The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-28
A Congregational Lark.

One Of the effects Of prolonged wakefulness
upon the brain is well known to be an excite
ment akin to that produced by the use of
stimulants. The recent night session of the
national House of Representatives illustrates
this physiological principle as completely as if
it had been an experiment gotten up for that
sole purpose, regardless of expense. The Tri-
bune photographs and comments upon some
Of the most striking scenes, as follows
"Oh! Dixey," exclaimed an enthusiastic la
dy in our hearing, while watching that cele-
brated negro-minstrel go through his perform
ance with the bones, "Dixey is my idealp' To
what pitch her admiration would have be en-
raised we can only infer, had she witnessed
the scenes in the House of Representatives on
Tuesday. Without the aid of burnt cork our
COngressmen succeeded in putting to shame
the butfooneries OF the hitherto unriyaled
Cool White, or the amusing Billy Birch AT
1-2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. on motion OF
the Democratic members, the House resolved
itself into company of very low comedians,
and treated the country to burlesgue of leg
islation, which continued most of the night.
1t would have been very funny indeed, if it
had not been very disgraceful. r,I 4
The farce began in the determination of the
minority to postpone the passage of Mr.. Bout
wells Test-Uath bill, by offering filibustering
motions, and ordering the Yeas and Nays.
The unpleasant prospect of an all-night ses-
sion caused many members to desert their
seats, and the SeIgeant-at-Arms was directed
to arrest the delinquents. These unfortunate
men were brought from the hotels and restau-
rants in which they had taken refuge, and
forced to join or witness the melancholy per.
torrance. In a little while, the floor OF the
house would have been converted to dining
hall and smoking room, but for the decision of
MIR. Colfax that dinners and cigars were out OF
order. Deprived OF these amusementS, the
members sought others, even less in keeping
with their dignity, and it is hard to say wheth-
er Republicans or Democrats did the more to
make Congress disreputable. MIR. Rogers, the
Democratic leader, enquired whether ham
sandwiches could not be supplied; but then
Mr.. Pike, Republican from Maine, suggested
that the fines imposed should go for drinks.
MIR. EldridSe, Democrat, requested Mr.. Grin
nell to entertain the company with the song
Of"JOhn Brown and Mr.. Grinnell, in return
wanted Mr.. Eldridge to sing
Sand are we Rebels yet alive,
And do we yet rebel;
And 10 1t not amazing grace
mat we are not IN hell!''
Mr.. auckland wanted to be excused for RIM.
nmg away, on the ground tina. he had no
been to dinner, and Mr.. Schenck was in favo
OF remitting the fine, thinking that to dine II
the restaurant OF the House was penalt,
enough. This was a joke which we assur,
Mr: Schenck no comic paper would publish
and the reporter should be censured Tor tele
graphing it: We object to paying for impro
prleties which are not even funny. Ii want o
dignity Is wit, why did not the members play
Leap Frog all night, for then they would havt
been still wittier? We are sorry that Mr.. Coz
fax, who enforced some of the rules sterniY
did rot assert the dignity of the Speakersnip
and read the House severe lesson, lns.eau OF
Joining in its silly fun. But nc seelhs 10 nave
made little effort to spare the country this
shame. r;oI ,,
od the NIGHT, varying the entertainment by
motions to adjourn TIL Ihursday, 10 amend by
snhStituting Friday, to amend the amendment
hv ,nakins it Friday at IL o'clock, TO amend
the amendment to the amendment by making
Il 5 minutes after ~, aud so on till this shal
low fountain OF bad wit was exhausted, till
the wide-mouthed spectators in the gallery
were tired OF laughing at the butfoons and the
bulfoons themselves were too sleepy to laugh al
each other. Then the House adjourned tC
meet in few hours, pass Mr.. BoutwePs bill
and the appropriation, and then, still sleepy
adjourned again, TO go bed and give themselves
the repose they so badly needed The he
publican majority showed itself foolishly weak
in yielding to this Democratic demand for de-
bate on question upon which the pr viouS
question had been called. 1t should have
granted it at the first or not at ALL major
ity, being able to work in sections, must inal
ly, If It has pluck, tire out minority, and the
Renublicans should have stood out tor week
II Necessary, For the sake OF discipline, aut