheeks. There was Gwln,
brawny and broad, who shook himself entirely ou'
of all remembrance Of all railroad projects. Close
by. and directly in front, sat Douglas, who, VIII
his head bent upon bis breast, seemed IN danger Of
choking. "a he convulsiyely bodied il up and down
upon his chest There was Mason, the impersona-
ton Of the Virginia idea of Senatorial propriety'
sitting first in front, and then moving over 10 one
aide. and then standing in the rear, but wherever
he went. intent on listening, and actively partlci
mating in the general glee There was Father
Simmons of Rhode Island, sitting close BY, from De-
ginning TO end, perfect convert to Free Trade
in laughter. There was Mr.. Seward, not HAVING
the due restraints of grave Senator upon him
sometimes 10 be seen in q conyused, sometimes IL
an exploded state of hilarty. There, too, was NJ
collespue. Preston King, whose fat sides nevel
stunned shaking. There doomed Hsie, with ~
face constantly lighted up with sort OF siorines
merriment. There was that soberest and graves
of ancient Senators and venerable men, Mr Alirl
~ Rhode Island; q mao who never speaks ana
never SMILES, eagerly listening and eoa''Aa''l