Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-27
skete6es Of the RtyIs Of sauIsbury, Pow
II, Eessenden, sherman, Wilson, DOO-
little and COllEmers ~.

speeches that an lmpromptu debate arises
in the United States Senate. On Tuesday,
however, one came. 1t was unexpected
and unprepared for. Every Senator who
spoke did SO upon the impulse of the mo
ment, without apparent forethought, and
the speeches were most interesting, not
only from their matter and sentiment, but
from the earnestness Of their delivery
The question discussed was one of great i'm
poTtance. It was upon q resolution intro
duced last week by Senator Salisbury Of
Delaware, asking information from the
Secretary Of War about the arrest Of two
citizens Of Delaware imprisoned at Fort
Delaware, and the resolution, of course,
opened up the entire question Of the
habeas corpus, and the military arrests
made by the United States Government.
Salisbury and Bayard, Of Delaware, and
Powell, Of Kentucky, were the principal
advocates of the resolution. James A.
Bsysrd is one Of the oldest men Of the
Senate. He is rather large, somewhat
stoop-shouldered, and, like General Fre-
mont, parts his long, straight gray hair
very nearly in the middle Of his head
His voice is clear, though not loud, and is
distinctly heard all over the Senate. He
was very earnest in his remarks, and ses-
ticulated strenuously. When not speak
ing he paid much attention TO the pro-
gress of the debate, and often nodded
assent and dissent to the sentiments Of
ms colleagues. SGnfsbury iis b -nfddle-agsd
man, rather over than under size. He has
black hair and marked eyebrows, and lets
his whiskers grow ct random. When
speaking he lashes himself into phrenzy,
and brings his arms down fercely, but al
ways accompanies the gesture with that
peculiar spring of the body which unmis-
takably tells his hearers thqt some little
part at least Of his ferocity is not genu-
inc. Mr.. Salisbury is a loud speaker
Senator Powell, of Kentucky, is slightly
bald, and, that, connected with the fringe
of whiskers encircling his face, gives
him that oval countenance which always
betokens man who likes peace far bet
ter than war-both in national and do
nestle affairs. Powell is not the deepest
thinker or the strictest logieian Of the
Senate He talks a great deal, and his
speech rushes swiftly on-high, low,
grand, heroic, sympathetic, patriotic, and
peaceful-and, excepting his immediate
but one-fourth of it is heard.
The little episode wish to chronicle
intimately concerns the Kentucky Sena-
tor. His speech had been rushing on,
half-heard and but halfheeded, for some
time, when Senator Fessenden, of Maine,
rose to ask him aquestion. Fessenden is
an old man, tall and commanding, with
a head and face and 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
eyeglasses, looked st Powell until that
Gentleman stopped, and then, stretching
out his hand toward the Democracy, in
calm voice, asked him a question: H Will
the Senator tell me, if he were at the head
of the Government, and be were satisfied
in his own mind that an individual, in a
time like this, was about TO commit crime
the consequence of which would be exceed
ingly injurious to the Government itself
and would strengthen the arm Of the re-
bellion, and there were no other way in
which he conld prevent it, would he not
arrest the individual without law, and
hold him by the strong hand for the safety
of the peOple2" and having asked the
question, the Senator sat down as slowly
as he had risen, and awaited reply
Powell coughed, explained and apoloeized,
and his speech rushed on. Fessenden again
arose, and remarking, The Senator from
Kentucky has answered a great many
questions, but not the one which I asked
him. Will he not answer it 2" he repeated
his question and gave way to Powell, who
good naturedly charged the questioner
with making a speech, instead of asking
question, and then rushed off with the re-
mainder of his speech. Fessenden looked
around him, and the smile on his counte-
nance told how we'll the Kentuckian had
been cornered. = ass
Sherman, Of Ohio, advocated the resolu-
ton, but for q different reason from that
given by Powell. He supported the gov
ernment in its action, but desired the in
formation which the resolution called for.
Sherman is very tall, and has q most COM
manding presence. His style of oratory is
pleasing. He is fOrcible, precise, and al
ways ready for his opponents. His re-
marks had an interest which was enhanced
by the popularity Of his views.
The opponents Of the resolution were
numerous. Judge Collamer, the elderly
Senator from Vermont sound in all his
views, and with an experience known to
but few on that floor, explained the ha-
beas corpus. Senator Hale, Of New
Hampshire, with his eccentric speeches,
and his peculiar looks, walking and stand
ing as straight as q martinez would re-
quire, also gave word Of wisdom now
and then. Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts,
and Mr.. Doolittle, Of Wisconsin, however,
were the leading opponents of Messrs.
Salisbury and Bayard.
Henry Wilson is one Of the hard-work-
ing men Of the Senate. Never idle, never
backward, never uninterested, he was
prepared at once to sustain the Govern
ment to the extent of his ability. Mr..
Wilson is an earnest talker; he can
scarcely be called an orator. He com
stands attention not by beautiful language
or graceful gesture, but by strong, clear,
Straightforward argument. The military
vest he wears adds to the force Of his
speech against the rebels. When he be-
gins, he stands beside his desk, one hand
resting on it, and the other on Senator
Wades desk, and alongside. This is al
ways his manner of exordium. As he
warns he steps out in front, and then
speaks steadily on till he is through, and
when ne is through unlike some of his
brethren) sits down.
DOOlittle is Of different type. He is
an orator. He is one of those earnest look
ing men that bring back SO forcibly to
mind the history of Lecompton and the
steadfastness Of the Republican handful
who resisted Democratic encroachment in
days gone by. Dark hair and whiskers,
and keen, bright eye, mark the coun-
tenance Of the Senator. When he rises to
speak he steps out in the center aisle, and
standing on the edge of the highest step,
gives full play to every feeling and full
motion to every limb. His voice is loud,
and is most sonorous bass. It rings
through the chamber, compelling univer-
sci attention. He is one Of the best speak
ers Of the Senate