The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-10

Letter from the State Capital.
PARLIAMENTARY vIvIsEcrIoN.

PARLIAMENTARY VlFIsECTION.
Lively Scenes at the Cdpitai-,Sharp Debate
Slaughter Of Traitors - Great Rejoicing
there among the friends Of the Union.
- AUGUsrA, March z, 1853.
To the Editor Of the Press:
This has been week at the Capital, preg-
nant with stirring events. The session draw
ing rapidly TO close naturally produces con-
siderable excitement and sharpness in debate
among the members; but within the last few
days this has been much accelerated by the
action on the "resolves on national AFFAIRS
The three days speech of Hon. f. o. J. Smith,
made last week, and full Of reasonable and
other pestilential matter, has been much spok-
en- Of In the papets and elsewhere, and will
not comment upon it. II is sufficient to say
that II was raak poison TO the body polite;
and that Mr.. Kingsbury showed 1t up In good
style, and also commented upon Mr.. Smith
and some Of his yacillations In free aud easy
way, which did not suit the gentleman from
Westbrook So the tocsin was sounded far
and wide by the Copperhead gentry, Mr.. Smith
would at his leisure go through the pleasant
performance of skinning Mr.. Kingsbury; and
rs admission was free, and man delights in
cruelty, IL was fair TO presume, that, there
would be large audience to witness the re-
moval Of Kingsbury's epidermis.
In this effort, made on Wednesday afternoon,
tien, of which the world had been so fully ad-
vertised for several days. He reiterated his
reasonable doctrines, and gloried in them
anew. He raked over the smouldering en-
bers of Mr.. Kingsbury's life for thirty years,
and found that he had undertaken an unprof-
liable task, in that respect. He strove TO dam
age his antagonist In that way, without effect.
But great point had been gained by that
abortive effort at removing mans skin in this
fnclotuauf 1oA NJ Until, od
to the danger of losing his own hide. 1t OPP
ened door in the debate which could not be
closed till Westbrook's representative passed
through it bleeding at every pore and toma-
hawked with q hatchet of his own sharpening.
tits keen saying and true, "let those who
live In glass houses, beware Of throwing
stones" II 1t was not illustrated on Thurs
day last, 1t never was. The house in which
the Westbrook representative lives, was shat
cred all TO pieces. Mr.. KiDgsbury only need
ed the provocation, and it was given amply. So
At half past eleven on that day, 1.-THE question
was to be taken 1t II, before a full audience,
the pceling commenced. He amply answered
In the first place, the attacks upon his char
acter, and came out scathless and honorable
before all He then turned his pivot gun tow
ard his adversary-and 1t would have done
you good TO see how the feathers flew. 1t was
sport, buI to the point The "reminiscences Of
r. o. J. Smiths quarrel with Leonard Jarvis
In Congress, q quarter of century ago, was
reffeshingly revived, and his being posted on
that pleasant occasion as aLar, scoundrel
and coward" was rehearsed with an addition
al zest derived from the insults Mr.. Kings
bury had received from the tongue of the man
whom he was so deliberately cutting up.
In short the reply was whitening and effect
ual, and admitted by all to have been done Sc
cundum Grtem. 1t did not need "to be con-
tinued;' 1t closed about noon; and the large
audience, who seem to have fallen In love with
anatomical dissections, retired immeasurably
gratided with the artistic operations of Doc
tor Kingsbury.
There was another skinning operation in
the Senate this week, which Is worth noting.
Two such operations in one week seldom oc-
cur In the same city. This that l allude to
now, was done on Mr.. Wiggin, Senator from
York. He undertook to "run muck" on
Senator Spring of your city, for his free speech
In regard to certain secessionists among you.
As though 1t is not patent, that there are crea-
lures OF this species all about, ready to laugh
and jeer when battle goes against us, and
even hoping, and showing 1t too, that the
North shall be forced to sue for peace at the
hands Of the villainous rebels OF the South.
Well, the skin Of Mr.. Wiggin hangs in the an
te-roOm OF the Senate Chamber. II was tough
but It had to come of. Spring and Roberts ol
Waldo used the scalpel, and he who went into
the debate 30 bold and rampant, came out as
meek as lamb, having been compelled to an
wer certain question put In such way that
he could not escape them.
Mr.. Spring is entitled to much credit for
putting Mr.. Wiggin through. He assumed
once to drive your Senator from the track
but instead thereof, he found his own baggage
train in the mud.
These two affairs have been the two enliven.
Ing points In the legislative history OF the last
few days. One point has been illustrated
which 1t Is well enough to have defined; and
that Is, that these "Copperhead gentry cannot
attempt In this Legislature, to ride over our
best Union men with impunity. / predict il
won't be tried on again this year. The Re.
publicans are jubilant over these events.
SAGARA