, 1861-01-28
QUE WASHINGTON LETTER.



Tho sensation speech Of the session in the
Representative branch, was delivered By shcs-
rard Clemens in the House yesterday. Ecver
have I witnessed the firc.c:t!crs so powerfully
stirred up to wrath, SO blind with rage and
vcxation. Mr. Clemens is Democrat, and
represents the Wheeling District Of Virginia,
While he goes with his party on all regular
party questions, he is i Union man to the back
bone. lie goes for the Union as it is, aud for
yesterday he poured Hood Of moultcn lava
upon The Disunionists, that scared and burnt
them to finders. lie speaks with great energy,
aud belongs to the Patrick Henry school Of
orators, and is said by good judges not to he
far inferior to the great model in his power Of
carrying away IN audience. Henry never de-
nounced the tories Of his day with greater
force than Clemens did the Disunionists Of the
present d:y. The scene WAS truly exciting
Thc galleries were full-many Senators and
privileged persons were on the floor, and hence
hc had Il 1ine audience. He took his stand near
TIC center Of the chamber on the aouth side Of
the dividing aisle between the Republicans
and Democrats. And then for an hour 1c
delivered 4 succession OF broadsides into
the secession pirates. Frequent attempts we're
madeto Interrupt, by Disunion menbcrs,whicl
lie rcpcllcd. Rust of Arkansas and Logan
Of lninois came near having ftacas Rust
made demonstration towards Clemens, when
Logan promptly stepped between them, or
deriug the big Arkansas bully to lesist. Ed
1nunson called him I traitor. 3IcClcrnand re-
piled that things had come to pretty pass
when to support the Union Was accounted
treason: Foul;c and Garnett had . brush. The
latter is little rcd-headed, sansuinc, nervous
dlsunionist, and during the delivery Of the
speech was as restless aud ill-naturcd as 4
prairie wolf He snarlcd constantly, but was
afraid to como near enough the 1aastiT 10 bite
Tic Union Democrats and South Americans
gathered about Clemens, arplaudinS his re-
marks and encouraging him to- go on. Logan,
Holman, Etheridgc and other Unionists, would
say, SOTO ,oce, At the end OF fierce iuycctiyc Or
burning sarcasm, Good" "lIit them again."
The disunfonists stood cycling him ana NUT.
tcrinS traitor. .scoundre1. What makes him
particularly offensive 10 them, is his advocacy
ofthc rights aap Interests off the non-s!aye-
holders ofthe South, the men who earn their
o"n bread, and do not whip their living out Of
slaves. Turning round to the dlsunioai6ts
and addressing them, he said, You arc goin.
out Of tue Union because ZOE eau not get more
territory for slavery. How much will you ac-
quire or annex after leaving the Union. Not
as much as would fill the palm Of MY hand!
Tic Free States would rather wage 30 years
w:1s with your Southern confederacy than sur
render an acre of territory to it, or let
you sc9cire a particle ofsoil on the continent!
He reminded Tie shareholders that they held
their slaves by the consent anl sutlcrance Of the
non-slaycholdcrs Of tho Sorth-of the men
will hands made horncr with toll. Butt re-
fraln here f!em farther notice, hut send youa
sketch Of his remark for publication. The
speech will be responded to ly tens Of thou
sands in the Slave States, and will do much
towards beating back the dis.nion plague
rlyaying portions OF Virginia The counties
vest OF the Blue Ridge arc stlll sound aud
loyal 10 the Union. The worst infected parts
Of the State are where the negro breeding In
siness IL the predominant interest
The present official stage Of the secession
question IS IS follows: The Legislature Of
that State has fixed the 9Th day Of February
next for the election Of dclesates to the Con-
ycn1fon Ekich Is to meet ut Richmond on the
18th Of February, to take into consideration
what courfe Virginia should adopt In view or
the crisis in onr civil history. simu1tane-
ously with the election of such Delegates the
voters are invited to BY their ballots whct!,-
er.. nany, action Of the said Convention dis
solving the connection Of Virginia with The
Federal Union, or changing the organic Law OF
The State, shall Or shall not Be submitted to the
toozRe far ratification or rstctfon.".
i majority cf the Legislature arc opposed to
secession, but tic miz3tity are the most skill
ful and talented. The majority procured the
insertion Of the above clause: But the minor
f+xy S!fnf, Afht fnY 4hn
election Of delegates that many Of tiia strong
Union counties Of Western Virginia will not
Fct the news that an election Is to be held, be-
lore the day fixed for it Ia past. The
Dlsunlonista live mostly in: Eastern. Vir:
Gnla, not fns from the city Of Richmond. and
bulk Of the Unaon men viii not haTe received
notice Of What is being done. 4 snap judg-