The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-24
WAsnISoroS, March, 1892.
WAsHINGreN, 18th April, 1882.

WAsHrNGroN, 18th April, 1882.
1, was in the beautiful month of April
the locality Washington--the hour
eight o'clock in the evening. The moon
was bright--the sky was clear and blue
--the dust Of the Pennsylvania Avenue
quiet--the pretty girls with their beanx
walking about--the M. C's recovering
from the effects Of an ill-cooked dinner.
Mr.. Stanberry Of Ohio walked out with
n pistol (not percussion lock loaded aud
slowed away in his pocket--Gov. Hous-
ton Of Tenn. vAi,h his usual walking cane.
In the neighborhood Of Cadsby's Hotel
these two gentlemen met.-''ls you name
Stansberry 2" asked Gov. Houston, very
cooly. at is replied Stansberry."
t"Then" continued the Governor, "there
need be no ceremony--I arm Governor
Iouston-You know me and my busi-
ness-I shall be under the disagreeabls
necessity Of chasiising you for unworthy
conduct." He Immediately up with his
left hand and gave MIR. Stansberry the
c!,astisement-I say left hand, because
Governor Houston has lost the use of the
right one in battle with the Indians at
the Horse Shoe. Mr.. Stansberry pulled
out pistol and flashed i, in the face Of
his antagonist. Governor Houston
knocked it out Of his hand and carried
it off at the close. A crowd soon coilec-
ted. A person slept up to Governor
Houston and began to talk. "Don't in
terfsre with me my good friend" said
Houston in very menacing tone. The
person soon retired.
Such arp the particulars oftie reccnfrs
which has bcen the subject of gren, ex-
citsment in this city for tho whole day.
both in and out of Congress. Every
body was talking and enquiring. The
cause Of the affair IS this lin an article
called Il speech recently published by
S,ansberry in the Intelligencer. and said
to have been spoken in the House, he
charged Governor Houston with fraud.
Governor Houston when he came here
opened correspondence with him on
the charge. He sent polite note to
Stansberry by the hands Of Mr.. Johnson,
Of Tennessee, enquiring if he made the
charge Of "frnud" against his personal
integrity. Stansberry returned IN an.
swer to Johnson. stating in very abrupt
terms that "hs had no right to put such
questions to him."
This denial Of the right of any man
to protect his character, is carrying the
joke calumny rather too far. Precisely
at the hour Of one to-day, the Speaker
of the House Of Representatives read q
very short communication from :1r.
Stansberry. which you will find in the
papers. He states therein that the at.
tack was made upon him "for words
spoken in debate" II is known that
members ofCongrcss report and write nut
their own speeches, and publish them
afterwards. Governor Houston acted
not upon the debate in the House, but
upon the subsequent conduct of Stans-
berry ont Of tho House. The debate to-
day took a very narrow technical range.
Mr.. Vance, of Ohio, offered n resolution
authorizing the Sergeant at Arms to mr.
rest Governor Houston and bring him to
the bar of the House. Mr.. Speight, Of
North Carolina, proposed an amcnd-
ment To appoint committee to inquire
into the power Of the House and the
facts of the case. The whole range Of
the debate was predicated on the er parfe
state nent Of Stansbsrry. About five o.
clock, after no very great excitement
with full galleries and lobbies however
the previous question WINS taken by ayes
and noes, and then the original resolu-
tion passed by a vote of to l nearly
The House then adjourned. At six o..
clock the Sergeant at Arms went up to
Browns Hotel, and took Governor
Houston into custody. The Governor
was particularly desirous TO be 80 taken,
and was Immediately liberated on his
parole, to be taken to tho bar Of the
House on Monday.
The city--the strangors-the qSid
nunes, nre on the sip-toe Of expectation.
We expsct great doings next week -
Governor Houston's case may take a Gu.
rious direction. The sspersion of pri.
vate character without cause--without
ground--for no purpose bu, party pur.
pose. may be snqnirsd into aud how
far this II allowed under tho plea of free
dom Of debate and ibsrty Of speech.
The right ofthe strongest 10 not TO be
tolerated 10 land Of law, bat il 10