Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-04


An occasional Washington correspondent Of
the Tribune who holds a graphic pen, happened
into the Senate the evening of the PrOtracted
Cuba bill debate. He entered the gallery just
in time to hear the close of Mr.. Kennedy's
speesh, when Mr. Wade got the floor and moved
an adjournment, so that he could speak the
next day. The Democrats would not permit an
adjournment, as they had determined in caucus
to take the final vote at that sitting. Mr.. Doo-
little moved to lay aside Cuba, and take up the
Homestead Bill This was refused, ami the
debate went on relative to the merits of the two
measures; Mr. Trumbull and Mr.. Seward taking
part in it. Mr.. Seward briefly contrasted the
two polieies-one to enlarge the domain of the
slave power, and restore and maintain the su-
premacy of compulsory labor in the tropics
/ the other to give land to the landess, and fur
nish homes to free laborers in our own country
He was emphatic, bat entirely parliamentary
and respectful in tone and language. Then
came theIscene, life-painted by the writer
After little brush on points of order, Toombs
! got the foor. To understand the scene that
| followed, you must know that Seward and Will
son sit on tie rear row of chairs, and Toombs,
Wade and Benjamin Immediately in front Of
them in the next row-Wade having TOombs
on his right and Benjamin on his left-and all
five being in close proximity to each other. A
little further off to the left Of Benjamin sits Fes-
sender. Toombs directed his speech entirely
to Seward Always impassoned and furious,
he was now extraordinarily vehement in tone,
violent in gesticuIation, and abusive In language
He called Seward demagogue-s small dema-
gogue-said he despised all demagogues, de-
tested small demagogues in particular, but
more especially Pitied and despised those who
| could be driven by small demagogues, bringing
his fist in the vicinity of Wade's desk as he ut
tered the last clause. He accused the Repub-
Iicans in a body of cowardce, personal and Po
litieal-of slxulking the issue of Cuba, and shiv-
ering in their shoes at its mere name.
He rung the changes on Stewards term,
{" Land for the landless," and sneered at the
'laeklanders,' as he called them; of whom the
Republicans were afraid, &c. He smote his
own desk violently, occasionally reached over
ami struck Stewards, kept his back toward the
Chair that he might turn his face toward Seward,
ever and anon thrusting his hand almost in his
face, and pushing Inadvertently against Wade's
chair; all this time his face glowing with pas
sion, and his air and mien and tone suggesting
the feroeity of Danton, combined with the ma
| lignity of Murat. During his short speech
portion of the galleries kept up running ac-
compartment of feeble gusts Of laughter.
Nearly all eyes had been fixed on Toombs and
Seward-the latter calm and pale, and looking
steadily at his asssilant. But the few who
knew Wade well, had not failed to notice his
hands firmly clenehed on the arms of his chair,
his compressed lips, and the indescribable air
of defiance that sat upon his iscountenaDce. Ere
Toombs was fairly in his seat, Seward, Wilson,
Fessenden and Wade sprang to their feet. It
was impossible for the Chair to assign the floor
to anybody but 'sthe Senator from Ohio for
the tone in which he pronounced the formula,
'.Mr President !" and the eye fixed on Breek-
enridge, said, as plain as words could have Ut
tered it, u must and will have it." -t4-
| Wade, who don't fear the devil, turned square
upon Toombs, who knows that Wade don't fear
the devil, and, bringing his fist down within
about an inch of Toomb's nose and heavily up
on his desk, said, his eye riveting him, and the
hot words kissing through histeeth, "Skulk, ahl
shiver, do wei"
The Georgian pushed his chair-it stands on
casters-a few inches further of, so as to give
his Ohio neighber more room
Wade went on, leaping almost from the floor
at every sentence, showing plainly that though
he was able to reply effectively to the taunts and
abuse that fell from Toomb's lips, he would
rather drive them forcibly down his throat-all
of which Toombs knew, because, once on a
time, they being neighbors in the Senate then
as now, Toombs was abusing all Republicans in
the most vituperous style, when Wade, his
hands on the arms Of his chair, ready to leap to
bis feet, demanded to know, "Does the Senator
include me in what he is now saying!" Upon
which the Georgian responded, II except the
Senator from Ohiol" Since that occurrence, ev-
erybody thinks ToOmbs desires to give Wade 8
wide berth. ldl
But, to the speech The first sentence went
straight to the core of the subject, and all the
rest followed it. "You sneer at the Homestead
bill, because it gives land to the landless, dc
yout What is your pet measure! Stealing mig
gers for the niggerlesS We go to the country
upon it-Land for the Landless UersHs Niggers
for the Niggerless" !" ..'---.-.
That was enough. The galleries had seem
ingly held their breath. Now, some feet came
down with one determined stamp upon the floor
: "a few hands smote together-but the mass,
in gallery and in Senate, shouted with mingled
roar of laughter and cheers-the President
throwing down the gayel in despair.
Having, in this phrase, compressed the whole
argument into the smallest possible compass
Wade went on roasting the Democracy about
their ''nigger bill, - and satisfying Toombs that
he (Wade) was not much frightened, however
it might be with him (ToOmbs); and then he
handed over the fight to Fessenden.
/ Mr.. Fessenden was more deliberate. Indeed
he was persistently calm and proEOkingly cool
He told Mr. Toombs that Republicans did moi
skuIk nor shiyer on the Cuba question, but only
meant by this course to take their own time
and teach gentlemen that the Senate was to be
governed by its own rules, and not by the de-
crees of party caucus, and that they should
permit the vote to be taken on the bill when
they had said all they wished to on the subject
and not one moment sooner. rrr
All this time Seward sat quietly in his chair
Those accustomed to read his thoughts on his
face, knew he was biding his opportunity to
reply Finally, he took the floor He neyel
spoke of the Senator from Georgia. He turned
! his back somewhat toward him. with mingled
air of dignity aud contempt He drew his own
chair aside, pushed Wilson's out Of the way
stepped back pace or so, shook off trammels,
forgot Blaif's rhetoric, Campbells rhetoric, and
Stewards rhetoric, calmly defined the different
} kinds of courage, said he hoped he had enough
to serve his purpose as Senator and a man.
and then rose with his theme, contrasting in q
few glowing words the benefcent objects of the
Homestead bill, with the pernieious scheme Of
acquiring Cuba, and, alluding to the PRESIDENT
efforts to clutch the purse and the sword, de-
nounced him in severe but strictly parliementa-
ry language, for attempting thus to divert the
public mind from the issues which his Kansas
and financial policies had precipitated upon the
country, and he concluded by comparing, in a
few eloquent sentences, the principle which
would give land and homes to freedom and free
laborers, with that which would extend and
strengthen the curse and crime of human bond
age among men,
As he pronounced the closing words, he
proudly turned his back upon the Chair, drew