The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
A SPICY DEBATE-A VIRGINIA CAVA-
LIER ENDORSED.

We regret that the limits Of a weekly news
paper will not permit US to publish more of
the interesting preliminary skirmishing debate
which has taken place during the first week of
the session of Congress. We are able to give
but an outline of that which occurred on Wednes
day, the 7th, between two Southern members,
though among the most racy and interest
ing that has yet occurred. Mr.. Nelson, of
Tennessee, a new member, though a man past
the meridian of life, rose, and spoke for nearly
an hour upon the resolution of Mr.. Gilmer, of
North Carolina. His remark were of con-
ciliatory character. He deprecated the "agi-
tation of the Slavery question:" and paid an
eloquent tribute to the Union. He insisted
strongly on the rights of the South, but the
tenor of his remarks implied that he thought
as badly of the Democracy as of the RepubE-
cans, and that he and his " American" friends
would affiliate with neither.
Mr.. Pryor, of Virginia, who has been elected
to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death
of William o. Goode, rose and, with an air of
great confidence, promised to lay bare the al
most reasonable position taken by the gentle
man from Tennessee. He would demonstrate
that no Southern man could stand in that posi-
ton, and be faithful representative of the
South. Having gone over the usual ground,
and brought out nothing of striking interest or
originality, he sat down amid the moderate APP
plause and congratulations of his friends. He
is fluent, and sometimes eloquent, but " tears
his passion to rags" and saws the air" with
ferocity of gesticulation far exceeding that
which Hamlet attributes to certain play-aetors.
In the mean time he strains his voice to the
highest possible key, and soon exhausts him.
SELF But for these bad habits, and too prodi-
gal use of epithets, Mr.. Pryor might make a
good speaker.
He had made a direct attack, in no very
amiable or fattering terms, upon the gentle
man from Tennessee. But the mild, pacific
and conservative temper, displayed by the lat
ter in his first effort had not prepared the
House, the galleries, or Mr.. Pryor, to expect
the reply which followed. Mr.. Nelson rose
promptly, and with clear, calm voice, stated
that although he could not subscribe to the
duelling code, he knew how to protect himself
here or elsewhere. The shock was electrical in
its effect, and brought down the House and gal
leriss with thunders of applause. Mr.. Pryor was
evidently disconnected, and simply replied that
he had no intention of assaulting the gentleman.
Mr.. Nelson then proceeded for fifteen or twenty
minutes to pour in eloquent invective and ridi-
Guile upon his adversary, until Mr.. Pryor's
friends, Lamar and others, came to his rescue.
But too late. He was endorsed, and quit the
field under cloud of mortified vanity
Let not Mr.. Pryor despair. He has been
badly cut up in his first encounter on the field
of political warfare; but he may yet retrieve
his fame. He is young, comparatively; and if
he is not too proud or too vain to learn wis
dom from sad experience, he must see the
folly of pitching at random into the midst of