Taylor: Anything that benefits the state is mighty important to me. Owning a lot of its industry, newspapers, and other odds-and-ends. Now if I felt that you had the welfare of the state at heart like I have, I'd say you were a man to watch. Now what do you like? Business? If you like business, you can pick any job in the state and go right to the top. Or politics? Huh? If you like being a Senator, there's no reason why you can't come back to that Senate and stay there as long as you want to. (Smith rises slowly and confronts Taylor eye-to-eye.) If you're smart. Now you take the boys here, or Joe Paine. They're doing all right. They don't have to worry about being re-elected or anything else. They're smart. They take my advice.
Smith: (in an incredulous tone) You mean you tell these men and Senator Paine what to do?
Taylor: Why yes. Joe Paine has been taking my advice for the past twenty years.
Smith: You're a liar.
Taylor: 任何对这个州有益的事对我都十分重要。我拥有它那么多的工厂、报纸，还有其他一些鸡零狗碎的产业。那么，如果我感觉到你的心中对这个州也有和我一样的关切的话，我会觉得你是个值得注意的人。好吧，你想要什么？做生意？如果你想要做生意，你可以在这个州随便选一个工作，我包你站到最顶层。或是政治？嗯？如果你想做个参议员，我想不通为什么你不能再拿个参议院呆到你满意为止。（Smith慢慢地站起身，双眼盯着Taylor与其对视。）如果你够聪明。现在你向这些家伙学学，或者学Joe Paine。他们都干得不错。他们不必担心连任之类的问题。他们够聪明。他们听我的。
Smith（用一种无法置信的语气）：你的意思是你，由你来告诉这些人，还有参议员Paine先生该干什么？
Taylor: 哦当然了。Joe Paine这二十年来都听我的主意。
Smith: 你这个骗子。
在参议员Paine的办公室，四面墙上挂满了画，纪念品，还有一壁的书，Paine向Jeff摊了牌，告诉他自己和Taylor实际上是什么关系，也劝他不要再那么理想主义了：
I was hoping you'd be spared all this. I was hoping that you'd see the sights, absorb a lot of history, and go back to your boys. Now you've been living in a boy's world, Jeff, and for heaven's sakes, stay there! This is a man's world. It's a brutal world Jeff, and you've no place in it. You'll only get hurt. Now take my advice. Forget Taylor and what he said. Forget you ever heard of the Willet Creek Dam...I know it's tough to run head-on into facts but, well as I said, this is a man's world Jeff, and you've got to check your ideals outside the door, like you do your rubbers. Thirty years ago I had your ideals. I was you. I had to make the same decision you were asked to make today. And I made it. I compromised - yes! So that all those years, I could sit in that Senate and serve the people in a thousand honest ways. You've got to face facts, Jeff. I've served our state well, haven't I? We have the lowest unemployment and the highest federal grants. But, well, I've had to compromise. I've had to play ball. You can't count on people voting. Half the time they don't vote anyway. That's how states and empires have been built since time began. Don't you understand? (Pause) Well Jeff, you can take my word for it. That's how things are. Now I've told you all this because, well I've grown very fond of you. About like a son, in fact. And I don't want to see you get hurt.
我当初希望你不要搅进这里面去。我当时只想让你长长见识，汲取丰富的历史经验，然后再回到你的那些小伙伴中去。你一直生活在孩子的世界里，Jeff，如果老天保佑的话，就呆在那儿！这是一个男人的世界。这是个无情的冷酷的世界，Jeff，你在这里无法生存。你只会受伤。接受我的劝告吧。忘记Taylor和他说的话。就当你从来没听过白鹤溪这码事……我知道突然面对现实总让人接受不了但是，就像我说的，这是个男人的世界啊，Jeff，你得把你的理想主义拿到大千世界里来比一比，就像试你的雨靴一样。三十年前，我也像你一样充满理想。那时的我就是你。我也要做出选择，就像你现在面临的这样。我做到了。我妥协了——是的！所以这么多年来，我可以坐在那个参议院里，用更诚实的方法来服务我的人民。你必须面对现实，Jeff。我对我的家乡算是贡献很大了，不错罢？我们的失业率最低，而政府拨款获得的最多。但是，好吧，我必须妥协。我必须玩弄权术。你不能一味依靠人民的投票。他们大多数的时候都不投票。我们各州和帝国就是这样建立起来并延续至今的。你还不明白吗？（停顿了以下）好了Jeff，你好好想想我的话。事实就是这样。我把这一切都告诉你，因为我现在十分喜欢你。说实话，几乎像对待一个儿子了。我不想看到你受伤。
Paine请求Jeff看在他们的友谊，以及他与他父亲的友谊的份上，不要再参议席上插手这个不足法案：“你远远地多开吧。什么也别说。这幕后有强大的黑手，他们会在你还没来得及开始的时候就把你捏得粉碎。”Smith什么也没有回答，就离开了Paine的办公室，显得毫无选择的余地。他不愿意为了一个肮脏的贿赂事件妥协，牺牲自己的原则，他感到他的推荐者让他大失所望，甚至背叛了他。他突然意识到那些选举他上任的人们也都在这个腐败的系统里，他被残酷的现实迎头痛击。
第二天，Smith在不足法案宣读的时候坐立不安，最终站起来质问第四十部份有关白鹤溪大坝的事。当Paine的腐败行为即将被揭露的时候，Paine起身打断Smith的话，将责任推到 Smith身上，让他引火烧身。之后这些共谋者的企图就是嫁祸Smith，侮辱他，把他们自己犯下的罪行来责问Smith。那个伪造的土地购买者被套到了他的身上（还准备了伪造的文件和证明），并说那个少年夏令营就是Smith自己的猫腻——是为了他自己的利益才提出这个草案的。
Mr. President. I have risen to a difficult task to say that out of evidence that has come to my attention, I consider Senator Smith unworthy to address this body...Senators, I have conclusive evidence to prove that my colleague owns the very land described in his bill. He bought it the day following his appointment to the Senate. And he's holding it, using this body and his privileged office for his own personal profit! Accordingly, I offer a resolution for an immediate inquiry by the Committee of Privileges and Elections as to the fitness of my colleague to continue to sit in this chamber.
主席先生。由于一些迹象已经引起了我的注意，我不得不说一番令人难以启齿的话，那就是，我认为Smith参议员已经显而易见地给我们这个参议院蒙羞……参议员们，我又充分的证据证明我的同伴拥有那片它在草案中提到的土地。他在他上任参议员后一天将它置于名下。他掌握这片土地的所有权，为的是利用我们这个参议院和他的有利位置谋取私利！据上所述，我坚决要求选举委员会立即展开调查，以便核查我的同伴是否有资格继续坐在这个席位上。
Paine通过强烈要求Smith接受参议院审查，呼吁他必须被开除等等作为，转移了人们对他自己犯下的错误的注意力。Smith被整个参议院大厅的人唾弃，嘘声四起，那些小议员听差们纷纷除下他们的少年骑兵的徽章，扔掉了。
在委员会审讯时，莫须有的罪名，说谎的证人（Hopper州长和Paine参议员作伪证）还有那些假造的文件（一份签了名的合同还是地契）共同指控Smith利用他的少年夏令营，通过“精心策划的计划来贪污那一大笔由孩子们一分两分捐出来的钱”。Smith无言地站了一会儿，眼望着坐在位子上低着头不愿与他面对面的Paine。Smith无法证明自己的清白，十分粗暴地离开了审讯会。
Jefferson Smith的幻想破灭了，心烦意乱，无人相信，在深夜拎着他的公文包造访了林肯纪念堂——这是他第二次，或许也是他最后一次来这里了。他注意到刻在大理石墙上的林肯1863年盖茨堡演说的最后一句话：“而那个由人民产生的、为人民服务的人民政府，永不会从地球上消失。”（AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.）他身心疲惫地坐在装满他全部家当的包上，开始无声地哭泣。Saunders从阴影里出现了，告诉他：“你知道吗，直觉告诉我我能在这儿找到你。”她很感激他的母亲送给了她一大罐的草莓。她用自己多年与报社之间的联系中取得的经验，告诉他：“你一定要成为一个参议员。”
Smith只看到了她的智慧和尖锐，华盛顿式的见识：
You sure had the right idea about me, Saunders. You told me to go back home, keep fillin' those kids full of hooey. Yeah. Just a simple guy you said was still wet behind the ears. A lot of junk about American ideals. Yeah, that's certainly a lot of junk, all right...I don't know. This is a whole new world to me. What are you gonna believe in? And a man like Paine, Senator Joseph Paine gets up and swears that I've been robbin' kids of nickels and dimes - a man I've admired and worshipped all my life. I don't know. There are a lot of fancy words around this town. Some of them are carved in stone. Some of 'em, I guess the Taylors and Paines have put 'em up there so suckers like me can read 'em. Then when you find out what men actually do - Well, I'm gettin' out of this town so fast and away from all the words and the monuments and the whole rotten show.
Saunders，你对我的看法真是对极了。你要我回家，回去接着给那些孩子们胡说八道。是啊。你说的这个简单的家伙真是乳臭未干。尽是些美国完美主意这样的垃圾。对啊，那些只不过是一大堆垃圾罢了，算是吧……我不知道。这个世界对我来说完全陌生。你信仰什么？一个像Paine那样的人，参议员Joseph Paine，他站起来发誓说我抢劫那些孩子的硬币——他是我这一辈子敬仰崇拜的人啊！我不知道了。这个地方有好多奇怪的名言。有一些刻在石头上，另一些呢，我猜像Taylor那种人还有Paine那种人会把它们写出来，好让我这样的蠢蛋能瞧一瞧。然后当你发现人们真正在干什么的时候——唉，我要离开这个城市了，离开这些话语，这些纪念碑，这整场臭不可闻的演出。
这个被击得粉碎的消极的Smith已经被打败了，完蛋了，他决定离开这里。在灰暗的纪念堂里，Saunders意识到他是如此真诚地热爱这个民主体制。她的心中开始充满了理想主义的热情，强烈地鼓舞他，向他提到国父们（他们也不过是些“傻子”但是“他们并没有被那个时代的障碍所打败”）的“信仰”她鼓励他快点振作起来，留在这里和那个被政治机器操纵了的参议院斗争，彻底摧毁白鹤溪计划的两个主要阴谋者参议员Paine和Taylor的腐败：
Saunders: I see. When you get home, what are you gonna tell those kids?
Smith: I'll tell 'em the truth. Might as well find it out now as later.
Saunders: I don't think they'll believe you, Jeff. You know, they're liable to look up at you with hurt faces and say, 'Jeff, what did you do? Quit? Didn't you do something about it?'
Smith: Well, what do you expect me to do? An honorary stooge like me against the Taylors and Paines and machines and lies...
Saunders: Your friend Mr. Lincoln had his Taylors and Paines. So did every other man whoever tried to lift his thought up off the ground. Odds against 'em didn't stop those men. They were fools that way. All the good that ever came into this world came from fools with faith like that. You know that Jeff. You can't quit now. Not you! They aren't all Taylors and Paines in Washington. Their kind just throw big shadows, that's all. You didn't just have faith in Paine or any other living man. You had faith in something bigger than that. You had plain, decent, every day, common rightness. And this country could use some of that. Yeah - so could the whole cock-eyed world. A lot of it. Remember the first day you got here? Remember what you said about Mr. Lincoln? You said he was sitting up there waiting for someone to come along. You were right! He was waiting for a man who could see his job and sail into it. That's what he was waiting for. A man who could tear into the Taylors and root 'em out into the open. I think he was waiting for you Jeff. He knows you can do it. So do I.
Smith: What? Do what, Saunders?
Saunders: You just make up your mind you're not gonna quit and I'll tell you what. I've been thinkin' about it all the way back here. It's a forty foot dive into a tub of water, but I think you can do it.
Smith: Clarissa, where can we get a drink?
Saunders (slapping his knee): Now you're talkin'! (As they leave, he waves back at the seated, imposing figure of Mr. Lincoln.)
Saunders: 我明白了。你回家以后，怎么跟那群孩子说呢？
Smith: 我会跟他们说实话。他们现在不知道，将来总会知道的。
Saunders: 我不认为他们会相信你，Jeff。他们有可能抬起头来看着你受伤的脸，说：“Jeff，你做什么了？你退出？你难道没为此出一点力吗？”
Smith：哦，那你要我怎样？我这个荣誉傀儡可以对抗那些Taylor们、Paine们、那些政治机器和谎言……
Saunders: 你的朋友林肯也有他的Taylor和Paine。其他任何一个要实现自己的目标的人都一样。他们遇到的那些挫折并没有使他们止步。那样看来他们也许是傻瓜。这个世界上所有的英雄都是一些有着这样信仰的傻瓜。你知道的，Jeff。你不能现在退出。你不行！不是整个华盛顿都是一些像Taylor和Paine一样的人的。像他们那类的人只是制造一些巨大的阴影罢了。你不是只相信Paine或者任何一个活着的人呀。你相信的是比这个更崇高的东西。你有着十分清楚十分好的普通的正义感。这个国家有时会需要这个。是啊，这个荒唐的世界有时也会需要这个。会十分需要的。记得你第一次来这里的那天吗？记得你说过的关于林肯先生的话吗？你说他坐在那儿好像是在等谁的到来。你是对的！他在等一个能够明白他的工作的接班人。那就是他要等的人。一个可以直捣Taylor老巢把他们连根拔除的人。我想他是在等你，Jeff。他知道你能做到的。我也知道。
Smith：什么？做到什么，Saunders?
Saunders: 你只要下定决心不退出，我会告诉你要你做什么。我来这里的一路上都在想。这是孤注一掷的做法，但是我觉得你能行。
Smith: Clarissa,我们上哪儿去能喝一杯？
Saunders(拍拍他的膝盖): 你现在会说话了！（当他们离开的时候，他回头冲那个坐着的，庄严的林肯像挥手）。
第二天早上，Smith出现在他的参议员桌前，大大地出人意料。Saunders从高高的看台上冲他回首拍掌。她告诉Diz：“祈祷呀，Diz，如果你知道怎么祈祷的话。” 委员会关于开除Jefferson Smith的审判结果被宣读了，推许采纳驱逐方案。参议院主席决定暂时还承认Smith参议员的职位，让他说话，说是为了“公平地给坐在这个席位的人发言的机会”。Saunders从阳台上大声喊道：“让他说话！”
Jefferson Smith开始了他的著名的阻挠议事的演说[filibuster,以垄长的演说拖延或阻挠会议（尤指议会）做出决定的人]，这一个片断也成为三十年代电影的经典片段之一：
...I've got a few things I want to say to this body. I tried to say them once before and I got stopped colder than a mackeral. Well, I'd like to get them said this time, sir. And as a matter of fact, I'm not gonna leave this body until I do get them said.
……我有一些话想对诸位说。我曾经想说可是却被愣愣地打断了。唔，我想我该这一次说出来，先生。事实上，我如果不说出来的话，我不打算离开这个地方。
在一个令人难忘的镜头里，整个参议席的气氛顿时紧张起来。在一个全体席位的全景镜头里，Smith站在参议席的最后一排他自己的桌子前。同一个镜头里，坐在首席的参议员Paine头也不回地起身打断了Smith，提出要年轻的参议员让步（yield the floor），但是在Saunders的指导下学来有关让步的规则后，Smith断然拒绝向参议员Paine让步：
No sir, I'm afraid not. No sir. I yielded the floor once before, if you can remember, and I was practically never heard of again. No sir. And we might as well all get together on this yielding business right off the bat now. (Laughter) Now, I had some pretty good coaching last night, and I find that if I yield only for a question or a point of order or a personal privilege, that I can hold this floor almost until doomsday. In other words, I've got a piece to speak, and blow hot or cold, I'm gonna speak it.
不，先生，我恐怕不能让步。我让步过一次，如果你还记得的话，而那之后几乎没有人再听到我的话了。不，先生。我们不妨一起把这个让步的玩意好好解决以下。（笑声）我告诉你，我昨天晚上好好上了一课，我发现如果我不让步，而是提出问题或是对某人的优先提出质疑的话，我可以让这个会一直开到世界末日。换句话来说，我要说一段很长的话，就算我没有想好，我也要说出来。
当他向参议员Paine提出一个问题作为让步的条件时，Smith被提及那个嫁到他头上的罪名。他回应那些谴责道：
Mr. President. I stand guilty as framed! Because Section 40 is GRAFT! And I was ready to say so, I was ready to tell you that a certain man of my state, a Mr. James Taylor, wanted to put through this dam for his own profit. A man who controls a political machine! And controls everything else worth controlling in my state! Yes, and even a man powerful enough to control Congressmen, and I saw three of them in his room the day I went up to see him...And this same man, Mr. James Taylor, came down here and offered me a seat in this Senate for the next twenty years if I voted for a dam that he knew and I knew was a fraud. BUT if I dared to open my mouth against that dam, he promised to break me in two. All right, I got up here and I started to open my mouth and the long and powerful arm of Mr. James Taylor reached into this sacred chamber and grabbed me by the scruff of the neck...
主席先生。我是被设计成有罪的！因为第四十部分是一个移花接木的项目！我也想好了要说，我准备告诉你我的那个州上有一个人，一个叫James Taylor的人，为了自己的利益想要让这个大坝完成。一个操纵者政治机器的人！操纵者一切值得操纵的东西！是的，他的势力甚至让它能够操纵国会里的人，我在他的房间里就看到了三个……还是这个James Taylor先生，到这里来给了我一个参议院的席位，让我稳坐二十年，如果我给这个他知道我清楚这是个骗局的大坝投票的话！但是！如果我胆敢开口说一句反对这个大坝的话，他宣称他要把我撕成凉拌。好吧，我到了这里来，我张了口，然后这个双手遮天的James Taylor先生就要伸手到这个神圣的座位上来捏住我的脖子了……
在这个有关议事规程的问题上，Paine承认他是在Taylor先生的房间里的三个国会中的人的一个，并指责Smith试图败坏他的名誉。当他们见Taylor时，他们是在讨论反对Smith的证据，并且要求Smith自己辞职，以免给“这个纯洁而有声誉的州蒙上污点”。Paine口不择言地厉声斥责了这个资质尚浅的参议员，拂袖而去：
Gentlemen, I have lost all patience with this brazen character. I apologize to this body for his appointment. I regret I ever knew him. I'm sick and tired of this contemptible young man and I refuse to stay here and listen to him any longer. I hope every member of this body feels as I do.
先生们，我对这个无耻的家伙完全失去了耐心。我十分抱歉我想这个团体推荐了这个人。我甚至后悔认识他。我对这个可鄙的年轻人感到既恶心又厌烦，我拒绝再留在这里听他说话了。我希望你们每一位都和我有同样的感受。
很少有人响应Smith挽留大家的号召：
I want a chance to talk to people who'll believe me. The people of my state. They know me. And they know Mr. Taylor. And when they hear my story, they'll rise up and they'll kick Mr. Taylor's machine to kingdom come. Now I want one week to go back there and bring you proof that I'm right. And in the meantime, I want this Senate's promise that I will not be expelled and that the Deficiency Bill will not be passed.
我希望能给我一个同相信我的人畅谈的机会。那些我的州的人们。他们了解我。他们也知道Taylor先生。当他们听到我的故事，他们就会奋起打败Taylor的政治机器。我需要一个星期的时间回到那儿去，收集一些证据给你们看看，让你们知道我是对的。同时，我要这个参议院保证我不会被开除，那个不足法案也不能通过。
许多参议员认为这样的要求简直就是公然的冒犯，Smith竟然敢毫无廉耻地站在那里要求不足法案的延期：“那怎么行，那么多人饥寒交迫。公共活动会止步不前的。”Smith反对他的政治对手说：
The people of my state need permanent relief from crooked men riding their backs.
我们州的人需要的是永远摆脱那些骑在他们背上的骗子。
当议员席上空无一人后，Smith开始了那段经典的漫长的阻挠议会演讲。他早有准备地从衣服口袋里掏出食物和饮料来：
And I'll tell you one thing, that wild horses aren't gonna drag me off this floor until those people have heard everything I've got to say, even if it takes all winter.
我还要告诉你们一件事，再疯的野马也不能把我从这个位子上拖走，除非我把我想讲的都讲给这些人听，就算要讲一个冬天也没办法。
Saunders从看台上给他提供了一本极有英雄色彩的赞助，还用手势告诉他要做什么。在这个长达23个小时的阻挠议会演讲中，Smith要求召集法定人数（“call to quorum”）来给自己争取时间，一边那份他自己对这个腐败事实的调查可以传到他手里。Diz给他自己的报社打电话说：
这是现代史上最壮观的一次战争了。一个连弹弓都没有的大卫站出来要同哥利亚（Taylor的政权）一决胜负，舌战群儒。
可是由于Taylor大老板控制了整个媒体，报纸和广播，Smith的发言不能真实地被公众所知，注定要失败。Taylor十分自信地告诉参议员Paine：“我要让他臭名远扬这样他就……你就把公众的看法交给我好了。”Taylor十分无情地要争取对Smith的全面胜利，因为他知道万一失败了的话：
If he even starts to convince those Senators, you might as well blow your brains out, you know that, don't ya? This is the works, Joe! Either we're out of business or we're bigger than we ever were before. We can't miss a trick. We can't stop at anything until we've smashed this yokel and buried him so deep...
万一他让那些参议员相信了他，你就等于是往自己头上开了一枪，你也知道，不是吗？这就是规则，Joe!要么我们出局，要么我们比以往任何时候都要强势。我们一点都不能错。我们要一直干到把这个乡巴佬撕个粉碎，埋到地心去……
但是参议员Paine是在没有这个“胃口”继续这样干了。他对罪恶的良知让他慢慢妥协下来。
报纸的头版头条竭力嘲讽Smith的“胆怯的”阻挠议事演讲：
SMITH DISGRACES STATE Smith让本州蒙羞！
Criminal in Vicious Attack on Beloved Senator Paine阴毒攻击敬爱的参议员Paine的罪魁祸首
SMITH STOPS RELIEF!Smith缺乏信仰！
Blocks Deficiency Bill - Starves Country to Save Hide阻碍不足法案——暗处得利，哀鸿遍野
JAILBIRD DEFIES NATION惯犯藐视国家尊严
'Let The Poor Starve,' He Shouts他声称，让那些穷人们继续挨饿吧
那些广播，那些“阻止Smith”的标语，那些写着“把Smith送回他应该呆的监狱里去”，“Smith夸夸其谈——人们饥寒交迫”还有“躲到参议院Paine背后去吧”之类的标语，都是Taylor出自整倒Smith的手段。
在一次参议员同议会主席的非正式会议上，一位参议员表达了他对Smith那种真诚态度的钦佩：
I didn't like this boy from the beginning. But most of us feel that no man who wasn't sincere could stage a fight like this against these impossible odds.
我开始并不喜欢这个小伙子。但是我们大多数都感到如果一个人不是真诚的话，他无法像这样站在舞台上和这样不可克服的阻挠作斗争。
来自参议院的H.V.Kalterborn（由他本人扮演）向CBS电台的听众宣布了议会的进程:
Half of official Washington is here to see democracy's finest show, the filibuster, the right to talk your head off, the American privilege of free speech in its most dramatic form. The least man in that chamber, once he gets and holds that floor by the rules, can hold it and talk as long as he can stand on his feet providing always, first, that he does not sit down, second, that he does not leave the chamber or stop talking. The galleries are packed. In the diplomatic gallery are the envoys of two dictator powers. They have come here to see what they can't see at home. DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
华盛顿一半的官员都在这里观看这个民主政权的最精彩的表演,这个阻挠演讲,这个滔滔不绝的话痨,这个尽展美国自有言论精神的戏剧表演。虽然身居末位，但是只要他站起身，一不要坐下来，二不要离开会场或是停止讲演，他就能要求整个议席聆听。整个观众席都挤满了人。在外交席位上，坐着的是两大机构的使者。他们来看看在家里看不到的奇观：一场活生生的民主制度的演习。
在整个阻挠演讲的过程中，镜头不断切换地出现议席，电台发报者，他的家乡的反应，那些少年骑兵对他的支持，Taylor用电话操纵整个政治机器来不断给Smith增添障碍。
在读完了《独立宣言》（一半是为了拖延时间）之后，Smith向整个参议院宣扬了他朴素的民主思想：
Now, you're not gonna have a country that can make these kind of rules work, if you haven't got men that have learned to tell human rights from a punch in the nose. (The Senate applauds) It's a funny thing about men, you know. They all start life being boys. I wouldn't be a bit suprised if some of these Senators were boys once. And that's why it seemed like a pretty good idea for me to get boys out of crowded cities and stuffy basements for a couple of months out of the year. And build their bodies and minds for a man-sized job, because those boys are gonna be behind these desks some of these days. And it seemed like a pretty good idea, getting boys from all over the country, boys of all nationalities and ways of living. Getting them together. Let them find out what makes different people tick the way they do. Because I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a - a little lookin' out for the other fella, too...That's pretty important, all that. It's just the blood and bone and sinew of this democracy that some great men handed down to the human race, that's all. But of course, if you've got to build a dam where that boys camp ought to be, to get some graft to pay off some political army or something, well that's a different thing. Oh no! If you think I'm going back there and tell those boys in my state and say: 'Look. Now fellas. Forget about it. Forget all this stuff I've been tellin' you about this land you live in is a lot of hooey. This isn't your country. It belongs to a lot of James Taylors.' Oh no! Not me! And anybody here that thinks I'm gonna do that, they've got another thing comin'. (He whistles loudly with his fingers in his mouth, startling Senators who are dozing or reading other materials) That's all right. I just wanted to find out if you still had faces. I'm sorry gentlemen. I-I know I'm being disrespectful to this honorable body, I know that. I- A guy like me should never be allowed to get in here in the first place. I know that! And I hate to stand here and try your patience like this, but EITHER I'M DEAD RIGHT OR I'M CRAZY.
现在，你们没法实施这些规则，如果你们找不到一个可以分清人权和挨拳的区别的人来（参议席鼓掌）。人说来真好笑，真的。他们的一生都从男孩子开始。如果我们参议员当中有人曾经做过男孩子，那我可一点也不奇怪。所以我才觉得，如果每年都把这些男孩子从拥挤的城市和塞满杂物的地下室里释放出来一两个月，是个挺不错的主意。然后锻炼他们的身体和思想，让他们能够胜任男人的工作，因为这些男孩子总有一天会长大成人，坐到这些桌子后面来。而让那些不同国籍，不同生活方式的男孩们从城市里走出来，我看这个想法挺好。让他们在一起生活。让他们自己感受人与人之间的差异。因为如果是我，要是你们的那些规矩背后连一点平常的，普通的对人的关心都没有，也一点都不关照他人的话，我一分钱都不会给你们……这很重要，这整件事。这是这个由伟人们一代一代传递下来给全人类的民主体制的血肉骨架。但是当然了，如果你们要在少年夏令营的地址上盖一个大坝，为的是偷梁换柱地弄点钱来支持你们的政治军队或是别的什么，那就另当别论了。哦，不！如果你想让我回到那儿，跟那群男孩子们说：“瞧，伙计们，忘了这事吧。我给你们说的那个计划都是瞎说八道。这不是你的国家。这片土地属于那个James Taylor。”噢，不！别指望我说！你们当中谁要是想让我这样干的话，你们就是在自找苦吃了。(他把手指含在嘴里吹了声响亮的口哨,惊醒了那些正在打瞌睡和埋头阅读其他文件的参议员们)。很好。我刚才就是想知道你们究竟还有没有脸。对不起，先生们。我——我知道我对这个荣耀的组织十分不恭，我知道的。我——一个像我这样的家伙本来就不应该被放进这里来。我知道这一点！我讨厌站在这里来不断试探你们的忍耐的限度，但是要么我是正确的，要么我就是疯了。
在七又半个小时的阻挠演讲后，一位参议员提议休会到第二天早上。镜头轮流拍摄演讲台上的主席，观众席里的Saunders和议席里的Smith，眨着眼睛的主席饶有趣味地看着上面观众席里的Smith 的教练Saunders。Saunders熟知这个政治圈套，赶紧做手势告诉不明就里的Smith说不能同意。她比划着指向主席，告诉他：“问他。”宽容而又幽默的主席暗中支持她的擅作安排，忍住笑解释道如果Smith同意休会的话将失去对议席的控制权。
在这个决定性的时刻，Smith参议员从一个小听差手中接过一张便条，恍然大悟，备受鼓舞。便条是Saunders在看台上写的，在附笔中感谢他的这一番长篇大论：
Jeff
You're wonderful. Press boys all with you - Read them Constitution next very slow.
Diz says I'm in love with you.
P.S.
(He moves his thumb away to uncover the final few words)
He's right.
Jeff,
你太棒了，所有的小听差都站在你这边——慢慢地读《宪法》给他们听。
Diz说我爱上你了。
p.s.（Smith把他的拇指拿开，看到最后的一行字。）他是对的。
Smith面对的是媒体的操纵，错误的罪名，还有整个媒体在Taylor机器下的全体噤声：“他说的一个字都不准印出来。Taylor拥有整个州的所有报纸，他统一口径，撰写一些篡改的谎言。”Saunders打电话给Smith的母亲（Beulah Bondi饰），口授给她让她把这些印在唯一一份不受操纵的报纸上——Jeff的《男孩新闻》报。在一群崇拜他的男孩的帮助下，这份孩子的读物出版了，标题是“Jeff说的是真话”——唯一一份他的选民可以看到的未经检查删减的报纸。他们用手推车和自行车，把这份传单散发出去支持Smith，男孩们还组织了一次游行。当Taylor的总部耳闻有人当中反对之后，McGann放出话来要没收并销毁《男孩新闻》报，并扰乱这次游行，这使得许多男孩受伤。一卡车发放报纸的男孩被Taylor手下的人强行挤出公路，引起一场可怕的撞车事故。Smith太太打电话给Saunders，十分悲伤地告诉她事情的后果：“整个城市的孩子们都在受伤，叫Jeff停下来吧！”
在23小时（16分钟）的漫长阻挠演讲之后，电台播音员Kaltenborn用极度痛苦的嗓音总结了这场“在这片土地最高权力的所在”进行的战斗：
...It is the most unusual and spectacular thing in the Senate annals. One lone and simple American holding the greatest floor in the land. What he lacked in experience, he's made up in fight. But those tired Boy Ranger legs are buckling, bleary-eyed, voice gone, he can't go on much longer. And all official Washington is here to be in on the kill.
这在议会纪录里是最不寻常而绝妙的东西了。一个身材高大的美国人单枪匹马地把这片土地上最高权力的所在控制住了。他缺乏经验的缺点被他的斗争所弥补。但是这个疲惫的少年骑兵的双腿发颤，双眼迷离，几近失声，他坚持不了多久了。华盛顿的所有官员都在这里看着他的最后消亡。
虽然有着不可战胜的灵魂，但是Smith的嗓子已经完全沙哑，筋疲力尽，招人怜悯，他面对那些回来观看这场阻挠演讲的结尾的议员们说出最后一番劝诫的话语来。他十分绝妙地用隐喻强调了他们身在其中的国会大厦穹顶，他也巧妙地建议大家身处大厦女神的国家精神中心的位置来看问题：
Just get up off the ground. That's all I ask. Get up there with that lady, that's up on top of this Capitol Dome. That lady that stands for Liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see somethin'. And you won't just see scenery. You'll see the whole parade of what man's carved out for himself after centuries of fighting. And fighting for something better than just jungle law. Fighting so as he can stand on his own two feet free and decent, like he was created no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see. There's no place out there for graft or greed or lies! Or compromise with human liberties! And if that's what the grown-ups have done with this world that was given to them, then we'd better get those boys camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it's not too late. Because this country is bigger than the Taylors or you or me or anything else. Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here. You just have to see them again.
只要你们能站起来。我只有这一点要求。像那个女士一样站起来，那个在国会大厦顶上站着的女士一样。那个为了自由而起身的女士。通过她的眼睛看看这个国家，如果你真地想好好看点什么的话。你不会只看见风景的。你会看见人类经过数个世纪的奋战之后开辟出来的疆土。他们为之奋战的不仅仅是混乱复杂的法律。他们为之奋战的，是能够双脚着地，自由而得体地站立着，不论他是什么种族，什么肤色，或是什么信仰。你会看到这些。这片土地上你看不到偷鸡摸狗，贪婪掠夺或是欺蒙拐骗落脚的地方！或是任何用人类自由换取的妥协！如果这就是那些成年人继承了这片土地以后做出来的好事，那我们最好还是把这个少年夏令营赶紧办好吧，看看孩子们能做些什么。这样还不晚。因为这个国家比那些Taylor或是你或是我或是任何别的什么都大得多。当伟大的原则被树立起来以后，是没那么容易湮灭的。它们依旧在那里。你会再一次看到它们的。
对Smith的最后一击在这时候登场——数百张“Taylor出品”的假电报以他的州选民的身份发出来。Paine议员同意带进这些该州“民众回应的例证”。一篮篮一桶桶，接近有50，000份来自选民的电报被放在了参议员大堂里。Paine抓起了满满一手的电报，告诉Smith他们都要求他让步，放弃他的阻挠演讲：“这就是人民对Jefferson Smith的回答。”
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在电影史中最震撼人心的一个镜头里，Jefferson摇摇晃晃地走向前去，难以置信地看着那么多的电报，用手伸进深深的纸篓，绝望地看着这些明显的事实。像是受难的耶稣，他抓出满满的两把电报。他转身面向参议员Paine，用沙哑的嗓音说出了他对“必输的案子”的看法，面对面地谴责Paine背叛了他的信仰他的精神：
I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about the lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason that any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain simple rule: 'Love thy neighbor.' And in this world today, full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine. And I loved you for it, just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any others. Yes, you even die for them. Like a man we both knew, Mr. Paine.
我猜这不过是又一个必输的案子罢了，Paine先生。你的人民不知道必输的案子是怎么回事。可是Paine先生知道。他曾说过那是唯一值得为之一战的案子。他也曾经为之一战过，只是因为他不得不这样。因为一个简单的原则：“爱汝之邻”。在现在这个世界，充满了仇恨，一个有这样的原则的人是一个值得信赖的人。你知道这个原则的，Paine先生。我也因此爱戴您，就像我的父亲爱戴您一样。你知道你为那些必输的官司投入的心血比其他的都多。是的，你甚至能为之献身。像那个我们都熟识的人一样，Paine先生。
心中充满着勇气，这个已经气若游丝的Smith用他深沉嘶哑的嗓子说出他这段英雄主义的演讲的最后几句话：
You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked, and I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause even if this room gets filled with lies like these, and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody'll listen to me. Some...
你们以为我被打败了。你们都以为我被打败了。哼，我没有，我要留在这里，打这场必输的官司，就算整个房间都像现在这样被谎言填满，就算Taylor和他手下的整个军队都开进来。总有人会听我说的。总有……
Smith踉踉跄跄地走了几步，晕倒在地板上，将一篮的电报碰翻在他身上。看台上的Saunder见状悲怜地大声叫起来。正当Smith接受治疗的时候，参议员Paine神色几近崩溃地冲出议院大门，冲向职员休息室。两三声枪响之后，Paine试图挣脱其他参议员。他们一边在阻止他自杀的时候，他向公众吼出了良心的忏悔：
I’m not fit to be a Senator. I’m not fit to live. Expel me! Expel me! Not him.
我不配当参议员！我不配活着！开除我吧！开除我吧！不要开除他。
在良心的驱使下，参议员Paine在最后的关键时刻改变了全局。他重新进入参议席，承认说Smith的话都是真的——宣布了他的清白，也让美国的政治体系免于一劫：
Every word that boy said is the truth! Every word about Taylor and me and graft and the rotten political corruption of our state. Every word of it is true. I'm not fit for office! I'm not fit for any place of honor or trust. Expel me!
那个孩子说的每一句话都是对的！每一句关于我和Taylor以及这个移花接木的操作，还有我们州腐朽的政治丑闻。全部的一切都是对的。我不配坐在我的办公室里！我不配任何的荣誉或信任。开除我！
参议会和听众席爆发出一阵欢呼和掌声，庆祝自由和民主对抗腐败的奇迹般的胜利。仍在昏迷中的Smith被众人抬到议席上。小听差们都欢呼雀跃。一路帮助Smith通过重重无法克服的难关的Saunders，激动地在听众席上和Diz又跳又叫。主席根本控制不了局面，也就往后一靠，看着这个喧哗而欣喜的场面。Smith的信仰和清白让他的理想主义终于胜利了。
