Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-09


Mr Duane will do no more than Justice
to the independence and disin,esesied-
ness OF the Aurora, by publishing the fol.
lowing article, which if there, te any er-
ror in it he wall freely correct.
&c.
The close Of the first session of the ninth
congress.
On the 2lst of April congress adjourn.
ed, To meet agsin on the LIST Monday in
December next. While in session, by
candle light, on the evening of ,ha, day,
Mr. William Findiey, member from
Pennsylvania, rose and addressed the
house without provocation, in a strain of
gross md indecent personal abuse of Mr.
John Randolph, charging that gentleman
with having designs to pull dowa the pre-.
sent administration. 1t was plainly TO be
perceived from The language and manner
OF Mr. F,ndley. that he was at this time
very much intoxicated with strong drink,
and the writer Of this, having been &C.
quainted with Mr. F. and having seen him
at other times in the same situation, veri.
ly believes he came that evening into his
seat as representative of the people in a
state of in,oxication-S many ofthe mem
bers, then present declared the same OBJ.
MON. Mr. 4. was so ouirageously indie.
cent in his language that he was called
many times to order; but without regard
ing the call, continued to speak until the
house was thrown into a state Of confusi-
on, perhaps never before witnessed. Ii
will be observed, that the house had adj
Journed about O'Clock in order TO allow
the members 10 take some refreshment.
and to NEE, again Al half past o'clock
IN the evening and it is perhaps to this
that the disgraccfui ard un.
paraileled scene which closed the Is, SEES.
sion OF the 9th congress mus. in hari be
attributed.
As soon as Mr. F. had set down, Mr. J.
Randolph rose; and without taking parti.
cular notice of the conduct of the unfor-
tunate old man, Mr. K. in a manner the
most mild, dignified and conciliatory, OBJ.
served, that, abe had hoped however we
might have differed in opinion on the va
r'ous subjects discu-ed this session, we
should on the eve of separation, have for.
given and forgotten any asperi,ies and DO
Utica! animosities that had occurred during
the session and that we should have par
ted Ike men and lriends--he had hoped
the harmony of that house would not have
been disturbed IN the last moments ofih
session, either by those who had been ma
biiual disclaimers, or by those who had
kept tie Eoiseless tenor of their nay THAT
and personal haired would have
been banished from these walls, and tha,
we should at least have separated in good
humor." This is correctly the substance
Of his remarks, which produced CLEAN
OF pleasure apparent on The coun,enances
OF almost every person present. The Ian
guage he used and the sentiments he ex.
pressed, were so mild s. conciiiatorv, that
Mr. Rando!ph's friends we're particularly
delighted. Although there wss uolhine in
MS language or manner that would Justify
IN the smallest degree an idea, that he in
tended TO make any particular or person
al a'iuslon, yet the attention Of every
member then present was Immediately
drecled to Mr. L. NJ. Randolph, the IRE.
'tdenf'S son-in iaEo, WHO, under the impres.
sion that MIR John Randolph had made
some allusion to him, (Which no person
present except himself, in my opinion,
could have supposedly rose, end in a man.
ner at once indicative of rage * defiance,
spoke as nearly as my memory serves, in
substance as follows" Mr Speaker,
rise TO reply to the gentleman from Vir-
Binla~-l will not pretend 10 vie with him
10 point oil talent or Of eloquence these
ne IS tar, very far, my superior--,his is not
he hrst time, that gentleman has availed
under The sanction Of the presence
of this assembly, to apply his personal al.
usIons TO me, and 10 make use of Ian.
yuage and conda6 here which he would
not do out Of this house.
But, sir, | will tell that gentleman.
hat however he may be my superior in ta.
'ents quence, in patriotism, am his
'nperIor-yes, sir, his superior--last year,
sir, That gentleman commenced florist, and
dealt IN flowers & gardening IL saw himh
18th his spade and pi,chfork, and rake and
manure, cultvatinghis flower garden--this.
SIR, was on the Yazoo quesfion--and then
perceived the gentleman launch forth TO
see, without compass or rudder--bis mast
broken, he's sails tattered and torn--and
Nn's vessel in leeky condition, and when
saw that, sir, thought it high time to
quit him and look out for the land. The
gentleman can talk and boast Of the argu.
ments of lead and powder and STEEL