Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-05
A FIELD DAY IN THE HOUSE
Vivid Sketch Of a Remarkable Debate

The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette has a vivid sketch Of
the recent exciting debate between VAL
LANDIGHAM, of Ohio, BINGHAM, of Ohio
and WRIGHT, Of Pennsylvania Oh the oc
casion OF the recent elaborate anti wa,
speech of the former We annex the mail
portions of his letter:
There is a little fu,ter in the Hall. This
matter may require attention; it is vel
enough to lay aside the unfinished letters
to constituents and drafts of new bills.
and listen little while The wonderful
OLD man from Pennsylvania, who at sew
enty years of age retains all the fire and
vlgor OF his earlier manhood, and with the
ald CT snuff cOlOred wig, makes every
body think him only fifty still, the impe.
rlous and sometimes wrong headed leader
OF the House, faces about to the Opposi-
ton side, braces himself back in bis CHER,
and grlmly eyes the member on the floor.
Portly and good natured Lovejoy bristles
up, tWltches his chair forward, and rises
his hand to his ear to ca Gil the opening
sentences. Grey-headed. Grabbed faced,
rntt1e-shirted Wlcklitfe, rears aloft his
huge bulk OF once noble Kentucky propor-
lions, and with the aid of crutch and cane
hobbies his equity way down the aisle, and
seats himself just under his friend, the Or
ator's extended hand, the better to catch
the dropplngs from this sanctuary of De-.
mocracy. Pure and updefiled ColIax, with
an attention to the business before the
House that Is never at fault, turns sharp
and quick in his chair to listen. The
Chairman of the Military Committee, black
whiskered DIN of New York, walks down
the aisle to the Clerks desk, and takes a
position to hear distinctly. There is a
general rising and turning On the Demo-
cratic and Border State side, to get more
favorable positions The ladies Oh tn
front seats in the galleries lean over to
catch better view OF the ogre from Ohio
The hitherto sleepy looking occupants of
the Reporters Gallery shake off their To-
difference, exchange hurried remarks with
each other, and lean over to notice how
he opens.
For this speech has been expected a
long time. 1t is known to have been
elaborated with unusual care, to have been
consulted over, changed and re-written.-
Days, if not weeks ago, as becomes known
by accident, it was printed, and then COM
United to memory from the proof Slips
1t Is 70 be the deliberate, well considered
utterance for Southern rebels by the ablest
and boldest spokesman of their Northern
allies, on the floor of the National Con
gress, and in the very teeth of the loyal
Representatives of the Nation. All this is
known, and yet there is no manifestation
OF other than close and respectful atten-
ton.
The features Of our Ohio rebel, too well
known at home to need description, with
the unusual expression of the face, the
strange contortions as he speaks, the un-
pleasantly conspicuous pieces of gold in
his front teeth, painfully suggesting too
close dependence on the metal that often
works wondrous changes of intellectual
conviction the close cropped whiskers
under the jaws, as if his neck only seemed
to himself to need protection, not his face
these marked and-let US only say. not
attractive features, are studied with Gu
rious interest as he begins
He begins boldly, defantly even, and is
speedily preaching the very gospel of dew
lis. You can never subdue the seeded
States. Two years OF fearful experience
have taught you that. Why carry on the
WARE Ii You persist, it can only end in |
final separation between the North and
South. And in that case, believe it now,
as you did not my former warnings, the
whole Northwest will go with the Sonth
He wakes more earnest as he approach
es this key note of Lis harrangue, and with
an energy and force that makes every
hearsr, as his moral nature revolts from
the bribe, acknowledge all the more the
splendid force with which the tempter
urges his cause, with flashing eye and livid
features and extended hand, trembling
with the passion of his utterance. he hurls
the climax of his threatening argument
again upon the Republican side of the
House Believe me as you did not the
solemn warning Of years past, the dag
aohich diUides the North from The South
the self-same Dag DEGREES eternal Divorce
betsoeen the Vest and the East !"
A murmur of indignation runs through
the Hall, members turn to each other, ex
change whispers and turn back towards
the Speaker as he returns from the inner
line of desks, next the clerks desk, where
he has moved in the energy and excite
ment OF his declaration, to his former
place in the midst OF the Opposition. Halt
dozen leading members are seen cluster
ing around BiDghams seat, on the extreme
right, and asking him something. he
shakes his head once or twice, then listens
to them again, finally consents, and is no
ticad to begin making hssty notes. He has
just been urged by leading Republicans to
reply to this dangerous speech on the spot
to match hasty, extempore etfor!
against this considered, compact, polished
and elaborate plea for Northern treason.
The group of Republicans standing in
the open space before the Clerks desk in
creases; they crowd down the aisles
among the Opposition and cluster around
the Speaker as he resumes. Even the
eternal chattering in the ladies' galleries
has ceased, the seats are all crowded. the
correspondents and reporters have been
attracted by the interest of the scenes, and
tor wonder the Reporters gallery is full
and attentive.
The speaker continues: "There is not
one drop of rain that tails over the whole
vast expanse of The Northwest that does
not End its home in the bosom of the Gulf.
We mast and aoe soiN JolIoso 1t, with travel
and trade; not by treaty, but by right;
freely, peaceably, and without restriction
or tribute, under the same Government
and hag!"
1t is eloquently spoken, and none are
more willing to concede it than his oppo-
nents. And yet, fcrcible, polished, stir
rirg as it is, what is it but the gospel O:
Materialism, the ignoring Of all moral
considerations the slaEder on the people