Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-09
TnE NOE in FHE SENATE.

-
RevoIufiOn-The Chief Justice Or
ders the Galleries Cleared, and
the Crowd Refuse to GO-SenatOrs
Kissed and IT0Oted-An odd Musical
Entertainment in the Corridors.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial furnishes the fol-
lowing graphic description of the scene
which occurred in the Senate at the con-
clusion of Mr.. Binghani's speech on the
9th inst, in the closing sentences Of which
" he used such warmth of language and
manner as TO create a great sensation in
the Senate chamber, and more than ever
to tempt demonstrations of applause"
After Mr.. Binghmam took his seat,
Senator Wilson rose TO submit motion
that the Senate retire for consultation. He
had scarcely time TO address the Chair
when, to the right of the Chair, in the gen.
tlemen's gallery, a few spectators conf
menced to stamp their feet and clap their
hands in approval of Mr.. Bingham's
speech. 1t was promptly suppressed by
the Chief Justice, but it very quickly
spread through the entire galleries, in
creasing in violence as it went around, un-
til it amounted to disorderly uproar.
Even the ladies were quick TO catch the
contagion, and gave vent to their enthusi-
asm as earnestly as those of the other sex.
The Chief Justice raped when it was
too late. He might as well have tried to
extinguish prairie fire with a syringe
when he rose from his seat and cried
"order p with all the voice he could put
into the word, he was only laughed at and
for very spite hundreds who had remained
silent till then Joined in the demonstration,
and made the Senate Chamber a bedlam.
Some stood up while they clapped their
hands, and others kept their seats that they
might be enabled to use both hands and
feet in the uproar.
While the noise was at its loudest, the
Chief Justice, in an angry tone, ordered
the Sergeant-at-Arms to'clear the galleries,
but il was manifest that without the con-
sent of the offenders, the order could not
be executed. A few cried out, ale can't
do it, he hasn't men enough; we won't go
out )" and there were indications for a time
that they meant what they said, and were
determined not to be put out The door
keepers attempted to enforce the order by
announcing it, but they found the crowd
very Glow TO move The Senators began TO
get alarmed, for really the scene began to
smack of the French revolution, when the
crowd used TO oYerawe the National As
sembly.
Mr., Grimes angrily asked, after survey
ing the scene, why the order was not en-
forced forthwith, to which the Chief
Justice, who seemed to be getting quite
nervous, replied that it certainly would be
enforced. A volley of Kisses for Grimes
came next, and that, too, from the most re-
spectacle part Of the galleries. Many a
finely dressed lady contributed to them.
An attempt was made to get up a more
violent insult in the way of loud "bah,"
and some hootings were heard such as the
rabble sometimes deal out to stump-speak-
ers they don't like
Mr. Trumbull quickly came to the relief
of Mr.. Grimes, with a motion that the
offenders be arrested, as well as the gal
leries cleared.
81 would like TO see you do itp shouted
several of the retiring offenders in reply.
"rhe galleries were by this time about
half cleared, but not because of the order
of the Chief Justice. 1t got out that the
court was about to retire, or adjourn, and
those who had left had done so under this
impression. Suddenly a few men cried
out: "Hold on They amt going TO ad-
journ Let us see this thing Outp Then
came halt, and hundreds took their seats
again, with the utmost unconcern, and to-
tally Indifferent TO the order for their eiec-
ton.
Mr.. Cameron, amid the din and confl-
sion, rose TO hope that the galleries would
not be cleared. lie did not believe it fair
to punish all for the ofienses of some, and
hoped none but those who had made the
demonstration would be put ont.
Messrs. Fessenden and johnson sharply
called Mr.. Cameron to order, and insisted
that the clearance be proceeded with at
which there was another yolley of Kisses
and few more hootings, and the scene
looked more revolutionary than ever.
Meantime, in the corridors, a few hun
bred of the elected had formed into crowd,
and commenced singing "Old Grimes is
dead, that poor old man."
They were joined by the ladies with great
glee. Between the verses the Iowa Senator
was literally and maliciously cursed and
damned as a traitor and a Copperhead.
One man attempted to make a speech
against Grimes and the other renegades,
but the tumult was too great for him,
and all around him were too much inter-
ested in the song, which was thought to be
peculiarly appropriate and piqnant "Will
the ladies help us 10 singY said one.
Certainly they will, said another, and so
they did.
While this extraordinary scene was
taking place in the corridors, and within
the hearing Of the high court of impeach-
ment, Senators were wondering what still
kept the galleries at least half full Mr..
Sherman attempted to solve the mystery BY
suggesting TO the Chief Justice that per-
haps those who remained in the galleries
did not understand the nature of the order.
The Chief Justice repeated the order for
their benefit, and again instructed the Ser
geant-at-Arms to enforce il, which he, with
the aid Of all the capitol employees he could
find, proceeded at once to do.
The reporters were the last and most re-
luctant TO obey. They insisted that they
had committed no oilense, and ought not
to be interlered with. A few Of them
shouted to senatorial friends 10 know if
they, too, must GO They received, in re-
ply, laugh, which they construed affirm
aiively, and which they responded to
with loud groan, aud a muttering COM
ment that this was a g. of a way" The
Tribune correspondent protested that the
loyal press ought to pitch into Grimes.
The Times man swore like trooper, while
about twenty, who had struggled them
selves into the gallery with the Herald re-
poriers, joined in a most nnearthly and
6endish moan, supplemented with the re-
mark from one of them that he "Wished
some fellow would put a box Of
nitro-elycerin under the court and ex-
plode it, One Of the fourth estate insist
ed on three groans for Grimes and Trnm-
bull. and was about 10 start them in the
presence OF the high court, but just then 4
deputy Sergeant alarms caught him by the
coat collar and lifted him into an adioin-
ing room. An indignation meeting OF the
Republican reporters was extemporized in
the corridors, but before they had come to
anv resolution, one Of them, initiating the
example Of Donnelly in the House Of Re
representatives., proposed that they should all
90 out and take a drink, which was agreed
10, with great unanimity.
Il took nearly half an hour to clear the
galleries. The scenes attendant npon the
process have been only family described