The New York herald., 1870-03-17
WASHINGTON.
The COl0red Senator Reveis'
Maiden Speech.
Critical Review or the Georgia Ques.
ten - Report Of the Committee on
the Trade in Cadetships-Resolu-
zion to Expel Congressman
Butler, Of Tennessee.

Senator's Maiden Speech in the United
States senate.
Whenever there Is very large crowd In the Senate
galleries 1t Is customary TO make comparison with
the crowds tnar to attend there during the i'm
9peacnment excitement. To-day that comparison
was made for about the seventeenth time since the
.acquiual OF Andrew Johnson ana the opinion ex-
pressed was that the crowd which was present to
near the maiaen soralorial effort OF Reyes, the
colored Senator from Mississippi, was as arge as
that which gathered In the Senate galleries any
day during the trial OF the great Presidential ac-
cused, and the crowd was one OF which any speaker,
white black, might justly be proud
Many OF the best ladies OF the city were
IN galleries and listened with the most
fat.crIng attention. The diplomatic box was
iamned with ladies not OF the diplomatic persua-
sion. senor Don Rufus Bullock. Envoy Extraordl-
nary and Minister Plenpoientiary OF Georgia the
only male diplomat occupying a seat in the sacred
box devoted to the legations. Indeed he was the
only man there at ali, and he finally compelled
TO withdraw, tu make room for some late female
arrivals who were privileged TO SIT in the sdacuDa
8dactoraaR. In the genuemen's gallery there was
multitude OF American citizens Of African descent,
who came to hear the words OF wisdom OF
their own chosen Moses. Viewing the occa-
sion IN the full light Of its vast impor-
tance TO their race they nocked early aud
worst, and could be seen standing-many out in the
cogndors-througn the open DOORS peering into the
chamber with looks OF intense interest and atten-
tion 1t Is due them TO add that from first to last
they behaved themselves like gentlemen On the
floor OF the chamber the interest exhibited was
scarcely less. There were very few Senators absent
few who took advantage OF the occasion to write
letters and read newspapers. Little Garrett Davis
was one OF the feeble minority who violated good
II
evidently in agony He didn't enjoy the scene. He
tried 10 shut out what around him. He did this
Tor awhile and then finding 1t wouldn't work Garret
looked up engaged in apparently rrevcrent convcr-
sati0n with his neghbor Thayer. and set about gig
Cling In suppressed tones His colleague, the eio-
queut McCreery, OF "Oe KeDtuck," who parts his
hair in the middle and always appears in swallow
tail coat, elevated his shoe leather ON the desk in
front OF him and surveyed the spectacle with
smile in which pity and benevOlence were sweetly
blended. McCreery is evidently more OF phioso-
pher than little Garrett. HIS look seemed to say,
avail, raa-ther guess this is a queerlsh arrange i,
ment for the United States Senate. but it's
meme OF my doing. The funeral Is not mine.
II they (neaning the radcasl can stand
II ! can" Therefore McCreery 8 more pleas
ant method OF viewing the event. great
many members or the House were on the Senate
noor as listeners and among them Ben Butter and
Mr.. Dawes. TWO cOored gentlemen OF clerical
aspect were admitted to standing positions and one
lady OF dark complexion who was furnished with
seat on the lobby side OF the chamber, midway be-
tween the Presidential char and Reves' desk
Altogether, then you may Imagine tue scene was
OF interest. You may fancy. likewise that
when the hour Of one arrived and .SmIler Coifax,
smiling oil over in his most gracious style, announced
In parliamentary lingo that Georgia was in order
there was buzz and hustle. leaning forward
and stretching OF necks ana all other symptoms
that go TO make Up an aggravated case OF profound
interest.
II was The turn or Oliver Phiiander Morton, OF
Indiana. to speak piece upon re- ererecons.ructed
and still unroconstructed Georgia, but Oliver PM
lander recognized that he not the magnet OF the
occasion; he knew that his fame as an orator had
not attracted the brilliant audience from Europe,
Africa and America. lie was Wiling to offer him.
self up as holocaust on the altar OF absolute
equality, and SO Nor on instead Of seifshly insist
Ing upon his rights gracefully announced that he
would yield his turn 10 the honorable and highly
co.ored 0raloncal virgin from Mississippi. Mr.
keyels never blushed bill, neither did nc show an
atom OF embarrassment. lie truly "coola
cucumoer,o whicn ID generally admitted to
he several degrees below Alaskan ice
berg. Recognizing the courtesy Of Oliver Phy
lander with bow that your ravorite Brown,
OF Grace Church, dare not criticise, Mr.. Revels
took the noor and amid silence deep and
eocmn commenced his preparations for speaking.
But Fenton saw that much Cl The eject would be
lost were Reyes TO attempt oration from the hid
den position ben.nd Parson Brownlow, 80 Fenton
generously went 10 Revels ana bcnevolenty vonn-
tcerel 10 allow Mississippi TO talk from the desk OF
one ol New lork's 1avorite sons Reyes, with
another DOW that would madden Brown, accepted
The oer aud proceeded to the desk OF Fenton where
ne produced his portfolio and extracted the mann
SCRIPT Of his speech more accurate eye
witness than myself declares that Reves
took up the hrst sheet IN his left hand
ana that then lie made a reverentai bow whether
at CoEax or ihe galleries IS not stated. But feel
bound 20 observe that authorities differ these i'm
portant points Others assert that Reves employed
his dexter IN the preiminary manipulation OF the
sheets and that he bowed, first OF ALL and chat then
everybody IN The galleries rose, as by common
impulse to stretch forward aud get better view or
the sable orator, ond tnat his unexpected Display
OF interest somewhat Disconnected rs object. He
q had been prepared for crowd, but had not antci
pated such manifestation rs thaC moment occurred.
IL was no wonder, tnen that MS tones were little
unsteady when he commenced 10 speak; but as he
went ON he scemeisto lose sight of everything
but his pages Of manuscript, which he read or with
the dstinctness, cearness and self possession OF
thoroughly experienced orator.
AS / stated In starting out the speech was listened
to with very general attention by al save hdgetty
Garrett DAVIS, wno, ! might add as well as writing
and cracking some quier jokes with his neghbor,
seemed yearn to interpose some OF hs verbose
terIuptous. Thurman surmounted his disgust with
Lie camness OF a philosopher. Casserly diI not
seem 10 realize his situation exactly aud was III at
ease. In iacG the scene on the democratic side OF
the senate appeared to strike them with mixture
OF beWlderment and curiosity. The political
friends OF Mr.. Reves were as busly engaged, it
seemed. contemplating TINS practical exhibition or
the results Of their legislation as IA listening to MS
remarks. The merit OF the speech as a literary CON-
position added 10 an agreeable delivery was above
the average o. the written eIus!ons TO which the
senate has been SO often accustomed OF late
years. Air. Reves m0destly alluded to his early APP
pearance N debgte and artistcally apoogized Tor