New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. LovEyOY's sPEECH-THE pATRARCHAL MOB
IN THE HOUSE. .UF


From Special Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April 5, 1860.
Freedom of speech, on the Republican side of the
Chamber was indicated to-day in the House of
Representatives. The House resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole upon the State of the
Union, and Mr.. Wsshbum of Maine was called to
the chair. After laying aside dozen bills the
Con mittee reached that upon the tariff, which was
taken up for consideration. The floor was assigned
to Mr.. Lovejoy of Illinois. For three or four days
honorable gentlemen, and especially those from the
South, had been sketching the lneaments ofpolyga-
my with free pencil. Mr. Loyejoy, with an eye
to artistic harmony, now proceeded to paint the
beauties of that other "twin relic of barbarism y
Slavery. The patriarchs from below the Potomac
who goat the black twin but detest the white,
were eager to hear what Loyejoy had to say in dis
paragement of their ebony favorite.
1t was soon evident from the high key in which
be pitched bis speech, that the eight weeks Of nces
SAINT abuse to which one side of the Chamber had
been subjected, during the struggle over the Speak
ership had not been thrown away upon Lovejoy.
Apt always TO free his mind he had what our
Methodist friends call uncommon liberty 10 day.
When he commenced speaking, he stood quite on
the left hand of the Chair, and at remote point
from the Democracy. Getting warm with his
theme, he advanced step by step, as is his wont
when reused until he reached the area in front Of
the Chair, and continued, as he uttered one sea-
tence after another, to cross ,dualy toward
the Democratic benches, his right ARM with the
fist clenched, being extended high in air-this not
being menace, as was evident to everybody, but
simply one of the usual gestures of the Illinois
orator.
In the ardor Of bis argument, LOvejoy was ap-
preaching the line which divides the Republican
from the Democratic side of the Chamber. He
was uttering severe phGppics against Slavery as
system. He was indorsipg and explaining and en-
forcing john Wesley's declaration, that it is "the
81 sum of all yillainies." He was neither attacking,
nor abiding to- persons, but only to the "nstitu-
"tion" Doubtless he was using sharp words, and
was loo king straight at the Chivalry. And there
upon, Roger A. Pryor rose and walked rapidly
down one of the aisles, and confronting Loyejoy,
ard standing close to him, said in substance, that he
would not allow him to utter such language. at
that precise instant LovejOys right arm was lifted
on high and the fist clenched being in the act of
enforcing bis argument with an emphatic gesture.
In the twinklipg of an eye Mr. John F. Potter of
Wisconsin confronted Pryor. and said, in substance,
to him, "Lovejoy shall speak For eight weeks
"we listened to your stuff, 10 silence, and now we
Intend to say what we please. Lovejoy shall
"speak ~ Pryor made no remark.
In the briefest possible space Of time, there was
rush to the spot from all parts of the House, IN
iii some forty membars wero in tie area, compacted
together, and all talking vociferously and gesteu
lating violently, in the midst of whom stood Love-
10y, with arm still extended, his mind doubtless in.
tent upon the spot where he stopped when inter-
rupted BY patriarch Pryor, aud seemingly waiting
for the tumult to subside, that he could complete
bis unfinished gesture, and 60 On with his outline
sketch of the black twin"
The most conspicuous Of the patriarchs who
rushed to the yindication of their ebony darling,
we're, in addition to Mr.. Pryor, Messrs. Barksdale
Burnett, and Crawford. If injustice is done by
this classification, the will be cheerfully cor
rectsd.
Of the Roundheads who went down the prompt
est to the defense of Mr. Loveoy after Mr.. Potter,
perhaps Mr.. Kellogg of Illinois, who made the
Chamber ring with the declaration that his col
league should be heard, Mr. Millward of Pa, Mr..
Farnsworth of ILL.,, Mr.. Kenyon and Mr.. Beale Of
N. Y, Mr. Edeerton and Mr.. Toupkins of Ohio,
should be mentioned though others, doubtless, de-
serve equal credit for the readiness they displayed
to indicate freedom of speech on the floor Of the
House at any hazard.
The scene lasted some five minutes-a long time
in row. The Chairman piled his mallet till he
grew weary, and shouted Order |" till he grew
hoarse. In despair, he summoned the Sergeant-at-
Arms. As is usual in such exigencies, that func
tionary could not be found. A substitute finally
appeared and approached the brawlng crowd
bearing aloft the mace the emblem OF authority and
dignity which in this instance consists of black
bludgeon some three feet long, having a small me-
talc eagle with spread pibions, and looking rather
chicken. hearted, perched on its top. But neither
the patriarchs, with Pryor at their head, who were
shouting at the top of their voices, that Lovejoy
should not abuse the black relic; nor the Round
heads, with Potter as their organ, who were
declaring in stentorian tones that Loveloy should
express his opinion respecting said relic, paid the
slightest regard to Washburn's mallet or the Ser
geant's mace.
Abandoning all hope of bringing order out of such
a chaos, Mr.. Washburn left the chair, which was
resumed by the Speaker, to whom Mr.. w. hastily
reported that the Committee was unable 10 proceed
with its business on account Of the dsorderly
duct of rome Of its members. After some time
and much sion the Sneaker succeeded in ds-