Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-11


A Washington correspondent gives The
idlloRihS sketch; j u'iiAli ? Nhh,t
Anikht session is queer phenomenon.--
II school for amateur orators and politi-
cianSto rehearse their parts without the en-
coufagement Of an audience. The session
begins a. P. H. The softened gas-lght
streams gently down through the embossed
and spangled glass ceiling Of fhs Hall, ad0rn-
cd with the coats Of arms OF thirty-three
States, which once formed 9 this glorious
UnionH The Speaker assumes the chair, and
looks round upon congregation Of capaelous
arm chairs, lined with red leather, and--
empty He hAs before hlIa list In order, Of
the honorable genlemen who have had the
felicity to obtain the door. First comes the
honorable hr. Lestherlungs, Of Illinois. The
gentleman rises IN an unexpected part Of the
empty void, with glass Of water and two
qpires ofmhnusoFipt beiore him, and begins.
Behind him, before him, and around him,
yawn the vacant am-ehairs. In the vast
gallery are three dozen spectators scattered
wide, whom curiosity has drawn TO the capi-
tol 70 see what is going on. Three-nimblsd-
fingered reporters in front Of the speakers
desk are taking down accurately the speech
Of the honorable Leatherlungs. Four idle
pages, in blue spencers and brasS buttons
are playing together in a corner. A few
fugitive members drop in one after an
other, as the orator proceeds, and iall
listlessly into their seats. The Honorable Ar.
Leatherlungs, of Illinois, goes on. He warns
with his mighty theme. He has sublime
vision Of the American Eagle, followed by a
glimpse of the American flag, its stars al un-
dimmed He glows, he perspires he expecto-
rates. He draws his pocket handkerchief,
and ferceiy absorbs a half tumbler Of the
water before him. His voice rises, and re-
sounds through the vast Hall, and roars out
inso the silent passages and corridors, and
disturbs the still evening air. His enormous
exefiions fatigue even the Honorable Leath-
erlunVs. He catches his breath and grasps
the back Of his armchair. He iercely sWal-
lows the remainder of bis glass Of water,
claps bis hands sharply and one Of the little
blue Pucls OF pages dances out 70 fill his
tnmblers. Now thu Honorable gentleman
9goes in for peroratiou, BE draws his era
vat. He twiches at his Wristbands. he
strikes dramatic and perilous attitudes. He
cracks his voice and tears his passion TO
tatters, TO very rags, He fancies that his
iar-of, beloved buncombe in Illinois is lis
tening, and be redoables his efforts. he has
visions Of 'iatrieidRl strife and nfraternal
blood" He closes in grand burst and eli
max Of eloquenee, and siuks exhausted into
his seat.
Next comes the Honorable Mr.. Dullbrains
Of Connecticut. The Hon. Mr.. D. has an
other two quires Of paper, another glass Of
water, and another hour to invest in their
consumption. The four pases, the three re-
porterS, the twenty members, and the solita-
~ Speaker, listen more or less inattentively
to The dry argument of the Hon. Mr.. Dull
brains. AT length be has done, and the Hen
orable Mr. BlatheTskite, Of Arkansas, assumes
the floor. The Hon. Mr.. Blatherskite makes
a fierce secession speech--all about ''NOTth-
ern aggression and Southern wrongs, and
| s'menaces, and t'coerciOn, &c. The audience
/ listen patiently-silen but unconvinced=
The Hon. Mr.. Blatherskite at length gets
through and another-and perhaps another,
Honorable member reads his speech to his
/ own special Bunc0mbe. The evening Hanes
the hour Of half past ten or eleven arrives
the small audience melts away slowly
/ one member after another takes his oTercOat
and hat and leaves-the four pages are droWs.
I ing in the arm chairs-three reportets alone
are attentive auditors-the martyred Speaker
sits like patience on monument not smil-
ing, but with deeply injured expression of
eountensnce- at length, the last speech
to Buncombe is ended and the night session
closed. .sa-