filled to their utmost capacity with visitors and spectators,
the scene became grand and impressive. A few spoke on the side of the
resolution, chiefly Rivers, Buchanan and Niles, and with an air of ease
and satisfaction that bespoke a quiet determination and consciousness of
victory.

The committee-room was resorted to in parties of four and six at a time,
always leaving enough on watch, and not resorted to by one side alone.
The opposition were invited to a full participation, an invitation of
which those who were able to maintain their temper availed themselves
of, but the greater part were not in a humor to eat anything--especially
at such a feast. The night was wearing away, the expungers were in full
force, masters of the chamber happy and visibly determined to remain. It
became evident to the great opposition leaders that the inevitable hour
had come that the 'damnable deed was to be done that night,' and that
the dignity of silence was no longer to them a tenable position.

The battle was going against them, and they must go into it without
being able to re-establish it. In the beginning they had not considered
the expunging movement a serious proceeding, as it advanced they still
expected it to miscarry on some point, now the reality of the thing
stood before them confronting their presence and refusing to "down" at
any command.

Mr. Calhoun opposed the measure in a speech of great severity. The day,
said he, is gone, night approaches and night is suitable to the dark
deed we meditate; there is a sort of destiny in this thing, the act must
be performed, and it is an act which will tell upon the political
history of this country forever. Mr. Clay indulged in unmeasured
denunciation of the whole thing. The last speech in opposition to the
measure was made by Mr. Webster, who employed the strongest language he
could command condemnatory of an act which he declared was so
unconstitutional, so derogatory to the character of the senate, and
marked with so broad an impression of compliance with power. But though
thus pronounced an irregular and unconstitutional proceeding by Mr.
Webster and the other senators with whom he sided and voted, Mr. John
Quincy Adams, who was at the time a member of the house, and in direct
antagonism, politically, with Mr. Benton, and to the Jackson
administration held a different opinion.

Midnight was now approaching. The dense masses which filled every inch
of the room in the lobbies