The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-04-13
Passage OF the GIRL Rights Bill.

WASHINGTON, ID. G., April 'th, 1866.
FRIEND STONE The most exciting
and important event of the present Con-
gress, if not in the history of American
legislation, was the final struggle in the
Senate yesterday which resulted in the pas
sage Of the Civil Rights Biz over the
Presidents veto.
IL is not my purpose to discuss the
merits of this bill. The anxious interest
with which its fate has been followed
through its various phases by the eyes OF
the loval millions. and the exhaustive dis
cllSsion that it has received, have rendered
the principles involved familiar TO every
one.
At an early hour in the day the gal
lcres of the Senate were crowded to their
utmost capacity by an immense throng of
ladies and gentlemen. who testified their
interest in the result by sitting for over
six hours. while DoolittIe, Lane. Davis
and McDougall talked with 10 object or
result except to consume the time.
As we entered, DoOlittle had Just com
mencc,l labored defense of the President.
He spoke with more than his usual
warmth and carncstncss. like one who was
striving to convince himself. could not
help thinking that the Secretarvslip of
the Interior. to which rumor SAYS he as
pire>, mi ght have something to do in
prompting him to disregard the in>truc-
tons of bis State, and to give his unqual-
flied approval to the Presidents course and
policy,
Following him came that windieSt of
all wind millS.-the man vino can talk
longer and say less. than any other being
that ever possessed the power OF speech
Davis, in one OF his ion@- windcd
speeches occupying three and Il hat hours.
He wd> followed by Salisbury and Nc
Dougall in bitter and denuncialing speech
CO., 81" &c a"rL nronhccies of revolution.
war and hloodshel that would grow out
OF the enaeavor lo enforce the bill if passed
While Davis was spcakin. the House of
Representatives adjourned. and the men,
bers came fccking in and ranged them
selves around the borders Of the Senate
Chamber. to witness the result.
At twenty minutes past six o'clock Ne
DougaI! took his seat and the question
was called on both sides of the Chamber.
The chairman then put the question
. Shall the bill pass, the Presidents Oh
ections to TIC contrary Notwithstanding
The Senators came in from the Hobbies
and halls and took their seats.
The members of the lower House cath
cred forward The immense audience in
the galleries started to their feet. bent for
ward and with strained eye, eager ear and
Dated breath listened to the clerk as he
the roll call Tie silence of
leath reigned throughout the Chamber.
The roll proceeded with VARYING responses
If "avc' and mo until the name of
: Elmun'is" the newly appointed Senator
rom Vermont was reached and called.
'ut there was no response. Again lie was
'alIed but no response, and at once the
,xcltcd and eager inquiry on the floor and
n the galleries arose "Whcrc is he D.
Where is he!' anxiety was at once
leplcted on all faces, and there wa, IA hr,r-
ying out to find him. The caEIin.. pro-
eedcl until Morgan's name was reached, |
md a responsive AYE" rung out full and
lear
In defiance OF rules, a joyful cheer went
p from the excited galleries. amid the
tapping of hands and the waving of hand
erchlets. Order being restored. the call
vent on till Sausbury's name was reached !
While lie was pacing the floor in lone
weeping strides like Il caced lion. Frri-
us at the result he was powerlcss to pre-
en'. ms answer came " No. short. sharp
nd spitetul, and full of venom rs tbe
trokc of a viper
The roll completed, just as the result
as about to be declared. ,Ir. Edmunds
anne hurrylng in and recorded his vote IN
lie affirmative.
The result bein. announced. cheer on
heer arose from joyful hearts in both
,ha1i1er and galleries. There was GEN
raj shaking OF hands and universal con-
ratnation' The ga,el Of tie Speaker
as powerless to maintain order, and it
'ould have taken q regiment to have ar i
eoied all violators of the rules +
BY ITS acton of last evening the Coy {
'1menl at last declared to the forr mil
N freedmen that it does not mean 70 do. '
IT and bei:ay them, but that it will 70 +
me extent ensure and protect them in |
of their freedom as we'll as IN |,
e otherwise empty name of freedmen. il