Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-01
FROM COLUMBUS.

Cincinnati papers;
Correspondence Of The Cincinnati Gazctte.l
COLUMBUS, Feb p.
The speech of Mr.. Hutcheson, Dem,
which was read yesterday afternoon il
the House by Mr., Woods, on his bill t
prevent the harboring of fugitive slaves
is worthy Of a passing notice as one o
the euriosities of the session. 1t wa
the offspring of an ingenious but diseased
intellect, and embodied many of the will,
theories peculiar to its author. The su
perior elegance of diction displayed il
this production must be conceded by ev
cry admirer Of pure English, but th
palpable absurdity of its doctrines rem
dered it altogether harmless. Accord
ing to this speech, Northern philosophy y
Northern theology, and the prevailing
ideas of the people of the North upoI
the subject Of government are all radi
eally wrong, and lead to anarchy anC
ruin. Mr.. H. seemed to think that tht
Federal Government had no powers only
such as each of the several States nigh
allow it to exercise; in other words, tha
: the Federal Government was clearly sub
ordinate to that of each of the States
He thought the Fugitive Law clearly
unconstitutional. He paid most ex
travagant tribute to the conduct Of
South Carolina in nullifying the laws
in 1882. The only hope OF salvation fol
the North was complete abandonment
| of the Webster construction of the Con-
stitution, which he claims had unfortu
nately taken possession of the minds Of
the people, and the substitution Of the
Calhoun theory.
Mr.. Flagg Democrat) followed He
had not examined Mr. NJ bill, and did
not know whether he would vote for the
bill or not, but he repudiated the SEN
timents Of the speech to which he had
listened as heresy democratic, &c
| MIR. Huteheson corrected Mr.. F. by
stating that he did not speak as Dem
ocrat, but only spoke his iadtvidual
opinions. t-s
Mr., Flagg continued, and inflicted a
| long speech on the House, principally "
eulogistic of Democratic stump orators
in the late campaign in warning Repuo-
licans that there would be disunion, in
case of Mr.. Lincoln's election. >s
| confess that it looked to me little
queer that so discreeta Il man as Mr. Flagg
should persist in inhicting so long a
speech upon the House, after confes-
sion that he had not examined the only
question before the House, and was quite
undecided as to which way he would
vote.
Owing to the time consumed in this
discussion, the House failed to get
through in two days the routine of morn
ing business OF one day, and accordingly
took another recess until this morning,
when the discussion involving the IRE
pressible conflict was renewed. The
Judiciary Committee having reported in
favor Of the indefinite postponement Of
Mr. Shaw's bill, similar to that of Mr..
HutcLeson, Dir. Scott delivered lengthy
speech on the subject
Mr.. Plants then got the floor " ben
much buZzing ana confusion that he
could only be heard Il distance Of few
feet: but soon the noise began to subside,
and in Il few minutes this recently tur-
bulent body was as silent as any devout
religious congregation. The speaker
held his audience spell-bound for ABOUT
two hours, until nearly one clock.
will not attempt at this time syn
opsis Of this speech, and | am alm ost
afraid to attempt to describe It's effects
1t was startling oratorical effort. EY-
cry body acknowledged its power; every
body said it was by far the greatest
speech OF the session, and it was freely
stated by many that it was the greatest
speech they ever heard.
In the philosophical side thoughts
interspersed throughout the speech, it
resembled some of the best efforts Of
Gov Corwin. The argumentatiye fea-
lures of the speech were clear, earnest
and forcible, while the pathetic features
were quite irresistible. [ saw very
old, gray headed man, probably the
oldest in the room, and Democrat,
weep like child, as Mr.. Plants painted
the effects Of the proposed law. '
Besides discussing the merits of the
bill, the speaker, following the line of
argument laid down yesterday afternoon
by Mr.. Flagg, digressed into an argu-
ment upon the relative merits of the
doctrines and policy of the two parties
This part OF the speech savored some
what of the rugged issue, and [ do not
wish to be understood as indorsing it.
In this speech Mr.. Plants took every
one by surprise. He was member two
years ago, and rather astonished his
fellow members at that time, by speech
which gave him the reputation Of being
a very witty man. Ge has since made
some very ironical speeches, as we'll as
some speeches characterized by sound
argument, and he has long since been
regarded here as second to none in the
House in point of real ability; but l
venture to say that no one had supposed
him capable of making such speech as
that delivered in the House this fore
noon There is no dissenting opinion
as to the ability displayed.
In the Senate, nothing of any impor
tance was done except to kill the Kan
sas Relief bill.
One OF TWO uhitlporIdhC plllS were III
troduced.
In the House we shall continue to
have the irrepressihle conflict this after
noon. Mr. NJ MeShoaler, one Of the most
insignificant meHiers in the House has
the floor, and will attempt to rep y to
Mr.. Plants
A salute of thirty -four guns was
fred in the State House yard to-day at
noon,
JOHANNES
The correspondent of the Commercial
says:
The House spent the morning in dis