Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-02-04
Correspondence Of the Epening Post.
The Scene i'm Executive Session Of
the Senate, ON Friday, 2lst HIt.

WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1859.-The scene
iu the Executive Session Of the Senate, on Fri
day evening last, was one of the most extraor-
binary that ever occurred in any deliberative
assembly in the civilized world. The telc-
graphic sketch Of the affair did not state all
the facts, nor exhibit the virus of tue words
uttered. The President sent to the Senate the
name of Dir. Potter, ex-membcr of Congress
frcm Ohio, as collector of the 'sMiami Dis
rrict,'' in that State. Mr.. Pugh rose, aud
Nth good deal of feeling, opposed the con-
frmation of Potter. He said the man who
had been removed by Mr.. Buchanan to give
Mr.. Potter the place was his (Pugh's) friend;
that the President knew such TO be the fact,
and remaOUed hlm because such tUaS the fact.
lie declared, with emphasis, that if the Presi-
dent of the United States desired to make a
personal onslaught upon him, be could come on
tho sooner the better Mr. Pugh, growing
more and more excited, appealed to his friends
in the Senate to vote with him against the con-
frmation Of Potter. This appeal brought up
MIR. Douglas, who promised his vote to the
Senator from Ohio. Mr. Douglas then COM
mented, with an unbridled tongue, upon the
nominations made by the President in Illinois.
He said all his friends had been removed FROM
place and power, and they had been removed
solely because they we're his friends. He de-
nounced all the federal Office holders in Illi-
ncls, appointed by Buchanan to fill the places
once occupied by his friends, as his bitterest
personal enemies, who were "scoundrels and
Ihieves''
This called up DR.. Fitch lone of the squat
ter Senators from Indiana, whose son is United
States District Attorney of Illinois.) The
Doctor, very much excited, and with mena-
cling attitude, said: ''The Senator from Illinois
states what is untrue, ana aDhat he knoUs TO be
untrue" The President called to order. In
tense excitement prevailed. Mr.. Douglas then
modified his remark by saying that there were
exceptions to the rule, but that they were
scarce. de then plunged into the postmasters
OF ILLINOIS, lie said that whenever mail rob-
berries were committed in illinois they never
dreamed OF going outside of the post Offices to
discover the robber. They always knew that
The postmasters were the guilty parties. [Cries
# 'order, ORDER f:om several Senators. and
the President demands general order and calls
The Senator from Illinois to order DR.. Fitch
who had been standing during the confusion.
as sooR as order was partially restored, repeat
ed that the Senator from Illinois had again
stated positive falsehood, and that be knew
1t was false. This brought chaos again, amidst
which some Senators were standing in their
places and others we're approaching the seats of
douglas and Fitch, which are near together.-
Inc President called both Senators to order.
several Senators moved an adjournment, while
others appealed TO the Senate to allow Douglas
proceed. AT last temporary quiet Was
secured, and Mr.. Douglas proceeded to pitch
not into Mr.. Fitch-but into the postmas-
'efs OF Illinois. He charged that they had
stolen and destroyed over five thousand of bis
fpeeehes, which had Teen directed to bis con-
's .s''uen's: that they had broken open, read aud
Tna auen destroyed his private letters, &c. &C.
ln!, lIs style of talk again produced confusion,
Hncn, after some considerable effort on the
part OF the President, was alisyed Efforts
" we're MADE by several Senators to obtain the
"oVf' Objection was made TO Mr. Douglass