An interesting incident of the session was a discussion between Mr. Davis and Mr. Fessenden, of Maine, a Senator second only to Mr. Seward among Abolition leaders, in point of intellect, and behind none in his truculent animosity to Southern institutions. Reviewing the message of Mr. Buchanan with great severity, Fessenden took occasion to discuss elaborately the slavery question, with all its incidental issues. Mr. Davis replied, not at great length, but with much force and spirit. The discussion terminated with the following colloquy, which is interesting chiefly in its personal allusions: "MR. FESSENDEN. ... Sir, I have avowed no disunion sentiments on this floor--neither here nor elsewhere. Can the honorable gentleman from Mississippi say as much? "MR. DAVIS. Yes. "MR. FESSENDEN. I am glad to hear it, then. "MR. DAVIS. Yes. I have long sought for a respectable man who would allege the contrary. "MR. FESSENDEN. I make no allegation. I asked if he could say as much. I am glad to hear him say so, because I must say to him that the newspapers have represented him as making a speech in Mississippi, in which he said he came into General Pierce's cabinet a disunion man. If he never made it, very well. "MR. DAVIS. I will thank you to produce that newspaper. "MR. FESSENDEN. I can not produce it, but I can produce an extract from it in another paper. "MR. DAVIS. An extract! then that falsifies the text. "MR. FESSENDEN. I am very glad to hear the Senator say so. I made no accusation--I put the question to him. If he denies it, very well. I only say that, with all the force and energy with which he denies it, so do I. The accusation never has been made against me before. On what ground does the Senator now put it?... "MR. DAVIS. Does the Senator ask me for an answer? "MR. FESSENDEN. Certainly, if the Senator feels disposed to give one. "MR. DAVIS. If you ask me for an answer, it is easy. I said your position was fruitful of such a result. I did not say you avowed the object--nothing of the sort, but the reverse.... "MR. FESSENDEN. That is a matter of opinion, on which I have a right to entertain my view as well as the Senator his.... "MR. DAVIS. Mr. President, I rise principally for the purpose of saying that I do not know whence springs this habit of talking about intimidation. I am not the first person toward whom a reply has been made, that we are not to carry our ends by intimidation. I try to intimidate nobody; I threaten nobody; and I do not believe--let me say it once for all--that any body is afraid of me--and I do not want any body to be afraid of me. "MR. FESSENDEN. I am. [Laughter.] "MR. DAVIS. I am sorry to hear it; and if the Senator is really so, I shall never speak to him in decided terms again.