Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-02-18
The Great Debate over the Bill
for Arming Negroes.
WICKLIFFE AND LOVEJoY.
Dunn's Ten Minute Speech

Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette
WASHINGTON, February 3
The hour of meeting again approaches
Members, despite their last nights vigils
are early in their seats ;-red-eyed, sleepy,
looking, but eager too see it out.
/ The usual preliminaries over, the Lea
der promptly moves his amendments,-to
afford opportunities for which, the Preyi-
Gus Question was reconsidered. Mr..
Hickman offers his. A sharp, running
fire of debate opens. The Previous Ques-
ton is called, but by general consent is
suspended for questions and explanations
the Republicans showing no disposition
to suppress debate-and is finally voted
down.
MR.. wICKLIFFE's SPEECH.
Mr.. Dunn makes a handsome little
speech in favor of the bill Mr.. Porter
offers an amendment, removing an obiec-
tionable feature; and Mr.. Wickliffe, who
was going to eat, drink and sleep here
till the 4th of March, but concluded not
to, gets the floor. .
The old gentlemen, but for his grabbed
air and testy manners, isn't a bad speak
er He has large experience in public af-
fairs; and if he could only forget that he
was once Governor of Kentucky, and once
a member of John Tyler's cabinet, and
could understand that, after all, wisdom
won't quite de when ne does, he might
have s0me influence, in spite of his scarce
ly concealed sympathy with the "Confed-
crates" as he politely calls them. As it
Is; he is always listened to. No clown in
a circus ever made half 50 much fun for
his auditors as does this naughty old
Keptuckian for his opponents in Con
gress.
A few words will sum up his speech.
This negro regiment business nas been
tried by a man-General Hunter-in
South Carolina, at enormous expense. He
had hardly armed them till two hundred
of his regiment deserted, and stole the
Government rifles. Mr.. Butler, in New
Orleans, tried it, and this Congress is 60
ing to give him sword for it. Twigg's
sword has been disgrace |. 1t is right it
should go to Mr.. Butler. A Mr. Tkayer
wants to colonize Billy Bowlegs' lands in
Florida, and wants these Col. Sambos'
regiments to protect him and his St. Lou
is Germans there: How are you going to
exchange these Eiggers when they are
taken prisoners. Do you suppose you can
exchange a white Southern prisoner for
one? No, your niggeTs will get shot down,
and you'll have no redress"
All this with scornful and disdainful
air, that would be most provoking if it
were not most ludicrous. Put him on a
stump before a crowd of the faithful, and
it would have been a capital speech for
stimulating their zeal against the Black
Republicans-in the Congress of the ma
ton it is simply laughable The old gen
tleman testify refuses all efforts to ask
questions OF make explanations. You
kept me up too late last night to answer
your questions this morning" The crab
bed refusal is worth remembering as we
go along.
Mr.. LOvEJoY's REJoINPEE,
Like an ancient and venerable bull
whe2 d red rag is thrust before his eyes,
Mr. Wickliffe always commences paving
and believing whenever Mr.. Lovejoy comes
in his way. And, to do the latter gentle
man full credit, he isn't very far behind.
Each serves as the red rag to stir the 9th
er up. Loveioy never says anything
Wickliffe don't feel called upon TO an
swer; Wicklifie never gets off one OF his
offensive, arrogant speeches, without be-
ing goaded to madness as he sits down, to
see the broad grin with which Lovejoy
invariably rises to poke fun land pins,
into him.
To-day, as always, Mr.. Loyejoy is true
10 the ruler. He is on his legs and claim
ing the floor, almost before Mr.. Wick
liffe's closing sentence has been uttered.
Everybody laughs, and turns to listen.
He begins, gradually, measuredly, in
denouneing the factions opposition to
this bill. Pretty soon Mr.. Wickliffe gets
a blow, and the very first one brings him
to his feet, begging permission to inter
ruptl The gentleman from Kentucky |
has been consistent as well as persistent, |
for from the first outbreak of this rebell- |
ion every note and speech of his has pro-
claimed that he would rather see the |
Union perish than Slavery injured,
The first cut has brought blood. Mr.. /
WiokIiffe roars out something in response
in accents SO enraged as to show that the
words reached the quick. Lovejoy in
stantly retorts, "Will the gentleman say
now, if one must necessarily be lost to
save the other, which would he save, Sla-
very or the Union ?" Wickliffe, instead
of answering tries to parry the thrust by
asking the question of his own, to which
Loveioy promptly hurls back an answer
and renews his demand. Wickliffe makes
no reply.
Soon Lovejoy touches ON Wickliffe's
way of speaking of Hunter
and Butler, and his courteous allusion to
The traitor Twiggs; and cody adds. ''Oh"
Sir u fellow-feeling makes us wondrous
lxindp The House and galleries (by this
time crowded. roar, and Wickliffe, spring
ing to his feet with unusual vigor, ex-
claims ''The gentleman will allow me
'No, Sir" says Lovejoy with emphasis,
mot unless you'll answer the question
ask youi" "Well go along! The cou-
try knows you, and it knows me too.'
YES, that's true, thank God for it, re !
turns Lovejoy in his blandest tones and
With his most provoking smile.
In a moment he has touched the raw !
again. The gentleman has said that the
command of negroes has demOraLized But
er. If so short contact has had such Sc ,
-ious effect, what must be the result OF
lifelong command of a plantation of !
hem? Another question. When Robt. :.
Small took a rebel vessel out of Charleston a
larbor, would the gentleman have receiy-