Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-04-13

of performing this duty without delay.
Thad. Stevens in his Hour OF Triumph.
The absorbing question before the House is
the government of insurrectonary States"
Van Horn of New York has made long and
able speech on the subject, and Boutwell, of
Massachusetts has just concluded another. Now
Thaddeus Stevens rises, and in stronger voice
than usual offers five amendments to his great
pending BILL which is the text for all this discuss
sion. As an inevitable consequence, his amend
ments unloosen numerous tongues. Schenck OF
Ohio rises, and with his incisive finger, emphat-
ically nodding head and curt voice. requests the
second reading of the second section. Garfield
of Ohio rises, and in his habitually clear and
pleasant fashion asks the-gentleman to strike out
that portion of the section which proposes that
Congress, and not the President, shall detail five
officers to command the military districts of the
South. Raymond of New York rises, and IN his
usually non-committal manner asks question.
Blaine of Maine, whose great eyes, ringing voice
and passionate gesticulations revive for me
Camille Desmulns and the tribunes of France,
leaps to the floor and offers an amendment
Five-minute speeches are made-qucstions asked
and answered. The hammer falls; the House
divides the ayes and noes are taken tellers are
called again the ayes and noes are taken again
the House refuses the demand for q the previous
! queston'-if you know what that is.
The brilliant Ohioan, Bingham, has the floor
and addresses the House. He commences at
once in n voice of lofty oratory. Bossuet and
Massillon might have spoken in such tones
! Whitfield Choate might have borne away the
minds and hearts of men with just such passion
of manner and splendor of diction. As an orator
Bingham may not resemble one of these, but he
belongs to the same order of men. He bewiders
with his genius he fascinates with his speech,
even when his intellect falls to convince. He is
subject to the moods and extremes of genius
fool rtoi in WI hn
may 9 turn up" on some great usettled question.
His convictions are intense, his principles rooted
yet their expression sways with surface moods,
and is healthy or morbid with the fuctuation of
an uncertain digestion. Thus, with this mag
niiicent intellect he is never regarded quite safe
as political leader. What picture he makes
while dealing in invectivc The pale, intel
lectual, yet brilliant face of the ordinary man
passes into something more than human. The
gleming eyes, the hooked nose, the sardonic
smile, embody an expression purely Satanic
Mephistophiles in his happicst moments could
not surpass him.
Again the "ayes'' and 'inoes" are called
Again the House divides Tellers report. Again
the roll is called, all the way from to W. And
yet again the roll is called all the way from A to
w. And now, at last The ''great Common
err rises, and silence falls upon Bedam. The
Democratic side of the House is vacated the
occupants of the chairs crowd the aisles and
stand in groups before the Speakers desk =
Every Republican face is turned toward Thad-
deus Stevens. Friends and foes gather round
him. Congress does for him what it does for
other-it listens to man. From the gallery
one some odd grouping. Ashley of Ohio
stands in the broad aisle before the door, as if,
in coming in his attention had been arrested by the
voice of the speaker and he had not moved since.
Very near him. in respectful attitude, stands the
thunderer of the minority, Rogers of New Jersey.
Side by side, with face turned this way, sit
I.fT Of
joy and Henry J. Raymond of New York. Inger-
soil, young man, has a great round head, a
round, frank face, burly form, with positive
IL genuine bonhommie air about him which is
pleasant. Raymond is small, pale with look
perfectly neutral The only suggestion of posi-
tivity about him is certain expression of quest,
as though he were not quite certain of anything,
but would very much like to be if it were consti-
tutionally possible Certainly it is not happy
face. What face could be happy that never
entered into the blessedness of believing utterly
in something? This want of faith defrauds the
soul of its one chance of rest.
Thaddcus Stevens begins with memorable
words He says Besides my physical inbaility,
feel moral depression, possibly without suffi-
cient cause, when | see the condition of the
party that is responsible for 'he doings of Con-
gress, and to which I belong. to see it, in my
judgment, abont to destroy itself, just to place
itself in a condition which ought to destroy it."
AGAIN he says: - III might presume upon my
age, without claiming any of the wisdom Of
Nestor, would suggest to the young gentlemen
around me that the deeds of this burning crisis,
of this solemn day, of this thrilling moment,
will cast their shadows far into the future, and
will make their impress upon the annals of our
history, and shall appear upon the bright
pages of that history just in as far as we eordi-
ally without guile, without bickering' without
small criticisms, lend aid to promote the
great cause of humanity and universal liberty"
The speech ends. Thaddeus Stevens sits
down. looking much less aged and fatigued
tban usual. Indeed, at this moment there is
strange expression of youth about the great old
man and his voice is unwontedly loud and clear,
a. he saws. sI demand the ayes and Noes The
roll IS called The House divides on the pre-
xious question: At last infinite patience re-
ceyes its reward The main question is ordered
The ayes and noes are taken. Thaddeus Stevens
great bill for the reconstruction of the rebellous
States is passed by 100 ayes against 55 noes. 1t
is the great triumph of this great mans life
He feels it to when he says TO Colfax, IaFish to
inquire, Mr.. Speaker, if it is in order for me now
to say that we indorse the language of good old
Socrates, that Heaven rules yet, and there are
gods above" Colfax says. g 1t will be in order
for the gentleman to say it. - Washington Cor
re.pondenee Ne,c York Independent.
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