The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-03
Douglas in the Senate Chamber.

N. Y. Times Washington Correspondent, Jan. 49,
The Senate Chamber is an immense OBJ.
long apartment, with sloping galleries on its
four sides, capable of holding about seven
teen hundred spectators; and with glided
partitions dropping down from the gal
leries aforesaid to the floor. The light
comes in from above, through windows
richly colored with the armorial bearings of
the various States while the remainder of
the ceiling is mass of fresco and gliding,
carved cornices and marble ornaments, of a
style some little more gaudy and less arts
tic than could be wished.
On the floor beneath us-which somewhat
resembles richly carpeted cock pit--there
are as many leat6ern arm-chairs as there are
Senators, and opposite to each chair little
rosewood desk supported on their legs.
These seats are arranged in semi circular
rows, four deep, facing the elevated platform
on which the Vice President sits as presid.
ing officer. To the Chairman's right the
Democratic sheep are gathered while to
the left sit the Republican goats, chewing
the cud of "irrepressible conflict" with sweet
and bitter feelings.
As general rule the Senate galleries are
thinly populated during debates-the lower
House possessing attraction of more fiery
and popular character. Our Chambers of
Peers, under its common aspect, is too Sc
verely respectable for the multitude its
members are solemn, not to say dull; and
its deliberations grave, not to say stupid.
But this morning the human tide of Wash
ington drifts Senateward, with steady flow
and eager swell. The marble stairways are
blocked up with FACILITATING satins, and the
tesselated lObbies are concealed under sold
jam of male and female curiosity. 1t is a
gala day in the Senate, and expectation
sheds thrill aud glow of excitement over
every countenance.
Even the Reporters Gallery-this seat of
brooding observation-this journalistic "bed
of st. Kevin," where the salique law pre-
vails-has been this morning invaded by
tumultuous pillows of MORE antique and
watered silks. We are pushed off our stool
by radiant bonnets, and the correspondent is
happy who wears hat with crown hard
enough to serve him as an impromptu desk.
Gazing around, on three sides nothing can
be seen but futtering fans and magnificent
toilets-fans pink and blue-of ivory and
sandal wood, and silver-fans with edgings
of feathers, and fans with oval MIR ors
casting dazzling CLEANS of light into our
bewildered eyes. The slopipg seats on these
three sides resemble shelves in hot house,
with tropical flowers of every bloom and
hue flashing and expanding into jealous
rivalry, each seeking to outshine the other.
While on the fourth side, there is heaving
sea of bearded faces-each countenance en-
bodying different grades of emotion, but all
impressed with sense of the greatness of
the occasion, and anxious to see whether the
performer of the day can rise to the exigen.
cies Of his position.
Every Senator is now in his seat, except
the orator of the day. The floor outside the
bar is crowded with Congressman and d.
plonatists, Governors, Ex-Governors, dele.
gates to Charleston. and representative men
of all political shades, sizes, sections, posi-
tions and degrees. The fans in the galleries
keep up busy futtering, and the hum of
conversation from the floor completely
browns the routine business, which the
Clerk OF the Senate is attempting to
transact. At lenght there is a cOmmotion
round the central door of the Chamber all
the galleries rise with one consent to see the
coming man the Congressman and outsiders
crowd back, forming human avenue, and
the Little Giant enters, leading his two boys
by the hand. 1t is not decorum to applaud,
but loud buzz from every quarter causes
Bright, Slidell, Bigler, and Others of that
clique. to cast threatening glances, first
and next towards the Sergeant-at-
Arms. Mr.. Douglas enters the cloak room
under the gallery, and at the appointed
moment rises in his seat and begins to speak.
The Little Giant, as be has we'll been STYLED,
is seen to advantage on the floor. Looking
down on him his want of height is not
observed, while the easy dignity of bis
manner stamps him as the natural lord of
any scene through which be moves. Short,
thickset, and built with great muscularity,
of body, his massive and leonine head rivets
undivided attention. 1t is a head of the
antique, with something of the infinite in its
of power head most difficult
to describe-but one better worth descrip.
ton, in a chronological aspect, than any
other in the country.