New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-27
Al HARD DAYS WORK.

HARD DAYS WORK.
SENATORS LISTENING TO A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY
WITH THE THERMOMETER AT EIGHTY-sIX DE-
GREEs.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April 20.-SenatOrs spent five to-
dious hours to-day in the Senate Chamber, where
the mercury stood at So, and in the cloak rooms,
where, during portion of the afternoon, the heat
was almost sitting. The hot weather produced
visible effect upon Senator's, and more than once or
twice the languid attention which they bestowed
upon the proceedings disclosed by the fact that
no quorum had voted on the various childish mo-
tions submitted by Democratic Senators IN order to
consume time.
With single exception Senators declined toindulge
in speechmakng. Even Senator Brown, the vigilant
and loquacious leader of the Democracy, remained
silent; but his desk piled with books and Uttered
with papers TO which he devoted much attention,
probably with view TO another attempt to explain
more clearly his snuous record as a politician. Mr..
Jonas of Louisiana, and Mr.. Call, of Florida, were
also silent: but Florida had voice raised in her de-
fence against the foul "calumnies' of Senator Frye.
Mr. Jones made two-hours speech " in reply TO
that portion of the remarkable harangue Of the SEN
ator from Maine which referred to my State The
keynote of Mr.. Joness speech was his arragnment
of Mr. Frye for having dared to institute compari-
sons between Florida and other States of the Union.
Mr.. Jones very indignant at this medd ing with
the affairs of my State; and he grew red in the
face and waxed eloquent lac denounced aspcrsions
against my State " from outsiders" Considering
that Mr.. Jones made his way TO Florida some
twenty-five years ago from Ireland, " after rcsid-
ing temporarily in different parts of the South"
and considering too the deluge OF denunciatlon
poured upon Massachusetts, and other New-England
States by Messrs. Brown, Call and other Southern
Senators during the last month, Mr.. Joness perform
ance of to-day was decidedly cool and refreshing.
"All VIC want" shouted Mr.. Jones, "is TO I've let
alone. Why will you not let us alone This is our
problem" M Jones then discussed the origin Of
African slavery in this country, and showed that
the Government and people of Great Britain and not
the American colonies were responsible for IL. BY
an easy digcsson Mr.. Jones then entered upon
long apology or justification of slavery itself. II
Southern Senator quoting Scripture to prove that
the Saviour of mankind, who lived in the Roman
En1lire in an age when slavery Of the most calling
kind existed in that empire, did not drnounce the
institution but said: Render therefore unto Cesar
the things that arc C8sarsD
From this starting-pOlnt Mr.. Jones proceeded, by
easy stages down through the centuries 70 the pres
ent time, dwelling especially upon Edmund Burkes
speech in defence of the American colonies III which
the British statesman announced he discovery that
the sentiment of liberty is strongest IN the hearts Of
masters of slaves Mr. Jones read copious extracts
from Burke's speeches and one Republican senator
pleasantly remarked that the more OF Burke and
the less of Jones he puts into that speech the better
the speech will be-" Mr.. Jones concluded by enter
ing general denial to every thing that Mr. Frye
said about political outrages in Florida. Mr.. Fryes
statements were from Official records. Mr. JOness
statements were his own assertions.