The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-06-07
THRILLING SCENE IN THE VICks-
BURG CONVENTlOS-HENf =. FOOTE.
TAKES THE FIRE EATERS BX
STORM


The scene of the Convention was that re-
corded below. A Mr.. Spratt, of South
Carolina. had made speech in favor of
the reopening of the slave trade. Mr.. j. ID.
b. De Bow had commenced a speech which
had been interrupted by motion to ad-
journ, when motion was made to the
effect that Mr.. Spratt, Of South Carolina,
should be requested to furnish to the Sec
rotary, to be printed for the use of the Con-
ven.ion, the speech with which he had ia
vored them that morning. The Hcraids
report says:
The motion was a simple one enough,
and would ordinarily have passed without
dispute or question. But instantly ex-
Senator Henry S. Foote, of Mississippi,
started to his feet, and In an excited man.
ner declared that such thing was unpre-
ccdented; and he went on to pour out in a
rapid manner his protestations against the
adoption of any such proposition. At first,
what with his impetuosity, the shutfiing of
feet and moving of chairs, as the Conven-
ton was about breaking up, and the sur
prise and this unexpected incident, it was
impossible to hear distinctly what Mr..
Foote was saying, or trying to say. But
then there was general shout for him to
take the Standard with briskness more
in keeping with the full thick head of hair,
and dark, well-trimmed beard, indicative
of youthful vigor, which he now thanks to
yeruguial artists and inventors of hair dye)
sports, than with the thin locks and gray
whisl;ers to which they had succeeded-he
mounted the raised platform wherein the
Presidents chair was placed and amid
much vOciferation on the part of the audi
ence, and violent gesticulations on his own
part, he delivered himself Of the following
No one, sir" said he, listened to that
speech (of Mr.. Spratt, of South Carolina)
with more satisfaction than myself, so far
as it was mere literary effort. listened
to it with profound attention, and careful.
ly noted every prominent feature of it
, The proposition now before the body, how.
ever well intended-as it doubtless was
, is a very extraordinary one II is one that
/ is unprecedented on any occasion Of thi.
, kind. 1t is OF nature calculated, if adop
| ted without due deliberaticn, TO commit t.
| some extent this whole body to that i'm
, mense mass Of new, complex, and, as con
ccive, dangerous doctrines with which tha
p, speech is trausht For one, am not vii
ling. till have had an opportunity of pom
dering over its contents more solemnly anC
/ profoundly, 10 give my assent in any shape
$ or form to the PRONUNCIATION Of the opinion
contained in it, or to their diffusion through
f ont the community, stamped with the otil
: cial sanction Of this high body Uproa
n and confused cheers, laughter, and grea
excitement. charge, and am preparet
G to establish it whenever have an opportu
: nifty of doing SO, that that speech is iraugh
c with reasonable doctrines speak dc
S liberateiy. | speak not as partisan or
j sectionalis.. | belong to no political part
e under the sun. No party is responsible 70
}, me, and | am responsible for no party
e am affiliated with no body Of men on an
y political question. But | say deliberately
h that however honest and conscientious tia
= gentleman (Mr. Spratt may be, howevc
high may be his character in South Care
l. lima, the speech he has delivered here
r. fraught with reasonable matter; and il pu
< in practice by any body of men in the mar
y ner proposed, they would each of them b
d guilty OF high treason, and be subject, an
$ deservedly subject, to be hanged by ii
neck until they are dead, dead, dead
d Mr.. Foote accompanied his words wit
~ gesticulations so appropriate and so earne
n. that he brought down loud vocferation
t. though most OF them were expressive rattle
IS of enjoyment OF the scene than of symp:
re thy with the sentiments expressed. {
re course, every one was standing. Tho
who could get on chairs or tables did g
is and the rest crowded round 10 get as ne;
It. the stand as possible. One old gentlema
in got up to the stand and tried some encou
le aging familiarity with the speaker, but II
G. latter was too much in earnest to brook i
e. terrupton. and he threw him OF. Son
IN of the moro prominent of the fire-eate
Y, attempted TO interrupt him by some angl
a or insulting expressions; but, bold, fer
Ie and impassioned, he waved them all o
ne and growing more animated as he procee
IL ed, he thus continued:
Ii "This, sir, is the land of law Than
til God, it is country that is yet replete VII
as the spirit of heroism tia, animated oI
e. heroic forefathers Thank God, there a
l. yet numbers of men in this land who r
IN spect the Constitution and the Union, wi
e. reverence the sacred examples Of the
re forefathers, who have a due respect f
r. these wise and noble institutions und
re which We live, and who have too much T
is gard for the examples and teachings
ed those who preceded them in this Republ
| to degrade themselves by practicing SUI
doctrines as have been this day calmly al
ny deliberately proclaimed to them
90 Here the excitable gentleman. who h
in got up to the platform, and who holds t
at rank of major in the Mississippi Fensiblt
or made another effort to draw Mr.. Foote's
iy tention. and appealed to him to say o
ad word. The appeal was fruitless. q