Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-01-25

tired proceed to dra~ black lines en-
firely round the resolution, and to en-
dorse across the lines the words Ia.
plunged 5y order Of the Senate, the 10th
day of January, 1887"
No sooner had this been done, than
Kisses, loud and repeated, were heard
from many parts ofthe gallery.
The CHAM (Mr. King, of Alabama)
Clear the galleries.
MIR. BENTON said hope the galle-
ries will not be cleared, as many
cent persons will be excluded, who have
been guilty ofno violation OF ORDER
Let the rufians who have made the
disturbance alone be apprehended. i
hope the Sergeant-at-Arms will be d.
rected TO enter the gallery, and seize
the rufians, ascertaining who they are
in the best way he can. Let him ap.
prehend them, and bring them to the
bar of the Senate. Let him seize the
bank rufians. | hope that they will
not now be suffered to insult the Sen
ate, as they did when it was under the
power ofthe Bank ofthe United States,
when ruffians, with arms upon them,
insulted us with impunity. Let them
be taken and brought to the bar OF the
Senate. Here is one, just above me-
that may easily be identiied-the mi
rufians!
The order to clear the galleries was
revoked, and the Sergeant-at.Arms
directed to proceed into the galleries
and ~apprehend The persons who had
created the disorder. In a very few
minutes, the Sergeant alarms return
ed, and reported to the Chair that he
had apprehended an individual, and had
him in custody.
Mr.. BENTON moved that he be bro't
to the bar ofthe Senate.
Mr.. Morris opposed the motion and
demanded the yeas and nays; which,,
being ordered and taken, stood yeasl7,
nays 8.
So the motion was carried.
1t was suggested by Mr.. MOORE that
there was not a quorum present, and
the Chair at first SO decided. But on
being reminded that II of the Sena-
tors from Louisiana had resigned, twen-
ty.fve was a majority ofthe forty-nine
remaining. He declared that a quo.
rum was present.
Mr.. MOORE now moved an adjourn
ment T.; but the motion was lost.
The Sergeant-at.Arm now produ-
ced and presented IN individual at the
bar of the Senate.
[He was a tall, we'll dressed man,
wrapped in a black over-coat.
MIR. BENTON said that as the indivl-
dual had been taken from among the
respectable audience in the gallery,
and had been presented in this public
manner, with all eyes fixed upon him,
he had perhaps been sufficiently pun.
ished in his feelings. Mr.. B. vas not
disposed to push the proceedings any
further, and therefore moved that he
be discharged from custody.
Mr.. MORRIS considered the whole
proceeding as very extraordinary. If
the individual had been worthy Of ar
rest, he ought to have an opportunity
of defence. A citizen had been brought
to the bar of the Senate, and not in
formed for what reason, nor of what
offence he stood charged and now it
was moved that without a hearing, he
be discharged from custody. Call you
this (said Mr.. NJ the justice of the Sc
nate ofthe United States? Isl in this
manner that citizens are to be treated?
1t appears to me a most extraordinary
proceeding.
Mr.. SEWER moved an adjournment;
but the motion did not prevail.
Mr.. ROBINSON, (near whose seat the
person apprehended then stood,) pro-
posed that the individual have an OPP
portunity to purge himself by oath
from the contempt. The Senate were
not to presume him guilty, and if he
was willing to swear that he intended
no contempt, he ought 10 have an op.
portunity to do so.
Mr.. MORRIS demanded the yeas and
nays on the motion for his discharge
and they were ordered accordingly.
Mr.. BENTON observed that if the in
dividual was ready to go to the Clerks
table, and there, by oath, purge him
self of the contempt, he had no objec-
ton. Let him do so.
Mr.. ROBINSON now stated, on behalf
of the person apprehended, that he was
willing and ready to answer interro-
gatories.
Mr.. BENTON thereupon withdrew his
motion for his discharge.
The CHAIR reminded him that he
could not do this, inosmuch as the yeas
and nays upon it had been ordered.
Mr.. MORRIS was strongly opposed to
having the individual suddenly, with
out opportunity to consult counsel,
brought forward to take his oath, and