Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-05-04

The scene witnessed in the United States
Senate last Tuesday afternoon was one of
the most remarkable that ever took place
there. The occasion was the reply of Sen
ator Ingalls, of Kansas to Senator Voorhees,
of Indiana on political issues past and pres
emit but mainly to Voorhees, abuse of Pres
ident Hayes and his attack on the latter's
title to the Presidency Notice had been
given of the debate, and the galleries were
packed on the floor every inch of available
space was occupied by members of the
House and other privileged persons, and in
the corridors great crowds struggled for a
chance to see or hear even for moment
of Mr.. Ingalls's speech the press reports
say:
After turning from Voorhees, and his past, af-
ter scathing contrast OF his eulogy of the Union
cause and Union generals with his conduct during
the war, Mr. Ingalls, drew the issue that stood be
fore the country for this fall in words that must
compel the attention of every Republican. The
opposition of wholly unbrOken solid south, with
its determination TO have il kept solid, with the
unsciupuousness that makes that result easy
one to reach, was shown with clear, prophetic
voice. The questions at stake were recited, the
control OF the supreme court the control of the
civil service the decisions of the great constitu-
tional questions that come before the court. The
declaration that this was the most important cleo
ton ever held in this country was greeted with
GREATNESS silence one shot that hit fairest and
truest Of all his shafts, was the denunciation of
the appointment of Lamar, "A man who had new
er been suspected Of being lawyer who had not
tried a cause in thirty years, and who as a
mark of his dislOyaty, had called Lincoln buf-
toOn. In opening the debate MIR. Ingalls, kept
back all his wonderful power Of sarcasm, ridicule
and nlerciless eXcuriatiOn. He devoted himself
to calm, dignitied and dispassiunate review of
Mr.. NoOrhees's public record, and when he sat
down many people had the impression that he had
not felt sure of his ground, and had hardly done
himself or his subject justice.
Mr.. VOORHEES, rose 10 answer Mr.. Ingalls,, con
graduating himself, no doubt, ON having escaped
with so light drubbng. lie grew bold, defiant
aud hual v, receiving no reply, became abusive
| payfully sarcastic hilarioIisly impcrtiuent II
was the cleverness of an elephant attempting tC
dance on tight rope, but immensely gratifying
| to his Democratic colleagues who shook theil
sides with laughter at what they considered wit
III the senator were IN police court he would
| be sent TO the rock pile for drunkenness and dis
| orderly conduct, was the only comment Mr. In
| gals made when Mr., Voorhees, gave him the lie
| Up 70 that time Mr. Ingalls, seemed 10 have toer
ated the Indiana senator's absurdities But as he
| rose To reply his face seemed TO say Il will have
/ no more nonsense His strange hestancy which
was so unaccouutable at first mad all disappearet
/ and with 1t the plan mapped out for this dehat,
became apparent. lie had succeeded in leading
/ poor voorhees, into trap, and into that trap tht
/ Indiana senator had clumsily fallen beyond thu
/ nope OF recovery. For an hour or more MIR. In
gals mercilessly reviewed his war record EXPOSED
MS reasonable practices, laid bare his coward,
treatment of Union soldiers and drew the picture
! of a copperhead such as has not been drawn be
] fore. Among other things he quoted from 4
speech made by voorhees, at Sullivan, Ind. Aug
] o lsb2 at the very time when Mcclellan wa,
/ lighting the battle Of Antetam." In the speecl
] he said that Union soldiers should 20 to the
nratrst blacksmith shop and have iron collar
made and put around their necks, inscribed il
large letters My dog. A Lincoln" To al
/ this Nourheess running answer was CONSTANT,
] the same Islander, lies campaign lies "
When ingalls, finished there came the most dis
graceful part of the whole performance Whit,
with rage and unable 10 control his violent temper
voorhees, replied 10 his assailant calling him "a
miserable liar and "a dirty dog" and he finally
left the senate chamber repeating these epithets
. Congressman Johnston of his own state, who sa
near Mr. Ingalls,, was characterized by the Indiana
senator m still more Insulting language Strang,
70 say, no one appears To have insisted upon Mr.
] Voorhees, prompt rehuke by the senate Pruba
bly, his condition from liquor, il is minated wa
. such that the senate thought il wise TO wait be
fore deciding what course to pursue
1t is true that Mr.. Ingalls's speech was il
a sense uncalled for, but it is also true tha
there is no excuse for men like voorhees, /,
continually cry fraud over Mr., Hayes
election and to rake up the embers of tn,
war, While these things are done it will b,
somebody's unwelcome duty to reply I,