Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-05
the Nation and subdued its en-.

that his craft and his profit are in danger.
And there are glowing promises for the
Future, but that future is to be-not pro-
gress to purer civilization, bus degrade
ton TO the basest out-growths of the Pres
ent
He has spoken over ao hour and quar-.
ter, and has accomplished that rare feat,
compelled the clo-est attention of the
most disorderly deliberative body in the
world, from the beginning to the end. He
has not quite finished, but one extension
of time has already been granted him
More is refused, and he closes without
peroratioD.
There is a gradual relaxation, sudden
humming Of conversation again on the
floor and through the galleries. The
Democrats and Border State men, with
faces wreathed in smiles, crowd around
their champion with Their congrat llations.
At single step the shunned and exc
Grated VALLANDIeHAM has risen to the
leadership of their party. Deny it, as
some of them still may, henceforth it is
accomplished. Plantatlon-mannered old
Mr.. Wickliffe, little Mr. Samuel Cox, and
all the rest are but tails to the kite of this
man, bold enough, honest enough and able
enough to avow aud defend the real senti-
ments of them all.
"Mr. Speaker!" sounds simultaneously
from three or tour voices.
The gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Bing-
ham," responds the speaker.
Mr.. Speaker" again, n more clamor-
Gus accents. A New Highlander is burst.
ing and boiling over with rage at the
| treatment his section has received from
the democratic champion, and he must
relieve himself. He begs but the priv-
lege of word, and snaps out the declara-
ton that New England still lives. and
will live long after this TRADE against her
has persisted" Valandigham coolly re,
toIts that he has made no TRADE. The
New Englander would say more, but it is
not thus this speech must be answered,
and the Republicans get him down.
a portly-looking old Democrat from
the outer circle of the Opposition benches
evidently very much excited, claims that
he is entitled to tie floor, and processes
that he can't see how he has lost it. The
Speaker tries to explain the Democrat
doesn't see it, but the ruling of the chair is
memorable and he takes his seat.
RINGHAM's ExTEMPoRE REPLY To vALLAN-
DIGHAM
There is general moving of members
over to the Administration side of the
House ; the Democrats leave their seats
and crowd over into the area before the
Clerks desk; the speaker moves out from
bis seat little nearer to the center of the
Administration side, and begins
1--WE have had another apology for the
unmatched crime of the rebellion. SO
long as God gives him strength and op-
portunity he will let no such apology pass
unchalenged and undenounced. His COL
league came here to-day with his prepared
denunciation of the war for the Union. A
stranger to the events of the last two
years, listening to his remarks would have
supposed that war would not have dark
ened the Republic like the shadow of an
eclipse, but for the commission of a great
crime by the National Executive ia at
tempting TO coerce law abiding citizens
Was that making up the record fairly and
according to the fact ?
And thus, in fifty chosen words, that
tell you on the instant you are listening to
one of those rare creations of Providence,
an elegant erteDapOre speaker, the orator |
plungeS at once ismaedias res
There is no longer the same tension of |
watchful interest on the Republican side. |
Their cause is in the hands of the readiest |
debater on the floor, and familiar as all |
must be with the arguments he must use,
and assured of the power with which he |
will enforce them, they are not anxious to
watch the progress of the conflict. Mem
bers find time to hitch their chairs up into
little groups, and talk over the audacity
and strength of the speech to which they
have just listened. Meantime the Demo
Gratis, and the galleries, concentrate their
fixed gaze upon the member on the Floor.
Let Us lock at him, too.
thin, slender wasted, broad-chested, |
medium sized, nervous looking man, with |
d high, capacious forehead, halt-hidden by |
the unkempt hair that falls ever it almost |
to the eyebrows, with clear, restless eve |
that wanders from side TO side, from mem.
Der to member, and from floor to galleries,
as he speaks; prominent nose with a
very prominent bridge in the middle of it {;
a remarkably mobile taae that sometimes |
broadens into most winning and kindly |
smile, but far oftener assumes wrinkleG |
scowl that might make a stranger do less |
than justice to his real genial nature; with |
choice language, and an occasional imper-
ious air as he drives home his thrusts, and |
then, with erect head and expanding |
chest, stretches himself to his full height |
and scowls with half averted face upon |
his adversary, or turns from side to side |
to reiterate his telling points--that is
JOHN A. BINGHAM o! Ohio, third in the |
Ii )use in official position, Chairman of the |
Judiciary, and second to none in certain |
lines of ability. Like Mr.. Vallardigham,
he was defeated at the last election, Gun.
like him, however, it was done by the alb
sence from his district OF five thousand |
soldiers in the war; and in him Congress
will lose at the close of this session one |
OF its readiest and best debaters, and one |
OF its truest, conscientious Republicans.
He is proceeding rapidly, and 10 such |
order aS a preparation that began only |
when bis antagonist had half finished will |
permit, to review the speech just deliv-
cred. First he pounces upon its strange
omissions, and reminds his colleague that |
when he was boasting of what the Demo.
cratic party had done, and recitng the
causes Of the war, he had observed wise |
discretion in emitting the fact that Dem
ocrauc Cabinet Minister treacherouSly
co operated with the rebels by disman ting
the forts that Democratic Cabinet Min. |
lister aided them by sending the vessels of
war into distant seas; and that, in the
very crisis of the danger, Democratic |
President gave up the contest In advance |
by declaring that the sao0rd scds not placed |
az the hands Of Congress to preserUe the