Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-17
the time Of the House, would be to refer the sub

Mr.. Arnold said. he should vote with his col
League, (Mr Polk,( to postpone this matter in.
definitely. He should do it with pain and reluc-
lance, but he thought, under all the clrcumstan'
ces. that was the best disposition which could De
made Of il. As he had heretofore voted IN Ia
yor of the power Of that House to punish for
breach Of its privileges aud as his present course
might look like abandoning his former opinion,
he hoped the House would permit him to state
briefly, the reasons by which ne was governed
in his present determination. In doing this it
would be necessary for him to review the facts
of a series Of recent transactions, OF which the
one now before the House might be considered
the finale In the first place, he would say that
his opinion as to the power Of the House in such
cases was unchanged. He had no doubt Of the
power Of the House to punish in this case; nor
had he any doubt that the facts communicated to
the House BY the honorable gentleman from Ohio.
(Mr. Cooke,) constituted breach Of its privi-
leges; that it was an attempt to Overawe and In
timidate the honorable member, in the discharge
of his duties there, he had not shadow OF doubt
IL not challenge, il was equivalent TO ONE
And when was il receivedi On Saturday-the
very dav after the yeas and nays were taken on
certain points in Houston's case. They had.
on that day, brought all this on themselves
they had proclaimed aloud to the band OF ruftians
congregated in this city, and prowlns about those
walls, to come there and lnfiict whatever pun
ishment they might think proper on any men,
bers who should dare to insult their characters,
or wound their feelings, even though justice
might demand it. Was it not doing this to say
to them, you shall have free lngress and egress
to this Hall-come armed-do as you please
aud the most we can, o. will do, is to bring you
before the Speakers chair, as though it was all
mere school boys play, and receive little re.
primandl Why, Sir, (said Mr.. Arnold,) the
very man who sent this letter, would desire no
higher honor than that you should send your Ser
geant at Arms after him, that he, too, might be
placed on the pinnacle of Importance and glory
which the man whose friendship he bOasted has
just left-,hat he. too. might pass through the
formality Of a trial, and be acquitted tor such,
in fact, he considered the decision in Houslon's
case
If the House had the power to punish, it should
have used 1t effectively. Surrounded, as they
were, by band of ruf6sns, nothing less than in
generation could protect the members Of that
House from their assaults He knew to what
he Was exposing himself, even in utering these
words; but sooner, (said Mr.. Az than have my
honest feelings suppressed, would lay bare my
bnsom to the poinard OF the assassin-l would
rather my hearts blood should be let forth by his
blade, to run in the gutter of your streets, and
be larped by dogs. These are times, Mr.. Speak
err, when every honest representative OF the peO-
pie is called to speak and act fearlessly, and |,
TOR one, will do 50, though at the hazard Of my
life. The member from OHIO had very pro-
perlv brought this matter before the House; but
suppose, instead of doing so, he had complied
with the design of the man who sent that letter,
had gone forth to the field of mortal combat. and
had been shot BY his antagonist Would that
have been as aggravated a case as the one which
had Just terminated, aud in which the highest
punishment thought to be deserved was repri
mand bv the Speaker of that Houses Suppose
that his adversary had shot him, but not mortal
ly: that he had. however, wounded him badly.
What punishment could the House have inflicted
on this poor Carolinian, who was one Of our own
citizens, when a reprimand was thought punish
ment enough IN moro aggravated case, and
where the offender was citizen ct Cherokee
nation somewhere beyond the Arkansas. Would
thew in1ct greater punishment on one Of their
own citizens, than on that man whom they had
Just set at large-after telling him, by maj t,v
If the House, that he should not be excluded from
that hall; that though he had beat and bruised
one of the members, though he had broken his
bones. vet he should still be permitted, with his
pistols in his belt, and his dirk ready for use, to
stalk round your halls.
Mr.. Boone here rose to question Of order |
He did not conceive it in order to allude to case
which had been already decided and acted upon
by the House.
Mr.. Arnold did not conceive he was out Of or.
der in abiding to events out of which the present
subject directly rose; or to the conduct of that
man who had said, close to the Speakers chair.
that he would right the wrong wherever given
though they were told, it was with the utmost diff.
Guilty he was restrained, by member of that |
House, from carrying his threat into execution at
the time. Yet this man a majority of the House !
had decided to be fit companion Of their deli
beratOns.
The Speaker here informed the Member from
Tennessee. that it was not in order to reflect on
10 decisions Of the House.
Mr.. Arnold resumed. He did not wish to
ransgress the bounds Of order; but he had felt it
lis duty to say thus much OF man, whom he be.
lived to be prepared to execute any crime what.
,ver, in the whole catalogue Of human vlany.
Yes, (said Mr.. Al he might come there, and put
stiletto behind nv ear-he might do it near the