The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-24
THE SENATE IN 1861.
Famous Debate Recalled Types
oil, Statesmen of That Period.

Famous Debate Recalled-Types
Of Statesmen of That Period.
In the spring of 1861 many exciting
debates took place in the United States
Senate. A reporter for Ilarpers Weekly
gives tho following account Of some OF
the scenes lie witnessed rs lie sat I'M the
reporters gallery on the evening Of Sat
urtlay. March 2, and the night interven-
ing between March and 4 The Senate
adjourned at 1 x. NJ on Sunday morn
ing. the Sd, to meet again at Z F. NJ on
tho same day, and sat continuously III
Z a. NJ on Monday morning. March 4.
The business before 1t was the following
resolution which had passed the House
by two-thirds vote:
"That no amendment shnll be- made to
the Constitution which will authorize
Congress to abolish or interfere within
any State, with the domestic institutions
thereof, Including that Of persons held to
labor or servitude by the law OF said
State.' IN Vi tsf 4.
The whole account of the debate Is
very interesting. but my object Is spec
tally to give the impression made upon q
Northern man and an ardent Republi-
can by two Southern Senators. They
stood almost alone ontvoted on every
question, with no sympathy from the dom.
inant party and yet by sheer force OF
character they commanded respect and
even admiration quote from the re-
porter:
after All eloquent speech by Douglas,
Senator Wilkinson, of Minnesota, got the
floor and proceeded to fagellate the seces-
sionlsts and the South generally. He was
followed In the same strain by Senator
Chandler, OF Michigan. Both were Yto-
lent, severe and rather abusive. Both
were for the forcible maintenance, OF the
Union. Both We're answered bygSNlgfall,
OF Texas. a French gentleman Of. lnrga
public experience, who heard this debate,
remarked that Wilkinson and Chandler
We're fair types of Northern. while Wig
fall was fair tyre of Southern states
men, Without going 20 .arAas this, one
must admit that there isare superficial
grounds for.-the assertion. Western men
like Chandler mnd q yYillenson--and thsy
are nearly all alike-;re Very Unpleasant
orators to listen to. Their. language IS
not we'll chosen and their delivery most
offensive. Trained to address out OF door
audiences, they never overcome the habit
OF bawling. When they become excited,
the hearers anxiety for tho safety Of
their blood vessels absorbs every other
feeling. To see them sit down Is his Oily
wish. Men like Jefferson Davis and
William II. Seward speak In ordinary
tones. yet are heard throughout the Sem
ate Chamber But these Western Cice-
roS always seem to be- addressing some
one who is three miles Off. They appear
to consider themselves oratorical Column
biads, warranted not to burst with any
charge.
Senator Wigfal, OF Texas. is the ex-
act opposite of these speakers. He is n
finished order-probablyl the most charms.
ing in-the Senate. His voice is clear. me-
odious and sufficiently powerful to be
heard everywhere, lie speaks gramma-
ticaly, with elegance. and without eff
fort. His delivery is perfect and his ac-
ton suitable. When to these merits i
add that he is witty and smart, | have
said everything that can be said In his
favor. He has tho misfortune Of being
almost illogical and incorrect. (These, OF
course. are the sentiments OF q political
opponent) His reply to Wilkinson ana
Chandler was extremely Witty. Chandler
had abused Governor Floyd as atcommon
thief, and scoundrel. Wigfall twitted
him with Offering insults for which ne
would not respond In the field. II will
make bargain with tho Senator. nc
said. If he will write a letter to Cover
nor Floyd saying: s''GOvernorSFloyd you
are q scoundrcl, andfI am q gentleman,
Hezckinh"--no--I mean Jeremiah; no.
I beg pardon, 'zachariah Chandler" ]
will , covenant that Governor tloyd,s
friends shall pay the whole amount which
he Is accused Of steallngFfrom the Chlteu
States Treasury - I. q 800 ~ 5.as.
'"rhe Northern trains had Just arrived,
and the gallery was full Of Northern spec
tators. Waving his hand gracelullyf 70
them, Wlgfall continued: The difficulty
between you and us. gentlemen,8is that
you will not send the right sort OF peo-
plc here, Why willyou,not. send either
Christians or gentlemen! Either people
who will not insult us With gross Worus.
or people who will admit their personal
responsibility for their languageT Chand-
Ter had said that he wanted to see wheth,
err we had n government; that II VIC Auu
none, he would leave tho country nc
would 60 to some country where they nad
ono; he would go and live among inc
Comanches Wigfall replied 'Ihe sen
ator says that under certain conditions
he viii 20 and live among the comanche:s'
God Forbid Tho Comanches nave Az
ready suffered rnuch-tooh much--1roHl
contact with the white man.
Ellis wit and repartee overwholmed !lis
Northern opponents, even in the OPINION
OF Northern hearers, though on the man
questions at Issue between them ne was
obviously wrong and they were riglt, 30
lHucll vi 6oou uellpc|SE f'N 1880 ''T''5.-J
Language.
after u speech by Senator crlttendaen
sunday night, an alteration arose pa-
tween Senators Douglas ana Mhsoll;
Douglas declared that, no had oYerhearl
conversation between Mason. ana fngh
on tho subject OF the defeat or the reso.
luton by 'indirection, Mason sneered at
people who repeated to the Senate scarps
of private converse ton which they over
heard, and wound up In his lnlTltan1ly
insoent manner with the adage' 70
gustbus non disputandum. Dongles
ficrcey retorted that he permitted no
Senator to accuse him OF unparlia entary
behavior, Mason took two steps forWalu;
and for an instant the prospect iookeu
warlike, But stopping midway nl,eI q
pause of some momnnts,S INC ha'lshtS
Senator from Virginia condcsfended 70
utter half apology.
Let me take this opportlnllS, ~ say
Ing that Senator Mason Is perhaps we
nearest approach In the present Sehuie
to the beau ideal OF a Senator He SCI
dom makes long speeches, What ne mas
10 say In COOL language, with q 5000 man
ner, and in a parliamentary way. y men ,
he Is done he does not 60 OYER the sFoVtha