The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-03-05
il was unsafe and unw,se to say the least Of it


shown that there would be another explosion on
account of the vast Importation, and ihis was done
with a view to create Suspicion ana alsirust his
letters from the first importing houses q" tins conn
try showed that the late Importatlons bore no com
parison with those of 1886.
The question taken on the passage, when
there u, penred for it, %, agninsl it 10
So this bill hns passed The Senate.
HOUSE. The journal having been read, Mr.
PrentIss, of NJ issiSsppi rose, he said for the pur-
bose of presenting to the House "a question ofprivi
lege. And he then offered the following resolu-
ton
Resolved, That This House proceed forthwith to
]. Whether Alex Duncan, a member of this
House from The State OF Ohio, be the author of a
certain publication or pub cations ander his name,
in relation to the proceedings of this House, and
certain members thereof. published in the Globe
newspaper of the 10Th inst.
2. Whether, by said publication or publications,
the said Alex. Duncan has not been guilty of VIC
lation of the privileges othis House, of offence
against its pence, dignity, and good order, and of
such q ossy ndeoeut, ungentemany, disgraceul
and dshonorable misconduct, renders him uu-
worthy of his seat in this House, and justly liable
TO expulsion from the same.
The Speaker said that this being a qestion of
privilege, would take precedence over all other
business.
Mr. Prenuss .hcn called for the reading of the
publication to which the resolution had reference
Which having been read
Mr. Preniiss, after some appropriate remarks on
the necessity OF preserving pure the institutions OF
the country and the dignity of the House, which
was the thermometer of manners, alluded to the
Duelling Law which has recently passed. tio said
at the time Of its he had predicted it would
open the door for insult and blackguardism, and
give opportunity for member to insult and
abuse the other with IMMUNITY.
here Mr. Duncan rose and said, with view Of
saving trouble, he would state that he the auth
or of the communication in the Globe
Mr. Prentss proceeded and read several extracts
from the communication alluded to, with view Of
showing their peculiar beauty. He considered the
language used as unworthy of gentleman and Il
member of the House. He maintained that the
author of the publication was unworthy the sOcie-
ty of gentlemen and Of seat in the House. He
said that in all countries private and personal nju-
ries redressed either by an appeal to the laws
or decided by what is termed the code of honor
He then endeavored to show that the author Gthe
publication was unworthy of that code He main
tanned that the writer of that article had by his
back guard language, placed himself far beyond the
code of honor lie alluded in particular to that
portion of the article which referred to Mr. South
gate, and denounced the language used towards
him as indecent and beastly in the extreme
Mr. p. then charged the writer ofthc article with
attempt at direct violation of the law racent
ly passed for the prevention Of duelng. lie call
ed the attention of the RI louise to that portion OF
the act which provides % that if any person shall
call another n coward, shall use any opprobious
language to him, for having refused to light a duel
the Penentiarv," and wished to know if the wr.
ter had not rendered himself amendable to that law
He urged the importance of the sub ect, and said
that if the House did in this instance show its
dspleasure, ever after its members would be liable
to the most infamous abuse for words spok enIn de-
bate without any means Of redress either by code
Of honor or the Constitution. But should the
House refuse TO take any action thereon he would
tell them that this would be but the beginning of
the evil.
He concluded by drawing glowing picture of
the probable consequences oiisutferng such attacks
TO go unnoticed and unpublished. He also made
some very pointed remarks on the fact, that the
debate alluded to, took place five weeks ago, and
that the publication did not appear till yesterday.
MrJeniser followed Mr. p and commented upon
the publication. The fact was, he said, that one of
the members of this House had charged two mem
bers Of the body with being ''scoundiels and cow.
ards" The charge was either true false. The
member North Carollna-.Mr SlanIey-was
either a ''scoundre' and ''liar,' the member
making the charge had told q ralsehocd so with
the member from Kentucky-Mr Southgate-a-
gainst whom the same charges made If the
North Carolina and Kentucky members were liars
said Mr. Jeniler, will vote to expel them from the
House, and if the member making the charge has
spoken falsely, will vote to eXpe him Mr. Jeni-
fer concluded with some examinations of Mr. Dun
cans letter.
Mr. Duncan then entered upon a vindcaton Of
his publication in the Globe 1t was, he said in
answer to the remarks of Mr. Stanley, of ~ e. and
Mr. Southgae, made in the House of Representa-.
tives. He had written his letter, and used the cpl
thets complained complained of as a cempromi Sc
to the terms used towards him. He did publish
his letter after the passage of the DuelIing Bill for
the purpose of self protection. He held himself
accountatle--and in few days could be found out
of the boundaries Of the District. His letter was
written deliberately, and he proud TO have
written it.
MIR Gray said he was anxious to check the dis
cussion where it was, and for the purpose moved
that the resolutions offered be laid upon the table
The yeas and nays were ordered and the ptopo-
sition to lay the motion on the table deica led
ayes 50, noes 81.
Mr. Menilee then took the flooor, and addressed
the House in most excited manner and in strong
language. Mr. M. commented with biting severity
upon the language used, and especially upon the
remark made by Mr. Duncan, that he wrote his let
ter by way of compromise, and as an offset to what
has been said by others
Mr. Menfee spoke for hour, and the excora-
ton OF the member from Ohio was that
Mr. Duncan interrupted him several occasions
Upon one occasion, while MIR NJ was speaking,
there was great applause in the galleries.
AT near tour o clock Mr. Duncan said that any
man who said that he influenced hy the Duel.
ling Bill in making his attack, liar, scoundreI
and coward.