Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-27
An Old.Eashiuned Senatorial Debate,


Under this caption tie Washington cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Press gives
q description Of some af the men who par
ticipated in the debate in the q. s. Senate
on Tuesday week on the subject of arrests
for disioyal practice. He says: ut is
" not often in these days of written
speeches that an improptu debate arises
g in the United States Senate. On Tues
day, however, one came. 1t was uney-
"pected and unprepsred for. Every Sem
ator Who spoke did it upon tue impulse
OF the moment, without apparent fore
thought, and the speeches were most
interesting, not only from their matter
and sentiment, but from the sarnestness
of their delivery"
After giving sketch Of BAYARD, SAULs-
BURY. and POWELL, he gives the following
episode in the debate:
''Powelps speech had been rushing on,
halt heard and bat balf-heeded, for some
time, when Senator Fessenden, of Maine.
rose to ask him question. Fessenden is
al old man, tall and commanding, with a
head and face aud form which show those
qualities of mind which make him the
acknowledged leader of the Senate. He
slowly rose from his seat, took off his eve
glasses, looked at Powell until that gen.
ueman stopped, and then stretching out
his hand towards the Democracy, in q
calm, kind voice, asked the Kentuckian a
| question: VIII the Senator tell Inc. if he
were at the head OF the Government. and
he wcre satisfied in his own mind that an
Individual, in time like this, was about
to commit crime, the consequence of
which would be exceedingly Injurious to
the Government itself, and would strength
en- the arm OF the rebellion, and there
were no other way in which he could
prevent it, would he not arrest the in
dlvldual without law, and hold him by
the strong hand tor the safety of the peo-
pie 2 aud having asked the question, the
Senator sat down as slowly as be had
risen, and awaited a reply. Powell
coughed, explained, and apologized, and
his speech rushed on. Fesse.. den again
rose, and remarking, The Senator from
kentucky has answered a great many
Questions, but not the one winch | asked
him. Will he not answer it 2? he repeated
bis question, and gave way TO Powell
who, good-natnredly, charged the ques
toner with making speech instead OF
asking question, and then rushed of
with the remainder OF his speech Fes
senten looked around him, and the smile
on his conDtenance told how well the
kentucklan had been cornered."
Then follows personal sketches, of Sher
man, Of Ohio, Colamer, of Vermont, Hale
OF New Hampshire, Wilson, of Massachu.
sets, and Doolltle, of this State We sub
join the latter:
Doolittle is of different type. He is
an orator. He is one of those earnes,
looking men that bring back so torcibly tc
MUD the history of Lecompton, aud the
steadtastne-s of the Republican handful
who resisted Democratic encroachment in
days gone 10y. Dark hair and whskers
snd keen, bright e e, mark the counter.
ance of the Senator. When he rises tc
speak, he steps out into the centre aisle
and, standing on the edge of the highest
step, gives full play to every feeling and
motion to every limb. His ,1ce is loud
and is most sonorous bass. It rings
through the chamber, compelling univer.
sal attention. He is one of the best speak
ers in the Senate.