The Daily Dispatch: March 18, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Mr. Douglas complained that the Senator had answered his argument only by personalties. He knew the Senator from Massachusetts was one of the war party. He continued, at length, and in the course of his remarks alluded to the Senators on the Republican side of the chamber.

Mr. Fessenden said that the Senator was mistaken if he alluded to him.

Mr. Douglas.--I did not mention the Senator from Maine.

Mr. Fessenden.--You said ‘"the Senator from Maine."’

Mr. Douglas.--I said ‘"from wherever they came."’ (Laughter.)

Mr. Fessenden.--Then I did not understand the Senator.

Mr. Douglas.--I know — but you cannot understand the truth when it is told.

Mr. Fessenden said that several gentlemen around him heard Mr. Douglas say the ‘"Senator from Maine."’

Mr. Douglas was surprised that the Senator from Maine seemed to think every attack was meant for him; that he was the only man in the chamber. He was a Senator, of respectable ability, and he sometimes listened to him with pleasure, but there were other Senators beside him. He commented upon the attempts which had been made to gag him.

Mr. Fessenden said there had been no attempt made to gag the Senator. Everybody understood the Senator to have used the words ‘"Senator from Maine."’

Mr. Douglas wished to know if it was not the most ordinary courtesy when a gentleman misunderstood another, to accept his correction.

Mr. Fessenden.--If the Senator says he did not mean it.

Mr. Douglas (excitedly.)--I say it is false.-- (Vice President--‘ "Order,"’ ‘"order."’) The Senator knows it to be false. (Vice President--The Senator is out of order.)

Mr. Fessenden said that if the Senator from Illinois wished to make a personal difficulty with him, he would not succeed.

He had spoken of him as very respectable. Why, ordinarily the Senator looked up to him. (Laughter.) He would grant that Mr. D.'s talents were more than respectable — nay, he would admit that Mr. D. was as great a man as he (Mr. D.) believed himself to be; but he could not admit him to be a gentleman, because he did not act like one. (Applause.)-- As to an attempt to gag, every Senator knew that Divine power had given to Mr. D. the greatest capacity to talk of any man in the world, and he doubted if anything less than Divine power could keep him from speaking.

Mr. Douglas said, that as the Senator had intimated his purpose to settle the difficulty outside the Senate, he should not further allude to it.

Mr. Fessenden declared he had said no such thing, he desired to know if Mr. Douglas recognized the code.

Mr. Douglas--I assure the Senator he will be responded to when he makes the inquiry in proper form.

Mr. Fessenden said that Mr. Douglas need not apprehend a hostile message from him.--He defined his position on the subject of the code.

Mr. Douglas responded, reviewing all the proceedings which had led to the difficulty, and contending that it begun by Mr. Fessenden doubting his (Mr. D. 's) word.

Mr. Hale said he had something to say in response to Mr. Douglas' onslaught on the Republicans. He read amid roars of laughter, the 4th verse of, the 15th chapter of II. Samuel.

Mr. Douglas said that it might be funny, but it was not statesman like to answer argument by personal attacks, as had been done by the Senators from Massachusetts, Maine, and New ampshire.