Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-09-16
The Late Disturbance in the House Of
Representatives.

The following ~ more particuisr account Of
the sesy which took place IN the House Of Repre-
,sptaiiyes on Thursday last II is taken from the
National In,eiIigeneer Of Friday
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.
Whilst Mr.. Fillmore was in the midst
of sentence, the Reporter (who had mo- !.
ticed Mr.. Wise cross over TO the seat u
MIR. Stanly, and had observed those 1"o
gentlemen ia conversation aPPafeh,y u
a very excited cbaracter) saw Mt. 'Se
raise his hand violently and ann oio"
ot the face Of Mr.. Stanly, VINO US ~
Simultaneously met or returned II. a
y;oIop, fght followed, and, IN less time
than j, can be described ID ms report
scene Of mingled uproar and tghf' such as
the Reporter in many years experience
has mayer witnessed on the MOOR OF the
H. onsucd. messrs. Wise and Stan
i, ,ys,e lost 10 the sight of the Reporter
- Tho general rush, whilst Mr.. Arnold, of
'roncesee. and Mr.. Butler, Of Kentucky,
wore noticed in violent personal strug.
gle. striking at and graphing with each
o,ber. Mr.. Dixon II. Lewis and Mr..
Gtlmer, aud others, were seen 10 the
midst, enjcavoring to quell the dlstur'
bance. which had now reached point at
which it seemed impossible TO arrest lis
progress.
The members had rushed from all parts
of the Hall some rushing over and others
standing upon the tables, literally ping
themselves one on the other, and several
canes were seen by the Reporter, raised
I'M as if in the act OF striking. ne
Sneoker during this time, had resumed
the Chair informally, but no one paid The
least regard to his voice, and he called IN
vain ON the officers, none of whom were
observed by the Reporter, with the ex-
ception Of the door.keeper, who was en-
deavoring to close the doors and windows
against the crowd from without, who at.
tempted 10 rush within the hall.
The general melee (of which the Re
porter was taking notes) continued from
two and half to three minutes. 1t then
subsidized, as it appeared, though by what
direct process the Reporter could not un.
derstand bu, he heard the vioce of
MIR. Wise, who had returned to his seat,
addressing the Chair.
IThe Reporter thinks it proper to re-
mnrk, that the entire statement under the
head of " Breach Of Privilege" is given
by himself according to his own notes
and that no part Of it has been submitted
20 revision.
Something like order having been re-
stored,
Mr.. Wise said he had risen for the pur-
pose Of apoogizing to the House IN the
most humble manner, and Of asking its
pardon, as he most merely did. lie
ha1 in its presence, under the excitement
of the moment, violated It's order-"n eX-
ci.emcnt which he could not repress.
The House had witnessed what had pass
I'd between the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. StanIy) and himself, IN the
course Of the bate, and had heard the
language used by that gentleman towards
him. He (Mr. w. had passed over to
that gentleman's seat, in order TO remon
stratc with him in friendly and private
way. The gentleman from North Caro-
lima was excited, and he Mr.. W. be-
coming 50, they were soon engaged IN
very hot words. Our friendly relations,
continued Mr.. W., were interrupted; /
will not state TO the House circumstan-
tally all that took place; but he repeated
to me what he had said, and gave him
warning that he had not met me IN the
spirit 10 which T.
Mr.. W., at the close Of the sentence
which was thus lost to the Reporter, was
interrupted by
Mr.. Andrews, Of kentucky, who said
that he objected to the gentleman gong
into the facts, which he hoped would be
ascertained by a committee of persons
wholly unnteres,ed.
Mr.. Wise. have but few words to
say. [Cries of" $50 on, go on" In the
warmth of my excitement, l used harsh
language, and the gentleman returned to
me a word which could not brook, either
here or elsewhere. Never, whatever
may be the consequences, will | brook
that word. struck him. | have Of
fended against the House humbly ask
It's pardon, and submit myself to any
penalty which it may please to impose.
Mr.. Stanly then took the floor, and SAID
he had not risen TO ask pardon of the
House. If he had offended against tiff
he had been guilty of any violation of lis
rules, he would submit to any penalty the
House might impose-even to be expeIi.
ed, or to be forced to resign. But icon
,inued Mr.. S. believe have done what
any other man on this floor would have
done under similar circumstances.
The honorable gentleman from Virgil
no, (Mr. Wise,l whose nsolenco | will
not say is notorious, came round to my
seat. not, as he says, to remonstvate-- no,
not to remonstrate--butt to scold, to lee
tlre, to browoeat me, as he does every
body, who prcsumes to differ with such a
high born Virgiuian as he is. could not
tolerate it. told him what understood
him to have said, and what had said in
reply. He then said, Il want to warn
YOU" To which replied, mo, | will
not take your warning" He then said,
Come out Of the Hall with me-" and
started towards the door. replied, ono,
sir; you have heard what | said; you
can take your own course ; have moth
ing more to say" he then said, You
deserve my contempt )" and said, Sir,
you are liar"