Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-15

Nocturnal Life In Washin gton- Oddly or
n Nieht Session In the House Of Replt-
sentRtives.
A Washington correspondent gives the fol-
lowing sketch:
A night session is queer phenomenon.
1t is school for amateur orators and politi-
clans to rehearse their parts without the en-.
couragement of an audience. The session
begins at seven P. N. The softened gas-light
streams gently down through the embossed
and spangled glass ceiling of the hall, adorned
with the coats Of arms of thirty.three States,
which once formed "this glorious Union.h
The Speaker assumes the chair, and looks
round upon congregation of capaeious arm
chairs, lined with red leather, and-empty.
He has before him a list, in order, of the hon
orable gentlemen who have had the felicity
to obtain the floor.
First, comes the honorable Mr.. Leather
lungs, of Illinois. the gentleman rises in
an unexpected part of the empty void, with
glass of water and two quires of manu-
script before him, and begins. Behind him,
before him and around him yawn the vacant
arm chairs. In the vast gallery are three
dozen spectators scattered wide, whom Curl
osity has drawn to the Capitol to see what
is going on. Three nimble-fngered 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 fall list
| lessly into their seats. The Honorable Mr..
| Leatherlungs, of Illinois, goes on. He warns
! with his mighty theme. He has a sublime
| vision of the American Eagle, followed by a
| glimpse of the American flag, its stars all
undimmed. He glows, he perspires, he ex-
pectorates. He draws his pocket handker-
chief and fercely absorbs half tumbler Of
the water before him.
His voice rises, and resounds through the
vast Hall, and roars out into the silent pass
ages and corridors, and disturbs the still
evening air. His enormous exertions ia
tigue even the Honorable Leatherlungs. He
catches his breath and grasps the back oi
his armchair. He fercely swallows the
remainder of his glass of water, claps his
! hands sharply and one of the little blue
"Pucks" of pages dances out to fill hi;
tumbler
Now the Honorable gentleman "goes in
for peroration. He draws his cravat. he
twiches at his Wristbands. He strikes dra-
matte and perilogs attitudes. He cracks his
voice and tears his passion to tatters, to very
rags. He fancies that his far-off, beloved
Buncombe in Illinois is listening, and he re-
doubles his efforts. He has visions of 'fatri
cidal strife" and fraternal blood" He closes
in grand burst and climax of eloquence
and sinks exhausted into his seat.
Next comes the Hon. Mr.. Dullbrains, o
Connecticut. The Hon. Mr.. d. has another
two quires ofpaper, another glass Of water
and another hour to invest in their con
sumption. The four pages, the three report
ers, the twenty members, and the solitar!
Speaker, listen more or less inattentively h
the dry argument of the Hon. Mr.. Dull
brains Assn I'D.
At length he has done, and the Hon. Mr.
Blatherskite, of Arkansas assumes the floor
The Hon. Mr.. Blatherskite makes a fierc
secession speech, all about Northern ag
gression," ard "Southern wrongs" AM
"menaces,n and "coercion," sc. The audi
ence listen patiently, SILENT but unconyinced
The Hon. Mr.. Blatherskite at length get
through, and another, and perhaps another
Honorable member reads his speech to hi
own special Buncombe.
The evening wanes, the hour OF half pas
ten or eleven arrives, the small audienc
melts away slowly, one member after an
other takes his overcoat and hat and leaves
the four pages are browsing in the arm
chairs, three reporters alone are attentiv
auditors, the martyred Speaker sits ik
patience on monument, not smiling, br
with deeply injured expression of counter
ance, and, at length. the last speech to Bun
: combe is ended and the night session closet