The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

The county and city taxes are at the
rate of about 80 cents each on the
500. The county has a bonded debt
OF about S2S0,OOO, and a floating debt
of $4,000.
Situated above the region of malaria,
Bexar county enjoys exceptional
healthfulness. Invalids, especially
those suffering from consumption and
kindred diseases, flock thither in large
numbers. The winters are so mild
that flowers often bloom in the open
air in January, and the summer heat
Is greatly modified by the perennial
Texas trade-winds from the Gulf of
Mexico.
simultaneously mbs Davis.
1t was about year before the close
of President Buchanan'S administra-
ton that most memorable scene Oc-
CURED in the United States senate-a
scene, owing to its historical and i'm
preSSive character, never to to be or
gotten by those who witnessed it.
The occasion was that on which
Hon. William H. Seward, senator from
New York, delivered his great speech
on the measure known as the Ne
braska bill. This speech had long
been anticipated and was eagerly
awaited by the public, as therein it
was expected that the foremost leader
in the Republican party would an
nounce its position and policy on the
subject of slavery in the territories.
The senate chamber was densely
| crowded, the galleries being filled with
oil ~ Of hn
The house of representative had adj
jOurned and the members were gath
cred on the floor of the senate. A
deep feeling of anxiety prevailed
throughout the country on the sub
ject of slavery, and political passions
were wrought up to a white heat.
The time was March, 1860; when
preparations were already making
for the coming presidential campaign
and all parties felt the gravity of the
impending contest.
The foremost champions of both
the great political parties were pres
ent in the senate on this eVentful
day. Among the senators at that
| period were Sumner of Massachusetts
Fessenden of Maine, Hale of New
| Hampshire, Seward of New York
bluff old Ben Wade and the brilliant
Pugh of Ohio, Douglas and Turnbull
of Illinois, Hunter and Mason of Vir.
| giuia, the subtle Slidell and the elo.
quent Benjamin of Louisiana, Jeffer.
sen Davis of Mississippi, bold
Robert Toombs of Georgia, stur.
dy Andrew johnson of Tennessee
the scholarly Clay of Alabama, the
dashing Wigfall of Texas, the lordly
Gwyn of California, honest Joe LANE
of Oregon, the venerable John L.
Crittenden of Kentucky, and other
eminent and notable men. In the
chair sat John G. Breckenridge, vice
president of the United States, who
presided over the senate with great
dignity and ability.
| Many distinguished men were there
and among them, Lewis CaSs, Jere
miah 5. Black, Charles Francis Adams
| William Porcher Miles, Joshua r
Giddings, George II. Pendleton, How
ell Cobb, Alexander Ii. Stephens.
About o'clock Mr.. Seward arose
and amid breathlesS silence began to
address the senate. Those who saw
him for the first time were disappoint
ed in his personal appearance. HI
was of medium stature and slight
frame, with Il large head thickly GOV
cred with gray hair, thin, pale face
and prominent beaked nose. Though
his voice was not strong his enuncia
ton was clear and distinct, his utter
ance calm and deliberate and his
delivery quick, without any attempt
at OratOry.
The speech was an deliberately pre-
pared one, and init were first used the
terms 'labor states" and "capita
states" as referring respectively to thu
'free states" and the slave states,
expressions newly coined by thi:
statesman who first declared the ire
preSSible conflict to be inevitable. In
the course of his remarks Mr.. Seward
more than once alluded rather deris
lively to Senator Douglas rs aiming tC
secure the next Democratic presiden.
tial nomination. The address occupied
fully three hours and made deep im.
| preston.
| When Seward sat down Douglas
leaped to his feet, all aglow and fairly
quIvering with emotion. He was evi.
denely stung to the quick, and indig.
nantly repealed Stewards illusions to
his course, speaking Scornfully of him
as that SENATOR" and for an hour he
poured forth torrent of eloquence
that fairly electrified his hearers.
In ringing tones, with rapid utter
ance and in chaSte but forcible lam
guage, he vindicated his doctrine OF
squatter sovereignty for the terrific
TieS, maintaining it to be the only just
and satisfactory solution of the ques-
| ton of the extension of slavery, Just
alike to all sections of the Union
Stephen A. Douglas at this time occu-
pied that ground almost alone in the
senate. He stood like a lion at bay,
facing his foes on all sides, and with
clear logic and ready wit he replied to
all who attacked him.
| Douglas presented in every respect
a striking contrast to the suave Sew
ard. OF rather short stature, but COM
pact and massive mould, with florid
face, strong features, leonine head
and lron-gray name, he seemed the
very embodiment of strength and
courage; yet there was withal some
| thing exceedingly winSome in his
manner, for with great power there
were combined many very genial and
kindly qualities in the Little Giant"
Hardly had Douglas concluded,
when Senator Toombs of Georgia,
arose, and apparently deeply stirred,
he apparently took bold and high
ground in presenting the southern
view of the slavery question under
discussion. He clearly and powerful
ly stated the grievances of the south,
and with prophetic voice he warned
the senate that there was danger of
war ahead if the wrongs were not re-
| dressed; that, if forced to war, armed
men would spring up from the POto-
mac to the Rio Grande to defend their
rights. He hoped that time would
| never come, but he feared that aboli-
tionism persisted in wrong, and pre-
vailed, dire conflict was inevitable,
and accordingly warned the country.
1t was notable speech, and created a
great sensation, being delivered in
Toombs' own style, animated, earnest,
clear, aggressive and, at times, even
defiant. Senator Toombs was then in
the prime of vigorous manhood.
During all this time Jefferson Davis
had sat an attentive listener. He now
stood up to address the senate. All
eyes were turned toward the great
Mississippian, amid a general desire to
hear him, from his standpoint. shed
the light of his lurid intellect on the
mOmentOuS question that so pro-
profoundly agitated the nation. He
was man of imposing presence, of
intellectual aspect and dignified de-
meanor; his manner was that of fin