The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-14

LEGISLATIVE FLARE Up-ExcrrEMENT IN ALBA
NY.-PRoeREss OF CNILizArIoN.-Last evening we
received by the way of the Housatonic Railroad and
from the steamer Mutual Safety, Capt Fitch, the
Albany Argus OF yesterday morning.
II contains an account of flare up, or rather
dsgraceful fight which took place in the House OF
Assembly last Wednesday between William Mac
Murray, member from this city and Mr.. Lee. the
member from Orange. 1t was second edition, all
but the dirk, of the recent Pennsylvania outrage.
Annexed is the account of the affair -
In ASSEMBLY, April l2-The journal of yesterday
having been read and approved
Mr.. McMURRAY rose TO a matter personal to HIM
sell. He aluded to ga card" published in yester
days Evening Journal, under the signature of &C.
Swackhamer." With that individual he had no.
thing to do here, and more especially because he
could show that Mr.. S. was but tool in the hands
ct member of the House. The gentleman from
Orange (pointing to Mr.. Leg yesterday told men,
bers OF this House that he had got man to take up
in the debate on the flour bill the other day] Does
the gentlevan from Orange deny it? Mr. Lee-l do ]
aver that he stated yesterday, IN presence of mem
bers OF this House, that he had found man TO take
arrangement was the "card' that appeared in the
Evening Journal of last night. If The gentleman
from Orange denies ii have the names of gentle
men who were present and heard him.
man from New York, will simply state that the as
serons he has made are OF very little Importance,
so far as am concerned, or this House-that after
had learned that this gentleman was to appear ac
cordng to his own declarations, the Evening Jour-
nal, merely remarked that il appeared that some
body had taken up the quarrel between the gentle
man from New York and myself
A VoIcE-What is the question?
Mr.. McMURRAY-I intend 10 make notion
The SPEAkER-The motion should be first made.
There Is no question otherwise before the house,
and this debate is dlsorderly
Mr.. MCMCRRAY-My character a member of
this House, and as NANNY standing in both re-
specs has been attacked-my veracIty impugned in
public journal-and If it has been thus assaed by
a member OF this body, by himself, or through an
instrument claim that the matter affects not me
only, but the character of the body of which am
member.
Mr.. E. SrRoNa-Here is a debate got up without
any motion.
Mr. McMrRRAY-Iti is directly question of We
raciy between us, and call on the gentleman from
Queens to state whether he did not hear
The SpEAKER-This House can't settle a question
OF veracy between members.
Mr. MCMURRAY-The gentleman from Queens
can answer the call I have made on him.
Mr.. YoUNas-If this
Mr.. t. SrRoNa-This matter has proceeded far
enough. l wish we might proceed to the usual
business
The SpEAKER-There is no question before the
House.
Mr. YouNGs was proceeding to speak, when
door Mr. McMurray, when interrupted by the
Speaker, having gone TO Mr. Lee 5 seat, which is on
the outer row, and slapped him in the face Gas the
Reporter understands), when the two gentlemen
and members near, and separated-the Speaker
meanwhile directing the doors to be closed, and the
galleries and lohbies cleared.
The doors being closed,
Thu SPEAKER remarked that gross indgnly had
been offered to the house-one derogatory to Its
character in the highest degree-and he trusted
there firmness enough in the house to vndlcate
| its dignity and character. 1t was an outrage thai
he did not suppose oud be committed by any
member, and could not be overlooked. He repeated
he trusted the house had firmness enough to vind
cate its dignity in the face OF so gross an outrage
this
/ Mr.. HOLMES moved that committee of five be
appointed to examine into the matter, and to report
| to the house.
| The SPEAKER named Messrs. Allen, Hulburd, E:
Strong, Wheeler and Nicol, as the committee OF
Investigation
Mr.. ALLEN here announced that the select COM
mtee on the case of McMurray and Lee, were
ready TO report whereupon he read the report of the
investigating committee, which commences with a
recital Of what was said and done from the reading
OF the journal of yesterday, down to the afray, EN-.
| bodying also a copy OF Mr.. Swackhamer's card
published in the Evening Journal-whch purports
| to brand" Mr. Mem as "a lar''-and concludes
| as follows:-
The committee are unanimously of opinion that Mr..
McMurray has been guilty of conduct disorderly, a
contempt ofths house gross and breach of privilege
fagrant as render him unworthy longer to occupy
q seat az member OF this house Therefore,
Resolved That William McMurray be- and he is here
| by expelled this house.
The SPEAKER announced the question to be on the
resolution with which the report concludes, and had
put one half Of the question, when
Mr.. WAIT expressed wish, that the gentleman
charged with this offence might have opportunity
to be heard
Mr.. McMuRRAY thereupon rose and said that in
consequence of what had TRANSFERRED, he would say
that for the last two three eks, particularly the
last week, he had been quite unwell-so much SO,
that last night his physician advised hm to take no
part in the business of the house The excitement
OF the last three four days, and the persecution to
which he conceived he had been subjected, had
been such that during a part of that lime he had
been confined 10 his bed In the discussion of this
flour bill, he conceived that ,wanton and unpro-
vocked attack was made upon him.
Laboring as he did, under much excitement of
feeling, and believing at the time, IL addition TO the
foul attack which had been made upon his charac-
ter, that he had been cut of from representa-
of his to the Householder keen sense of the
wrong that had been done him-he did commit a
| breach of order which he would reprobate in any
| man, even under similar degree OF provocation.
| And whatever might be the result, so far as the
| House was concerned, he apoogised for it, and re.
GREETED that he should be so far carried away by his
| Mr. W. HALL said the subject was one Of cha.
racer calculated to affect US all very sensibly. He
had, therefore, drawn up a paper which would be
satisfactory to him. 1t might be so the house. He
would read il =
Whereas, VIM McMurray has been guilty of a high
contempt Of this house in sssauting brother member
his place and whereas the said VIM Mem has humbly
apologzed to this house for the contempt of which he
been guilty and has pesded in extenation of his fault
bodily indisposon and consequent inability to control
his feelings under great excitement therefore
Resolved That the act Of said VIM McMurray 10 de-
serving Of the highest Of this house under
the mitigating circumstances that the said VIM
be- and he hereby reprimanded for the ndigny to
the house. but that he be allowed to retain his
m ember Of this House.
This was adopted, ayes IS, noes q.
Thus ended this disgraceful farce, after which
the House went to work and passed the New York
Criminal Court Bill as it came from the Senate.
Literary Notices.
HIsroRY OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON, with TWEEN