The Portland daily press., 1869-04-23
xLIst oONGREss---Extra Session.
SENATE.


WAsHneroN, April 22.-Mr. Nye obtained
the foor 20 make personal explanation, and
sarcastcally replied to Mr.. Epragues allusions
to him in the Senate as a charlatan, and at the
serenade as harlequin. Mr.. Nye also, at con-
siderable length, defended the Senate the pro-
fession of the law, the reputation of Burnside
and the Rhode Island soldiers. He criticised
and ridlculed the assertions of Senators from
Rhode Island in view Of the virtue and prss-
penty OF the country, and spoke altogether
nearly an hour.
Mr.. Chandler then, as a former member of
the Committee on the Conduct of the War,
briefly eulogized the bravery and skill of Gen.
Burnside.
u Mr.. Abbott followed in a similar strain at
some length.
Mr.. Morton also spoke warmly in praise of
Gen. Burnside, and commended especially his
brave assumption of responsibility for the
Fredericksburg disaster
Mr.. Sprague then took the floor and proceed
ed to read manuscript speech, reiterating his
former charges against monopolists and their
defenders in the Senate, referring with bitter
ness to the presiding officer, also compared the
attack OF MIR. Nye upon him to the barking of
puppy dog, encouraged by the presence Of o
mastiff In vindication of the soundness of
his views, he read complimentary letters ad-
dressed to him by the National Board of Trade
and many individuals throughout the country.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Sprague's speech
the Secretary read some remarks of Mr. Brown
low in vindication Of Gen. Burnside.
Mr.. Cameron spoke briefly to the same pur-
port.
At 2o'clock the Senate proceeded to the
consideration of executive business.
EVENING SESSION.
At II. 20 p M. the doors were opened
Mr.. Abbott sent up to be read the words ut
tered to-day by Mr.. Sprague, telling story
about puppy and mastif, and said bis inten-
tion was to ask the Senator from Rhode Island
If he intended to apply the term puppy to
him. If he did he (Abbott) intended to ask
for a retraction and if that was refused his ia
tention was to ask for satisfaction out of this
chamber. He gave notice, in as much as the
Senator had skulked out of the chamber that
he intended to have satisfaction out of the
chamber.
Mr.. Sumner rose to point of order, and
stated that the Senator had avowed his deter
mlnatlon to violate a law of the land.
Mr.. Abbott denied making any such an
nouncement
Mr. Sumner insisted that he had violated
the rules of the Senate, and called on the
Chair to take notice of it.
At Mr.. Thurman's request Mr.. Abbott's
words were read by the reporter, and the Pres
ident pro tenn. decided they were not necessar-
lily declaration of intention to violate law
of the land.
Mr. Thurman submitted they required ex-
PLANTATION at the hands of the Senator from
North Carolina.
Mr.. Abbott stated that he was not duelist,
was not educated as duelist, and did not
mean that sort of thing; but he meant to say
that the Senator must make a retraction as
broad as the assertion. (Cries of order.)
Mr.. Nye, soto voce, spank him.
Mr. Wilson moved to 60 into executive ses-
sion.
Mr.. Abbott continued that he should have
that satisfaction outside this Chamber.
The President put the question and the SEN
ate again went into executive session.