The constitutional union., 1861-03-01

Ia tte House of Representatives cf Missouri on Me
 Sth day cf Fedruary, 1861.
 After long and heated discussion on the reference of a bill amending the charter of the city efG-~sadeiet, to a standing committee of the House
 MT. Riley obtained the floor, and addressed the House:
 Mr Speaker: Everybody is a pitching into this matter like toad frogs into a willow swamp. on a lovely evening in the balmy month of June, when the mellow light ofthc full moon fills with delicious flood the thin cthcrial atmospheric air, Applause.] Sir. 1 want to put in a word, or perhaps word and a half
 There seems to be disposition to fight. I say, if there is any fighting to de done, come on with your corn-cobs and lightning bugs :, [Applause.l In the language of the ancient Roman,
 "Come one, come all this rock shall fly
 From its firm base, in a pigs eye"
 Now, there has been great deal of bom- bast here to-day. l call 1t bombast from from Alpha' to Omega" q don't under stand the meaning of the words though.) Sir, the question to refer, is great and magnif- cent question. It is the all-absorbing ques- tion-lIkea sponge, sir-a large unmeasurable sponge, of globe shape, in small tumbler of water-it sucks up everything Sir, stand here with the weapons 1 have designated, to defend the rights of St Louis county, the rights of any other county-eyen the county of Cedar itself. Laughter and applause Sir the debate has assumed a latitudinosity We have had a little black jack buncombe, little two-bit buncombe, bombast buncombe. bung- hole buncombe, and the devil and his grandmother knows what other kind of bun combe. Laughter.
 Why, sir. just give some of 'em little Southern soap and a little Northern water, and quicker than hound pup can lick a skill let they will make enough buncombe-lather to wash the golden flock that roams abroad the azure meads of Heaven. [Cheers and laughter l allude to the starry Armament
 The Speaker. The gentleman is out of order. He must confne himself to the ques- ton.
 Mr. Riley Just retain your linen if you please I'll stick to the text as close as pitch plaster to pine plank, or a lean pig to hot jam rock. Cries of '' go on;' you'll do "]
 want to say to these carboneriterous gen tlemen, these gneous individuls, these deton- ating demonstrators, these pereginous volca- noes, come on with your combustibles! If I don well, I'll suck the gulf of Mexico through goose quill Laughter and ap- plause.] Perhaps you think I am diminutive tubers and sparse in the mundane elevation You may discover, gentlemen, you are labor ing under as great amsapprehension as though you had incinerated your inner vestment. In the language of the noble bard,
 ''I was not born in a thicket
 To be scared by a cricket" Applause
 Sir, we have lost our proper position Our proper position is to the zenith and nadir- our heads to the one, our heels to the other, at right angle with the horizon, spanded by that azure are of the lustrous Armament, bright with the curruscatious innumerable cancellations, and proud as speckled stud horse on county court day. [Cheers.]
 But how have the mighty fallen, in the language of the poet Silversmte We have lost our proper position. We have assumed sloshindicular or diaganologcal position. And what is the cause? Echo answers !" bum combe," sir, buncombe" The people have been fed on buncombe, while lot of spav- ined, ringboned, hamstrung, wind -galled swyn- eyed, splithoofed, distempered, pollevllled, pot-belled politicians have had their noses in the public crib until there ain't fodder enough left to make gruel for sick grasshopper. ICheers and laughter.