Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-28

in which we would bring about change. Espe-
cally would we do 90 in curbing and restraining
the morbid appetite Of the public for the details
Of personal controversy. But as long @ tins
appetite exists it is expected of the press that it
.hould furnish the means Of its grati6cation.-
Accordingly, our exchanges are filed with ac-
counts of the great Douglas-Fi tch-Push-Davis I'M
brorlio in secret session Of the Senate last Friday
Not to be behind-hand with our contemporaries VIC
copy an account Of it from the New York Evening
Post, As it was Democratic quarrel out and
out We kaow Of no reason why the account Of it
should not be an impartial one We do not I'M
dertake, however, to vouch for its correctness.
From the Evening Postl
WASHINGTON, January %, 1859.
The scene in the executive Session OF the Senate
on Friday evening last, was one OF the most extra
ordinary that occurred in any deliberative
assembly in the civilized world. The telcgraphic
sketch Of the affair. copied in the EVENING Posi-
of Saturday from morning paper does.not state
all the facts nor exhibit the virus Of the words ut
tered The President sent to the Senate the name
Of Mr.. Potter ex-member OF Congress from ohio
% Collector Of the Miami district III that state
Mr. Pugh rose. and With good deal OF ieeing,
opposei the confirmation of Potter. lie said the
man who had been removed by Mr.. Buchanan to
give Mr. Potter the place, his (Pcgh's) friend:
that the President knew such TO be the fact, and
yemored him because such sras TIE Jod lie de-
clared, with emphasis. that if the President OF the
United States desired to make personal onslaught
on him he could come on-the sooner the better
Mr. Pueh growing m IRE and more excited, APP
nealed 10 his friends IN the Senate 10 vote with
him against the confirmation Of Potter. This np-
peal brought up Mr.. Douglas, who promised his
vote 10 the senator from Ohio Mr. Douglas then
com ented with unbrdeJ tongue, upon the
pomina tioas made by the President in Illinois,.
lie said all his frienda had been removed from
place and pawer, and they had been removed sole
" because they were his friends lie denounced
all the federal oice-holders in Illinois, appointed
by Buchanan to fill the places once occupied by
his friends as his Interest personal enemies, who
were "scoundres and thieves This called up
DR. Fitch lone of the squatter senators from lndi-
ana ,chose son is United Std,es District .iHorHty
of Miaois. The Doctor, very much excited, and
with a menacins attitude, said The senator
from Illinois states what Is untrue, and rhof nc
knors 10 be untrue. The President called To ''or-
der" Intense excitement prevailed Mr.. Doug
las then modified his remark by saying that there
were exceptions to the rule, but that they were
scarce. lie then plunged into the posmasters Of
Illinois. lie SAID that whenever mail robberies
were committed in Illinois they never dreamed Of
going outside Of the pos-of6ces 10 discover tho
robber. They always knew that the post-mastcrs
were the guilty parties. Cries Of Order, order
from several senators, and the President demands
general order, and calls the Senator from Illinois
to eraer. DR.. Fitch, who had been standing du-
ring the confusion As soon as order was partially
restored, repeated that the senator from Illinois
had again stated positive ialsehood, and that no
knew it was false. The brought chaos again.
amidst which some senators were standing IN their
places and others were approaching the seats OF
Dougas and Fitch, which near together. The
President called both senators to order. Several
senators moved an adjournment, while others mp
pealed to the Senate to allow Douglas to proceed
AT last q temporary quiet WAS secured. and MIR.
Douglas proceeded to pitch--not into Mr.. Fitch
bu, into the posimas,ers of Illinois. lie charged
that they had destroyed and stolen over Ave thou
sand of his speeches, which had been directed to
his constituents; that they had broken open, read
and then destroyed his private letters, dc. &C.
This style Of talk again produced confusion. which,
after some considerable effort tho part of tho
President, was allayed. Efforts were made by
several senators to obtain the floor. Objection
was made to Mr.. Douglas proceeding Motions
were made that he proceed in order. Mr.. Davis.
Of Mississippi objected. Standing about six feet
from MIR. Douglas, with cool and determined
manner, and casting upon that senator steady
and piercing glance with his long bony fingers
directing in a menacing attitude at his object Mr.
Davis addressed the ':Little Giant" thus: Il have
sat in my place and listened with feelings of in
diguation to language from the senator from lll
nois which would disgrace the highwnyman aud
the bravo" The Presidents hammer again fell
accompanied BY the emphatic remark that 1.-THE
senator from Mississippi is out Of order Here
was another chaos III the midst OF which senators
were anxious TO observe what desperate effort the
Little Giant would make against pointed
attack. Those who expected to see Doug strike
the Mississippan down in his tracks for applying
TO him such language we're disappointed when
they beheld his giant proportions subside into
bis ohairl 1t is impossible to describe the scene
at this stage of proceedings Before the Senate
adjourned, Mr.. Davis, satisfied that he had violated
the rules Of the body apologsed to the Senate and
and 70 the senator frem Illinois for language
which he had used in moment Of excitement.
DR.. Fitch then apslog;sed to the Senate for any
offensive or improper Language he had uttered i'll
debate, but with menacng look ut Mr.. Douglas,
said that he had 40 apology a. offer to the senator
from Illinois. In this state Of affairs. il Mr. Dou-
glas recognises the, Code to settle his affairs of
honor, be must chslIenseDr Fitch. lam inform
thu persecution Of himself by the President, he
DAMNED, II am still an nnconquered aud unsub-
dued rebel"
understand that some negotiations are going
on for q settlement of the affair The gentle
man whom is is said Mr.. Douglas selected as his
friend is a well-known duellst. Judging from
his record in such matters. if Judge Douglas
follows his advice, Fitch will have to retract his
offensive words and apologize or fight. But tho
probability IT, that others of less combatiye tenn
permanent will be consulted which, together
with the appeals Of woman on every side, will
cause the matter to be quietly and peaceably set
tied.
quenty, declared that the report of his connection
with the affair, ms published in the papers, was
incorrect
Tho quarrel between Douglas and Fitch resulted
in correspondence" which is published in full