The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIpAY, February 10. 1874

Ana .nir'y,eght, granting half pay and pensions to
MI. PICKENS, of South Carolina, made some re-
marks Of which the following sketch is copied from
&c utooe no other report Of il being in the hands Of
Mr. PlCKENS protested against the passage Of the
Dill, involving 80 great an amount of money without
proper estimates. Where were the documents on
winch they were to found their legislation He hoped
the committee would on such loose estimates
Gould gentlemen be aware ofthe consequences which
would ARISE from this large system OF pensions Were
they prepared, at this late period Of the session to go
blindfolded into measure drawing upwards of two
millions and half from the Treasury For his part,
ne would not act upon so important subject with
out proper and correct information
In the of his remarks Mr.. p. alluded to the
speech OF Mr. Stanly on last evening, and intimated
that he Mr. p would have exercise proper caution
or he would have the misfortune to draw down upon
himself the anger OF that vndictve gentleman And
for fear Of falling under that gentenans puny arm
he would refrain from saying what he intended. Al
luding to the attack of Mr. Stanly the resolutions
of the Legislature of South Carolina Mr.. p. init
mated that the member had shot his dreaded
South Carolina with about much effect the sa-
wage who let fly his arrows at the The member
had brandshed his batle-axe like Richard and strobe
over the whole country, dealing vengeance around
The course of the member forcibly reminded him of
the nursery rhyme:
i Who shot cock robin r
| I, said the sparrow,
/ With my bow and arrow
/ 1 shot cock robin"
Immediately after Mr. PIcKENs concluded, Mr. STAN
| LY obtained the floor
Mr. STANLY said Mr.. Chairman, thought the
other day, when my friend from N York (Mr Granger
had touched the bag-pipe, or the bag Of wind from
whom we have jus, heard that its tones would cease
/ for while. But it seems am mistaken. The fact
is sill, it is not difficult matter thought to in
aate this " gas-bag" Gas Sam Slick would say) from
South Carolina. II takes him (Mr. Pickens) about
4
sion for fifteen minutes and one Of these explosions
we have just had. did not expect, sir that the
marks made last night would have drawn such hor-
nets nest about my ears.
! Here Mr.. EVERETT to point of order.
| The Chair said the gentleman must keep in order,
and not reply to remarks made when another subject
was under consideration.
Mr. STANLY said hope Mr.. Chairman, shall
not be interrupted; am replying to remarks just
made. Sir the gentleman has been pleased to say, in
not very agreeable tone that he did not wish TO incur
the malice Of the valiant knight" he calls me-
(" from North Carolina" may or may not be /" val
liant knight" ! have never thought myself 50, and
have never called myself valiant Whether | am
or not, others must determine. Sir have never
thought myself born insensibe to fear" thank
God was born sensible to fear to the fear Of danger if
the gentleman peases and to the fear of shame And
sir must be allowed TO say that do not believe that
any man, who ever had the impudencc and shame
Iessncss TO boast this floor that he born in
sensible to fear, is insensibe to fear the gentle
man would have believe he Is. That he is insensi-
BILE 10 The fear Of shame, most willingly admit
] The gentleman spoke of me brandshing my
batte-axe," like Richard, as he said, with sheer
Sir, it ! ever brandshed my batteaxe on this floor, in
the presence of any one II must have been the gentle
man HIMSELF and | confess, sir with all humility
that if had opponents mole formidable than the
gentleman from South Carolina, should feel like
Richard, and be "inscnsible to fear in such pre-
sence.
The gentleman compares my speech to the attempt
Infn tAsayn Ipu at hp N ma he sir
But the committee will remember that in the remarks
| made, did not address mysely to the gentleman,
who has unnecessarily interposed in this debate
/ And why did not, sir Not because | thought |
should be poweress he describes me, but because
/ | had seen him often, numerically kicked and
cuifed and knocked about, often on this
floor, that thought he beneath my notice. and
utterly insignificant.
/ Here Mr. PicKENs rose and attempted inter
rupton.l
Mr. STANLY said No, sir no. The gentleman has
made his speech; he must wait. | will make NINE
/ The CHAIR interposed.
/ Mr.. SrANLY said Mr.. Chairman | will endeavor
to keep in order ought to have the right to reply to
| the remarks just made.
Well sir, the gentleman says he is reminded by my
speech of the " nursery rhyme
Who shot Cock Robin
| l. said the Sparrow
| With my bow and arrow
| shot Cock Robin"
/ Well sir, am wiling 10 be the sparrow LOT tnls
cock-robinths chivalrous gentleman; and let me tell
the gentleman if he will not deem me vain, feel fully
able with my bow and arrow" to run through a
| " COW pen full of such cock-robns" as he is. Yes
sir let me say the seveal members from that State
| who have shown much eagerness TO engage with
me Come gentlemen, come fairly, where both
sides can have fair play and, although you may think
yourselves my superlors, although you may be superb
or in the estimation OF some others, as you undoubt-
cdly are am not frightened at the prospect of the
| combat.
The gentleman alludes to my "pigmy arm!'-'my
pigmy arm and intimates that he has little to fear
from it.
have never thought, Mr. Chairman, that my arm
was powerful but let tell this chiyalrous cock
robin that has strength enough TO master him he
may find, sir that there is much truth poetry in
the nursery rhyme which he repeats.
The gentleman says, sir, he docs not speak for the
South am willing to leave it to the House to de-
eide if that gentleman and some Of his peculiar po-
sition," friends are not ecrnally speaking here for
the South" Sir the gentleman hardly ever makes
speech or blows off his gas that he does not take the
South under his especial keeping
only wish NORTH Carolina to be exempted from
the gentemans charge; let her alone she ST. nds Sc
parate from her northern and southern neighbors in
political opinions she feels able to stand alone She
has representatives enough here take Of her in
and her honor She regulates, she repels the
arrogance which would take hei under Its charge.
Sir, the gentleman tells che fights on his own
hook He need not have proclaimed this, sir; wher-
| ever tnat gentleman is Known, IL - treH hhoWh nv
flights his hook" Yes sir, this principle was
proclaimed in celebrated letter. 1t is The principle
on which some Of tie chyalry are ready to perish
But, unlike the gallant Yankee of whom the story Is
told, the gentleman not content himself with
fighting on any one side, against the enemies oi his
country, but sir, he fights that the victory may
" inure" to his standard" He fights for and
against either side when a feeling of selfishness
prompts him. ION his own hook, with him. means
| fighting for himself
The gentleman tells US, sir, with becoming grace,
while swelling like toad-fsh, with his accustomed
arrogance, that his position is before the country
His position, he tells us, need not be defined.