“The finest audience of the session came out to-day to
hear Mr. Sumner’s great speech on the Amendment to the
Constitution. Many persons were in the galleries before the
Senate was called together at noon, and long before one
o’clock, the hour at which the proposition was to be taken
up, they were crowded to their utmost capacity. The morning
hour was occupied with minor business, and it was a
quarter past one when Mr. Fessenden called for the special
order. He of course was entitled to open the debate, but,
being unwell to-day, he yielded the floor to Mr. Sumner.
“The scene, when he rose to speak, was one that could not
fail to touch the most indifferent heart. One fourth of
the gentlemen’s gallery was filled with colored soldiers,
and the other seats and aisles of the remaining part of
the galleries were closely packed with an intent and
appreciative auditory, while on the floor were a large
number of members from the House and several members of the
foreign delegations resident in the city.”