Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-01-22

I RdboC0
Benton lived TO- see it fail rotten from the
boughs. HE mdst. have regretted even the
small share he had in giving 1t root in the
earth The measures Of 1850 were W Re" ,lauded
BY President Fillmore as "a settlement q e.
nal settlement" !" Of the whole subject of Sla.
very! ,t-, 5,,: r,-s. ;3ssIy5ai - 5hsa2
| -Four years after the final y extinguish-
ment of these sectional fires, the Senate Cham
Der was aglow with an excitement that spread
into every corner of the land, resulting in the
repeal of the Compromise of 1920, and raging
more fercely than at the memorable epoch.
Previous to and pending the struggle of 1864,
| the side Of Freedom had received powerful
accession in the Senate in the persons of Fes-
sender, Foot, Collamore, Sumner, Wilson and
Wade while the Propaganda had found able
allies in Toombs, Brown, Bayard, Benjamine
and ,Toucy. Had the venerable Macon been
participant in the months Kansas conflict
of 1854, as he was in the two months Mis-
souri, contest of 1920, he could have repeat
ed with emphasis his words of that day -
The scene in this Chamber excels anything
have ever witnessed in the Senate be-
| fore % n g.s1 oh q sro:.ses 7i..s b.. bgT'
The conduct of those Senators who resis-
ted to the bitter end this attempt to give up
| to Slavery vast Territories once consecrated
to Freedom, will stand ]" the test of talents
and of time" They are already anticipating
the approving verdict of posterity, in the re-
fusal of the author of this measure to pluck
and eat its first a,. '.-S.. ~ 80.
We have space to barely mention the last
question that agitated the historic Chamber
Of which we write-the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution the ripe
fruit of the Kansas Nebraska act. 90. ,..T,,g,
The pen that shall write the annals of this
storied Chamber will not fail to note that the
first Congress and the last Congress that sat
within its walls were each lconvulsed with the
question whether a State, reposing on the
banks OF the Missouri River, should enter the
Union under slave holding Constitution
Nor will it forget to give one glowing page to
record the hope-inspiring fact that, while in
1920 the attempt succeeded, it most signally
failed in 1850 :" The world does move
said Galilee -. ~ -, -, ~ -. ''o2 "
The body that has just left the old chamber
for the new stands not whit behind the SEN
ate of any preceding Congress. In thus say
ing, we do not forget the trumpet tongued el-
oquence of Clay, electrifying his followers,
and sounding to the Lonset the sharp logic
of Calhoun, going straight and swift to the
mark like Minie-rife shot; the colossal orato-
ry of Webster, booming in upon the debate
like heavy ordnance in the battle; the antique
manner and rare sense of Macon the unique
rhetoric andI dramatic delivery of Randolph !,
the copious learning and forid elocution of
Pinker; the inimitable humor and vigorous ar
gumentation of Holmes the ponderous
knowledge of Benton the luminous reason
ing of Livingston the discriminating philan
thropy of Frelinghuysen the unfaltering
sagacity of Wright; the graceful dexterity Of
Forsyth; the melodious cadencec of Preston;
the classic wit of Corwin, and the glowing
diction Of Choate. Remembering their grand
exhibitions, we nevertheless say we think it
would be difficult to select any one period
when the Senate could exhibit more states
manship and learning or utter words more
weighty, wise and eloquent than now. .
The only deliberative body of modern times
that can be fifty compared with the American
Senate is the British House of Peers. With
in these forty years it has dealt with many
great questions. We may instance the Queens
trial, the repeal of the test acts, Catholic en-
ancipation, Parliamentary reform, the aboli-
ton of West India Slavery, the East India
Company's monopoly, the Canadian revolt,
Irish repeal. corn-law repeal Colonial ed.
ucatlOnal, municipal and legal reform the
Russian, Chinese and India wars; and grave
questions arising out of England's wide for.
eign relations During this period its debates
have been conducted by such men as Grey,
Lyndhurst, Eldon, Brougham, Wellington,
Goderich, Melbourne, Londonderry, Denman,
Dudley, Dunham, Derby, Rosslyn, Radnor,
Aberdeen, Ashburton, Abinger, Argyle, Camp
bell, Clarendon, Holland, Harroby, Spencer;
Salisbury, Ellenboro, Glenelg and Newcas-
tle-and this list of distinguished Peers might
be extended. And yet, Notwithstanding the
magnitude of these questions, and the emin-
ence Of the statesmen and orators who have
have handled them, it may be claimed that
throughout these forty eventful years the Am
erican Senate has occupied as high position
as the British House of Lords.
We must take our leave of the old Cham
ber. Let us hope that the destructive hand
of miscalled improvement will not be laid
sacreligiously upon it. Rather let it remain
unimpaired, along with that other old Hall
where Clay presided, and Everett declaimed,
and Barbour reasoned, and Adams fell. Let |
both 60 down to posterity as appropriate me-
MORALS of stirring times and great men,
What descendant of the Anglo-Saxons can
look unmoved upon the old Hall of Rufus,
whose oaken arches have seen the trials of
Bacon, Charles and Hastings, and have heard
the eloquence of Stratford, Somers and |
Burke And who ofthat race doesnot mourn
the destruction, or DETACHMENT, Of the Hous- |
es made sacred by the craftsmanship, the |
genius, the oratory of Halifax and Noting
ham, Walpole and Poulteney, Mansfield and |
Chatham, Fox and Pitt Let, then, the Am
erican Senate Chamber and Representatives
Hall stand through coming time as monumen-
tai chapters in the history Of the Republic.
The Inauguration of the New Senate
Chamber. !
The imposing proceedings of the day, in |
the Senate Chamber, were witnessed by a |
large crowd of distinguished persons as ever
before assembled in the time-hOnored hail. |
Half the House were there, and hundreds, |
besides, known to fame as former legislators,
executive statesmen, Government representa- |
tiyes abroad, &c; also, a large representation |
of the fair sex. The body of the Chamber
was filed with chairs occupied by the Senat-
ors and members of the House. ,.....
The address of fVice-President Breckenridge |
was the most eloquent and impressive oratori- |
cal effort of his life, so replet with oratorical
triumphs. The effect of its delivery, upon
the great men within ear-shot, was magical.
With one accord it was pronounced the great
est achievement of the kind known to the pub
lie history of the Confederacy- surprising
the celebrated farewell address delivered by 4
Vice President Aaron Burr taking leave of |
the Senate of the United States.- Washing-
ton Star, Jan. 4th.
Alta convention Of clergymen, not long