, 1860-03-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


t-ua u-yek's Sps<eh-7Hs ChfraEry Earaeed.
Ispcelal Correspondents Of the Press aad Tr:bune.]
TAsuixa1os, March 10. 1860.
While Senator Wade was delivering his caus
lie speech in the Senate, Mr. Van Wyck, a re-
publican member from New York, was making
Lis maiden speech in the House. Many Of tho
members had accepted the invitation Of the lit.
Vernon Association, and had left the Hall to
visit ut. Vernon, Mr. Van Wyck was, lu form
er party times, disciple Of Silas Wright, aud
consequently represents those Of Democratic
antecedents among the Republicans. His speech
was one of the spiciest, sharpest ind singing |
yet delivered this session. Possessing clear
voice and fne powers Of clocutiuu, be arrested
the attention Of all present, among whom was q |
score or more Of fire-eaters. Mr.. Van Wyek
had Listened Ipr two months to daily hood OF
inrcctive aud denuuclation, poured upon 1he
people uf the North and their Cherished instltu'
tions. He had heard foul aspersiuns cast upon
their bravery and integrity, and this Was the
first opportunity that had been offered him to re-
pei them. In replying to the charges, he run
parallel between Northern and Southern cour-
age, Is tested on many field; he called up
number Of revolutionary "reminiscences md lis
torical incidents, which inaa1ned the elolcr of
the firc-caters present. Pryor of W, Garsrcll
and Crawford of Geo, and Davis Of Mississippi,
attempted to interrupt and insult him. In the
course of his remarks be replied to q taunt Of
fire-eatez that Massachusetts, burned wischea in
former times, by asking, does he not know
that people Of his own section burn sIascs at
the stake to this day, and i. seems to awaken
no horror in their minds:'
Rcub. Dasia Of Hiss, infe1rupting, prononnc-
ed the statement false. Cries Of order and noise
and confusion followed. Van Wyck said that
every one who read the papers had seen frequent
accounts Of fnegro burningsin the South By mobs
and gangs Of lynchers. The Southern papers
had published the sickening details OF scores Of
instances Of the kind. Gartrell pronounced the
statement false aud unfoundcd. lCtics of Or
der: On the Republican side1. Van Wyck said
he had heard such words before, aud was not to
be- disturbed or intimidated BY any clustering
uf the sort, lie lbcled no section Of the Uniou,
but only stated notorious facts, knoHn to tue
whole country.
RErp. DAVIS" Will you 80 outside "f the
District and ttst The question Of personal cour-
aye with any stareholder:"
Sir. VAN Wrck-"l travel anywhere, and
without fear Of any one. For the first eight
weeks Of this session Jou stood upon this floor
continually libeling the North and The people Of
the Free Stated, charging them with treason
and all manner Of crimes; and now you are
thrown into a great rage when tell you few
facts. If gentlemen are so sensitive IN regard
to their own feelinga, why had they 10 respect
for tue feelings Of others, when for two months
they dealt in utlle less than wholesale denuncia
tions Of the people Of the North and treasenable
threats agains. the Union unless they we're al-
loved to rule it."
Davis again interrupted, and the Speaker
{Washhurue Of III. IN the Chair} ordered him
to sit down and not violatc the rules Of the
House, else be would direct the Sergeaut.at-
Arms to arrest that gentleman. This gentle
| hint had the desired ELECT, aud Mr.. Tan Wyck
finished lis speech without further Interrupt
| tious. But that night Davis went to the 1f1ode
Office and demanded that his reply to the state
ment that Slaves we're burned at the stake
| should be published as follows;
. 1fr. DAVIS Of Miss. (interrupting)-1 pro-
nounee tho gentleman liar and sconndrel. l
pronounce the gentlemau's assertion talse--ut-
1 kc1iy lalees
The shorthand reporters denied having heard
him employ such language, but he insisted that
he did. Ills object in publishing these words
was evidently to provoke duel, and as he con-
siders himself trst-class pistol shooter, while
his opponent probably never fired pistol III
his life, he thought hc would hare chance oI
achieving renown among the 6re-eaters, With
out runninS much risk Of getting his precious
person hyfst. He walks about with nlarge cant
which be carries with him into the House, sinct
he published the remark in the Globe; bu
whether for offence or defence, be knows best
But l must give your renders few Of ths
punsent paragraphs Of the speech. 1u replying
to the frightful gasconade that Republican
President should not be inaugurated i'll tli
Capitol, If elected, be remarked:
How will you prevent it? 1judge from you
| military preparations you mean force. Nher'
viii! you Jet your gunrowder? You make nom
firearms? South Of Mason and Dixon's lin
| you manufacture none in all your borders. Ca1
you retain it now, by forcee If so. you will d
infinitely better than you did in 1874. The Eng
'isb, then, without ary fear. could hare crowncs
t king in your Capitol. They drove fire thou
sand IF your men frcm Dladeusburg; and III
though j Jou knew the design Of the enemy va
, to invade mud burn, you retre2ted, ond atorptt
not to IRE q gun in itx defence.
Iimpugu not your courage, nor reflect upol
yepr 1notises; but hazard the opinion TINT
, had the Capitol stood amid tie rocks Of Nc.
, England, or the rough hills Of the North, tiv
thousand Of her yeonanry would have struck
, and if necessary persisted, in its defence. Sine
that time, scn,e of Four people have been YER,
| soIicitous about the archises- Ion know Gov
1 3.sIE n1r
President, WAS prepared to march with one hun
dred thousand inen to the Capitol, and seize th
archives; but SOME persons very wicaedlr sug
gested that it might be the Treasury he We
after. Impossible. who erer alleged that
Southern Democrat was actuated by mcrcenor,
, | motives?
This historical reminiscnce stirred up pryo
prodigau>ly. In another part uf his speech b
said:
You charge upon the North al occasional out
break Vi disorder, fur which the guilty are au'
I punished, while your own people violate til
laws Of your State and the natural rights Of th
white man, condemning him without trial, ut,
iutl,ct'ug basbar"us punishment without Judi
ctat judgment mud sentenre. Snme meu U
: | South CAroliua arrested free white taborcl
mobbed him i'll the streets Of their city, sub
jected him to stripes at the hands Of slave; a
, | in violation Of the laws Of the State. You ma
tartls, whom it would be base aattcry to cal
: cowartis." The slave-trader lands cargo Of au
man merchandise from Africa, and yonr. jnr'e
! refuse to punish the pirate few months agc
n woman WIN s'ck ehllo WIS W. ur'en -;, from .
: hrr ieiends at he Sot,h her imnressjons @ ahou
slavery. 4 whole community, the Bereans
were exsletl fruu. the *'i Of kentucky for II
crime; they were only obnoxious in sntertaill
in. the opinions proclaimed by Washington All
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