The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-03-31
9olittral
Debate in the Senate
Sharp Passage between Senators
Wade and Toombs.

which the friends Of the Cuba bill at
tempted to press that measure through
without allowing its opponents the right
Of full aud free discussion;
Mr.. Wade of Ohio got the Aoor and
moved an Adjournment, so that he could
speak tomorrow. But the Democrats,
having determined in caucus that they
would take the final vote on the bill at
that sitting, though it extended into
Saturday night, refused to adjourn.
Mr.. Doolittle now moved TO lay aside
Cuba, and take up the Homestead bill.
The few Cubans who favor this latter,
implored Doolittle not to injure the
Homestead, by antagonizing it with
"this great measure Of foreign policy"
III warned them that the country would
regard this as a test vote. They WINGED,
and the skirmish went on.
After little brush on the points of
order, Toombs got the floor. To un-
derstand the scene that followed, you
must know Seward and Wilson sit on
the rear row Of chairs, and Toombs,
Wade and Benjamin Immediately in
front Of them in the next row-Wade
having Toombs on his right and Benia-
min on his left-and all five being in
close proximity to each other. A little
further off to the left of Benjamin sits
Fessenden. Toombs directed his speech
entirely to Seward. Always impassion-
ed and furious, he was now extraordi-
narily vehement in his tone, violent in
gesticulatiou, and abusive in language.
He called Seward demagogue-a small
demagOgue-said he despised all dema-
gogues, detested small demagogues in
particular, but more especially pitied
and despised those who could be driven
bysm all demagogues, bringing his fist in
the vicinity Of Wade's desk as he ut
tered the last clause. He accused the
Republicans in a body of cowardice,
personal and political-of skulking the
issue of Cuba, and shivering in their
shoes at its mere name.
He rung the changes on Stewards $
term, "Land for the landless," and
sueered at the ISLANDERS" as he call
ed them, Of whom the Republicans we're
afraid, &c. He smote his own desk vio-
lently, occasionally reached over and
struck Stewards, kept his back toward the
chair that he might turn his face to-
ward Seward, ever and anon thrusting
his hand almost in his face, and push
| ing inadvertently against Wades chair;
all this time his face glowing with pas.
sion, and his air and mien and tone sug-
gesting the ferooity of Danton, com
bined with the malignity of Maurat.--
During his short speech a portion of the
gallery kept up a raining accompani-
ment of feeble gusts of laughter.
Nearly all eyes were fixed on Toombs
and Seward-the latter calm and pale,
and looking steadily at his assailant.-
But the few who knew Wade we'll, had
not failed to notice his hands firmly
clenched on the arms Of his chair, his
compressed lips, and the indescribable
air of defiance that sat upon his coun-
tenanoe. Ere Toombs was fairly in his
seat, Seward, Wilson, Fessenden and
Wade sprang to their feet. Il was i'm
possible for the Chair to assign the floor
to anybody but "the Senator from Ohio, "
for the tone in which he pronounced the
formula, "Mr President" and the eve as
he fixed on Breckenridge, said, as plain
words could have uttered it, 81 must
and will have il"
Wade, who don't fear the devil, turn
ed square upon Toombs, who knows
that Wade don't fear the devil, and,
bringing his fist down within about an
inch of Toombs' nose and heavily upon
the desk, said, his eyes riveting him,
and the hot words Kissing through his
teeth, "Skulk, ahl shiver, do we?'
The Georgian pushed his chair-it
stands on castors--a few inches further
off, so as to give his Ohio neighbor more
room trrnr
Wade went on, leaping almost from
the floor at every sentence, showing
that though he was able to reply eheo-
lively TO the taunts and abuse that fell
from Toombs lips, he would rather
drive them forcibly down his throat-all
Of which ToOmbs knew, because, once
on time they being neighbJrs in the
Senate then as now, Toombs was abus.
ing all Republicans in the most vitu-
peratiVo style, when Wade. his hands on
the arms Of his chair, ready to leap to
his feet, demanded to know, "Does chat
Senator include me in what he is now
saying2" Upon which the Georgian re
spondod, 'L except the Senator from
IOhiol" Since that occurrence, every
body thinks Toombs desires to give
Wade a wide berth.
But to the speech. The first sem
tenoe went straight TO the core of the
subject, and all the rest followed it.
l"You sneer at the Homestead bill, be-
cause it gives land to the landless, do
Iyou2 What is your pet measure? Steal
ilg niggers for the aiggerlessi We 90 to
the country upon it-Land for the
Landless UerSus Niggers for the Niger
less"
That was enough The galleries had
seemingly held their breath. Nov,
some feet came down with one deter
mined stamp upon the hoor--n few
hands smote toRether--but the mass, 10
gallery and in Senate, shouted with a
mingled roar Of laughter aud oheers-
tho President throwing down the gayel
in despair.