A hard rain with slippery streets so that I took the omnibus to the Capitol. Met with Mr Stephen H Phillips our late attorney general there who has come on about a case in the Supreme Court. The debate went on today. Mr Rust made a speech in which he took occasion to allude to what I said in the Committee about a resolution drawn by me some years ago on the annexation of Texas, and to represent it in a way to force me to notice it. This was the first time I have been called on in this manner, and my antagonist was by no57 means of my choosing. He is arrogant, domineering and unscrupulous, thought not illnatured. Very fortunately I had hunted up the resolution in the files of the House some days since, so that I was enabled to find it before his speech was over. This enabled me to read it with some effect, and to demolish the edifice he was building. His colleague, Hindman, and Mr Cox of Ohio then tried to come in to his rescue and build up and explanation for him, but the passage was stopped by Mr Ferry of Connecticut, who was on the floor for a speech. Another and a rougher passage took place between Mr Rust and Mr Dunn, which ended in a misunderstanding. After Mr Ferry concluded, Mr Nelson got the floor and we adjourned. Mr Phillips and Dr Palfrey dined with me. I worked until late an night.