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The agitation of my bill became so general that the afternoon session found the front gallery full of ladies, who were in sympathy with me, for the fate of the bill for the protection of the personal liberty of their own sex.

As the evening approached, and the "house bills" were not called for, we began to feel that if they were, we could expect nothing more than to see it share the now almost universal fate of being "killed," like the others.

As its fate became momentarily more and more doubtful, in an impatient and despairing spirit, all the ladies left, one after another, leaving me alone, with only a few gentlemen lobbyists, as their dinner hour had arrived, and the evening lamps were being lighted.

At this juncture, amid the roar and confusion of battle, as it seemed to me, the "House Bills!" were called for.

Now the hungry tired Senators, more impatient than ever for despatch, pursued their murderous business upon these bills faster than ever before. Even before finishing the reading of the titles of some bills, the motion to "Lay it on the table!" was made and carried.

My anxiety had already become so intense that, when the "Personal Liberty Bill!" was called out, amid the din of this confused battle, my heart almost stopped its pulsations so keenly did I realize the importance of the present moment.

The confused tumult slightly abated, and instead of the monotonous response, "Lay it on the table!" was heard:

"Read the bill!"

This the clerk commenced doing, when he hesitated -- and remarked:

"There is no 'Enacting Clause' to this bill!"

Hon. Murry McConnell, of Jacksonville, Dr. McFarland's strongest ally, cried out:

"Lay the bill on the table! -- We have no time to attend to bills presented to us in that condition -- and it is of no more use than so much white paper if it is passed as it is."

There was silence in the Senate!

No one spoke -- and the bill was passed to Mr. Bushnell, the chairman of the Judiciary, who, with extended hand, asked to look at it, doubtless feeling chagrined that the bill had passed through his hands, and been recommended, while in that defective condition.

While he stood, looking in silent amazement at the bill, this strange, solemn silence was at last broken by Governor Bross, the Speaker, remarking:

"Perhaps the bill could be returned to the House, from whence it originated, and the 'Enacting Clause' be inserted, and we yet pass the bill."

The motion was at once made and seconded that, the bill be returned to the House from whence it had originated, and get the "Enacting Clause" inserted. This motion quickly passed, and the bill was .put into the hands of the proper officer to be carried to the House, and the Senate in the mean time, resumed their old business -- "Killing Bills."

The message reached the House just as the motion to adjourn was being made.

But when this message from the Senate was read, Mr. Conkling, the chairman of the Judiciary in the House, who, like Mr. Bushnell, seemed to feel reproved by passing on so incomplete a document, at once suggested that they suspend the motion to adjourn until this business was attended to.

This being carried, he motioned that the clerk be instructed to insert the "Enacting Clause," and we pass the bill.

And here perhaps it is proper to state that in order that no means be left unemployed to secure the passage of the bill, I had spent the entire recess at noon in explaining to this chairman, and as many other members of the House as I could meet, how our bill had been stolen or lost. Mr. Conkling had remarked, very sympathetically:

"I will do all I can for you, but I fear 'tis too late to save it now."

And now lest the defeat of the Bill might be attributed to his carelessness or oversight, he became earnest and valiant in its defense.

The bill again passed its first, second and third reading, and the vote was again taken by yeas and nays. This time all voted for it, including the six who before voted against it.

The messenger at once returned to the Senate with the message that:

"The House have inserted the 'Enacting Clause,' and passed the bill, and recommended its passage in the Senate."

The reading of the bill was called for, and it was read entire.

Now came the tug of war! Many had never heard it read before, except by its title. And now to find what a radical bill it was -- what an inevitable upheaving of the Institution must be the result of a jury trial of all its inmates -- and what expense and trouble must attend the enforcement of the law a jury trial in every case of subsequent committal, &c. -- they were tempted to demur, in spite of their promise to stand by the bill.

Various questions were asked and answered satisfactorily while, to my astonishment, I saw Senator Mac, of Kankakee one of the fifteen who had pledged me his promise of honor to defend the bill if necessary, act as if he meant to defeat the bill if he could, and yet, shrink from assuming this responsibility himself, when he was brought out by the question: