The Nevada Democrat., 1860-03-07
SENATOR DOUGLAS.

The Washington correspondent OF the New
York Times thus sketches Senator Douglas, as he
pears on the floor Of the Senate:
Every Senator is In his seat, except the ora
tor Of the day. The hoor outside the bar is
crowded with Congressman and diplomatists,
Governors, ex-GovernOrs, delegates TO Charles
ton, and representative men Of all political
shades, sizes, sections, positions and degrees.
The fans in the galleries keep up busy tiut-
tering, and the hum Of conversation from the
floor completely drown the routine business,
which the Clerk OF the Senate is attempting to
transact. AT length there is eommotion
round the central door of the Chamber all the
galleries rise with one consent to see the CON-
ing 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
Of welcome from every quarter causes Bright,
Slidell, Bgler, and the others Of that clique, to
cast threatening Elances, first upwards, and
next towards the Sergeantat-Arms. Douglas
enters the cloak-room under the gallery, and at
the appointed moment rises in his seat and be-
gins to speak.
The Little Giant, as he has well been styled,
is seen TO advantage on the floor. Looking
down upon him, his want Of hight is not observ-
ed, while the easy dignity of his manner stamps
him MS 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
head of the antique, with something of the in-
finite in its expression Of power; head most
difficult to describe-but one better worth de-
scription, in chronological aspect, than any
other in the country.
Douglas has brain of unusual size, covered
with heavy and lengthy masses of dark brown
hair rather inclined to curl, thckly sprinkled
with silver. His forehead is high, open and
splendidly developed, based on dark shaggy
eyebrows. and Of enormous width. His eyes,
large and deeply set, are of the darkest and
most piercing blue. His nose is short, the eye
brows tapping down over it where 1t joins the
forehead while the nostrls---broad, muscular
and full of power. are framed in two deeply cut
channels. which slope down and of on either
side, until they strike the corners of the mouth
The mouth itself is full, strong and finely arch
ed but with something of bitter and sad expe-
rence in its general expression. The chin is
square and vigorous, aud, together with the
lower part of the face, is full of eddying dim
ples--the muscles and nerves showing great
mobility, and every thought having some ex-
ternal reflection in the sensitive and expressive
features Add to these rich brown complex
ion, very clear and healthful shaved cheeks /;
n handsome and massive throat small white
ears, almost hidden under the tangle Of brown
gray hair eyes which ray out electric vivacity
whenever the eyebrows are lifted small white
hands small feet full chest and broad shoul.
ders a prominent aud full under lip, which in
repose is frequently lapped'Over thesupper enc
and with these points duly blended together,
you will have picture of the Little Giant as
good as can be given under the hurry aud ex-
element of this letter.
AS O speaker, Douglas seems to dsdain orna-
ment, and marches right on against the body of
his subject with irresistible power and direct
ness. His rhetorical assault has nothing Of the
cavalry slash in its impressiveness, rather re-
sembing a charge of heavy infantry with fixed
bayonet, and calling forcibly to mind the at
tack Of those "slx thousand English veterans
immortaized by Thomas Davis;
"Steady they step adown the slope,
Steady they climb the hill;
Steady they load-steady they fire
Marching right onward still"
His voice is rich and mus cal baritone rather
monotonous in its passages Of statement, but
swelling into occasional clarion blasts towards
the close Of each important period, He is heard
with breathless attention, except when now and
again, the galleries feel tempted to applaud
these demonstrations appearing to give partic-
ular uneabinesS 10 the Administration, oeces-
sion and Republican Senators, and drawing
down upon us, once or twice, threats that "the
galleries shall be cleared if these unseemly dis
turbances are repeated"
Just in the middle of his speech, the Con-
grossmen upon the hoor-about one hundred
and Gfty-received notice that vote was
about to be taken in the House and this at
once produced stampede which caused Doug
las to suspend for the space Of few minutes.
As fast as they had answered their names they
returned-the BIS coming first, the C's follow
ing and so on through the rest Of the alphabet.
Seward. against whom great part Of the Lit
tie Giants speech is directed, sits uneasily in
bis chair, strokng his long face with his hand,
smiling, and appearing to pay close attention.
1t is hoped that be will reply when the Illinois
Senator has concluded. The speech Of Douglas
is apparently received by all sides with great
favor-even the ladies suspending the fntter-
ing Of their fans, lest that might prevent their
bearing. 1t is a triumph such as has seldom
been witnessed in the Senate and when he
takes bis seat there is long deep sigh all
through the Chamber, as If those present had
been afraid to breathe deeply while the address
was in progress.