Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-03-19
How senator NIsGaIl Talks and Looks
The Philadelphia Bulletin draws the fol-

ldElng picinla = "a .iaili slel'- - - =
ator:
Wigfall has been preparing Tor an assault
ap0n. PresldeHt Lincoln's Inaugural Addreea
syel sineo lal Monday, and Thursday the
dodFe was Z lad to him. He idg' ted 4
abaat the Sel4te Chamber for some time I
after the session began, occasionally disap, 4
nearing in g mysterious way into a retiring !
room, and reappearing with refreshed ar.
While The Clerk read the Journal OF the pre- !
4ions day,. aud while some other maliers of
business were in progress, Wigfall was set
tlinF himself In his place; tumbler tull OF
whisky and water was placed on his desk
Senator Douglas turned his chair aroand 50
that be could face him; Senator Mason took
a nlsos 70. isont 0i him, end aonsl o. ztEo
| other Democratic Senators arranged them
selves In allhuuer ID hhoW BoIee respect for
the secession orator, who is even more sub
Timely insoleut than the Senators that
have Quilted the sb0dy. On the aRupuh
ljeau side thee was no appearanee Of excite
ment or expectation. Mr.. Trumbull was
quietly sitting at his desk, except when
called aside hYsons ohs anEiogs % ealsvap
a Senator 50 rear the President, Senator
Sumner was standing beyOnd the circle Of
desks, In GliTely chat with coupls Of Others.
Senator Hale was moving about In an easy,
Indifferent way, seemingly not conseisuslthat
great orstion Wa impending. The new
Sehaiors scarcely yet at home in theirplaces,
were looking more respectfully towards the
Democratic quarter. The galleries, especial
~ those assigned q the men, vets dlledi ier
people 20 70 see and hear Wigfall as they 60
10 q Insnagerie5 and since Rarey 3 departure,
there are no places of amusement but "a ong-
horse theatre that IS nothslf 90 entertaining
as Wigfall in the Senats. - a aoli p s,17d
WighII is q man BY no means imposing in
figure and appearance, He has a profusion
of hair on his face, and be tugs ct and iendles
his moussaehes and Whiskers all the time
that be is seated, When be rises 70 speak be
puts bis hands IN bis pockets thus spreading
part his froek-coat and exhibiting q black
satin waistcoat such as Southern Congress
men especially effect Wigfall has COED
clear voice, that fills the Senate Chamber,
and when not confused and excited By too
frequent reireshment he speaks deliberately,
and in such forcible, emphatic manner, that
he most creates an imI ression. in few in
experienced minds, that be IS talking sense.
Bis speech yesterday was carefully prepared
and was generally correct in grammatical
; point of view. Wigfal has had some advRn-
tsges Of education, and bas uoFh evidently the
advantage Of book Of classical quotations,
for he brings IN LATIN line At times. s. Yes
q teFdsy he employed that highly fresh quota
ton, HTeRpoTG Rsat1ltlr et nos mHtdElur illis,
giving it an emphasis, as if it was something
that had been discovered since the annexation
OF Texas, and was intended as her apology for
secession. But there Is nothing classical about
Wigiall except his books of quotations. he
, is Of the vulgar order OF orators, without wit
without dignity, without the solemn earnest.
ness that must ever fill the patriots heart and
speak through his lips, his illustrations are
common-plsce and give no force to his feeble
ideas. As to patriotism, bis mind is diSor-
dered on the subject. With q pFetense that
Texas IS his country, and with the idea that
the more be can excite hostility between Der
and the United States, the better ne will
serve her, he calls himself 8 patriot, and
thinks he can prove he is so By what he calls
logic T. process; for this most illogical
and erratie Of blEsterers is very fond of using
the Language ef schools. he talks about the
teachings Of Jefferson, Madison, Webster and
Jackson, on the subject of secession, as q soph-
istries,n which must hurt the feelings of the
( august shades Of those departed statesmen, i
/ they hover in the atmosphere surrounding
4 Wigfall -, \.
Alter each climax or anti-climax in the or
: : atorical passages Of Wigfall, be lifts the tpm
bier from his desk 70 take fresh sip of hi
inspiring fluid. he then resumes his remarks
: with new Vigor. But sum up all that b.
!. says, analyze il as you may, and Il amonnt
y 70 nothing less than treason. In any less in
: dalgent and paternal government than ours
~ the traitor orator would be imprisoned q
once, and hung as soon as it could be don't
decently, But Wigfan win be suffered t
bluster at Washington and no doubt depsr
peaceably to resume his bluster at MOntgom
. cry; for he boasts of having been sccredite
to the Secession Congress, while be holds
> seat in the Congress Of the Union. His pow
: er, for good or evil, however, Is not great
and cannot be great, into whatever body b
may carry IT. SO A4k .4 %L-ea