The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-14
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
VIRGINIA.
THE DEBATE GROWS HOT,
PASSAGE At ARMS BETWEEN TRuMBULL
AK AND SUMNER.
Porter 1mpa1ed BEFORE the Senate.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.

GINA progresses the interest in the subject
intensifes. Whilst the proceedings in the
House are attracting more attention day
by day, they lack that excitement which
the discussion in the Senate creates. Again
to-day the Senate chamber was crowded in
the galleries and upon the floor. During
the greater part Of the afternoon number
of the members of the House occupied
seats upon the sofas in the Senate, ct
tracted by the fact (which had got noised
about) that there were some lively occur
renceS transpiring in that usually sedate
and dignifed assembly. General Sherman
and other distinguished persons were pre-
sent, and remained throughout the session,
almost from the commencement Of the Vir-
ginia discussion.
The most grave and reverend seniors in
dulged in the retort courteous, and then, as
their passions got the better of their judg-
ment, gave the lie circumstantial and the
lie direct, slightly modified with Pickwick-
ion phraseology. Mr.. Sumner, who has for
three days in succession had Parliamentary
encounters with his brethren on the Re-
publican side of the chamber, was to-day
confronted by the most formidable of all
his adversaries, Mr.. Trumbull, who, when
aroused, hurls the most crushing shafts of
irony and sarcasm known to modern inte-
lectual warfare. These two learned gen.
tlemen consumed the most of the session in
activity relative to their several polite re-
ports, and endeavored each to oyerwhelmn
the other with instances wherein the one OF
the other had been inconsistent with his
professions. ......,
While they were thus engaged there was
manifested upon the floor and in the gale
ries intense interest, and their several
friends appeared to feel we'll satisfied with
the manner in which the one demolished
each other. Virginia was quite forgotten
for the time, and the political history and
doings of the two senators took her place.
Governor Walker, of Virginia, and Por-
ter, member elect of the House from the
Richmond district, were present, the latter
by the side of Sumner as client by law
yer in court fronting his attorney. Go
vernon Walker sat upon sofa at the other
end Of the Senate-chamber, having by his
side nearly all the time one or other Of the
senators who favor the unconditional ad-
mission of the senators and representatives
from his State. -'%..
Mr.. Trumbull referred to the fact that
there were no facts or statements given
upon WHICH it was claimed that the admis-
sion of the State should be delayed, and
that Mr.. Sumner seemed to be Missed on by
a person sitting by his side.
Hereupon Porter rose from his seat,
alongside Of Mr.. Sumner, and skulked off
to sofa in the corner in the rear of his
attorney.
Mr.. Sumner demanded of Mr.. Trum-
bull IN explanation. "What person does
the. Senator refer tor" was his question.
MIR. Trumbull did not know who the per-
son was, but he was not member Of the
Senate, and there he had found him for
three or four days. ..-.>.-
Mr.. Sumner desired to know if the Sena-
tor would exclude member Of the other
House from the floor?
MIR. Trumbel said the person (Porter)
had no right upon the floor Of the Senate.
He was not yet member of the House.
Mr.. Sumner wanted to know how about
Governor Walker? He was upon the floor,
and he asked, Had it come to this, that the
disloyal men of Virginia shall be admitted
to the Senate chamber whilst complaint is
made of the presence of the loyal Porter
Thereupon Mr.. Trumbun showed up the
loyal Porter by reading the proceedings Of
court-martial in which the loyal Porter
has been tried for reasonable and seditious
language and among other things alleged
against him, and for which he was found
guilty, was charging the President with
being drunk nine days in succession.
This reading caused general laugh
throughout the Senate chamber, and all eyes
were turned towards the loyal Porter, who
gave evidence of q strong desire to retire :;
but when Mr.. Trumbuu read further, that
the loyal Porter had been found guilty only
of charging the President with drunken
ness but acquitted as to the nine days in
succession, there went forth q shout of
laughter the like of which has not been
heard in these halls for many a day, and
Porter was sauelched.
Here Mr.. Sumner arose and asked, Is
the Senator throughf
Mr.. Trumbnll: Not quite-and here an
other laugh. -
Mr.. Trumbull said Governor Walker was
entitled to come upon the floor of the Sen.
ate. The rules expressly named governors
of States as among the privileged, and
Summers dragging Walker into the case was
gratuitous. ,.,.. ~. fs.,,.
Sumner rose in o passion, and asked II
Trumbun had not judged, g himself to be
burned Quoting what he claimed to be
an ecclesiastical phrase, be charged Trum-
bull With being influenced by personal feel
ing and not open to reason. He repelled
the charge that he claimed to be the. exclu-
size representative of loyalty in the Sc
nate but Of the loyal people. He said he
fonnd no support in Tumbull, who, ne
sa;d, WAS trifing with the rights Of the