New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-24
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.
ASPECTS OF TIE VIRGINIA DEBATE IN THE
SENATE.

ASPECTS OF TIE VIRGINIA DEBATE in The
SENATE
s,,vxrR AND TRUMBuLL-THE SUSAN u. ANTuoNY
OF THE sENATE-sUNDRlEs'
w,su,NcroN. Jan 21.--This week, L have
sccsayed or swung like pendulum, between congress
I'd tho womans Convention. on Tuesday, on my way
toIipcolu Hail. dropped into the Senate, that pit into
which fling so many golden hours-found mr. stewart
speakine fingered. TIL Mr. Sumner rose TO reply ana
fhen STAYED. heard portion OF the reply OF
certain ncelOokng young Senator, OF the tpemocr"ue
persuasion-if that may be called reply when reaiy
I,oes not meet speech at any point. This last
effort, evidently prepared with considerable study
not cay malice prepense, was directly almeu Nv ho
Senator who, when ne seemed AZ al
conscious OF the demonstration, watched 1t with the ut
most GOODNESS aud placdiy, or with only the shgntes'
possible look OF annoyance We we're reminded OF inc
story OF stout backwoodsman, who, seeing revolver
o the dantest pattern in hands Of begerent young
gentleman, shook his head warniDgy, with " Look
here stranger, II you should shoot me with that niue
thing. aud should eper find II out ia thrash you iAo
blazes."
We nm aloft have been daily amused of the concerted
ar ANYTHING in that Senate be said TO be concerted
protest and rebellion against what is called the domn'
alton OF Senator Sumner What's the usei man never
gets such q position that in any body OF men by the
mere force Of an arrogant w There must be something
far stronger and enduring behind it, After all, II
more mperous Mr. Sumner is less petuant than some OF
his opponents and rivals He sometimes storms but he
docs not scodhe strikes good hard blows but he does
not worry AS read his speeches are not more
pyerbe2ng than those OF other Senators The domination
Is an affair OF mannerpersonay Is II altogether fault
that he terribly in earnest Is he to blame that he
stands like Saul among his brethreni or for the grand
craggy character of his face which would be orbddng
but the frequent sunlight of smile Of rare sweet
II coercion in his tones. IL is the coercion
of thorough conviction. What is his supremacy or as
sumption the Senate to the heavy autocracy of Web
fhp stuDendOus
egotism of Benton the worrying, bullying pertnacy
of Douglasi II domination there must be- should
think there would be consolation in being dominated not
only by brain and WILL but by rare culture, unqueston
able honesty. and sound morality
On the whole throughout this contest Mr. Sumner has
shown admirable good temper and selfpossesson Next
10 him in nerve and surprising him in GOODNESS is that
handsome Governor elect, who day after day mas
Watched this discussion big with the fate of Walker and
of Richmond, and WINGED or fnched, though
hit all over stuck full Of the sngs and arrows OF out
fageOus radcalism.
The new Senators have scarcely shone and scintated
es much as we looked them in this debate Per-
baps subject lacked inspiration for them, or does the
ar of the Senate have depressing effect popular elo
quencei Neither shurz Carpenter strike out IN the
old free, dashlng STYLE but seem to
"Ii9ser on the brink,
All has not been storm and dscord. We have had
parliamentary iests and Don nOs that livened us up
laughed at Senator Nye's famous wOodchuck story, /
always did laugh at that story, and at the graceful
leasanry OF Senator Garret Davis who on hearing the
question ais the Republican party going to commit
suicde9" exclaimed, 40. don't do that! we want to
hang you ALL" little joke that reminded me more than
ever of the Speakers resemblance to Southern Senator
Of the olden time, who CALAMITY won and wore the
sobriquet OF " HanGman Foote."
Mr. Drake, pertinacious and pugnacious not at all
duck of but rough and ready, has amused us all
by his fond and devoted championship Of his amend
ent and Mr. Stewart by his opposition to it, and to the
imposition Of all other restrictions and penalties Watch
Anthony Of the cause Of virgina's rights, and that
mean as high praise consider I done the hand.
some thing by the Senator from Nevada.
Jan 22-Yesterday / reached the Senate just in time
60 hear Mr. Trumbulls attack upon Mr. Sumner 1t was
a terrible oupourng personal and political animosty
there few Republicans in that Chamber ateast
of the old AntSlavery sort, who not reminded by
St OF that attack the great Senator of Massachu
set in the Spring Of 1856 II there looks which
daggcrs" there are words which bludgeOns. Such
words yesterdays descended heavy and fast the head
Whose blood once stained the old Senate 1oor-on the
head grown gray in the service Of country and Of
humanity. Surely Mr.. Trumbull could not have been
conscious the bitterness and force OF his language
of the fury and ferooity Of his manner.
Such scenes. while almost recoDcilng me to wOmans
lack Of the franchise. far to convince that she
ought to have it, in order humanze and chrstianlze
politics. Down at Convention had some warm
discussions, but none bistering hot There some
sharp hits OF argument and irony but orator
or debater of them ALL after ashing opponent, pro
cecded to wash his wounds with brine. No shaft Of
Satire was dipped in the poison of personal rancor
&C