The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March 10.

of Mount Vernon by the Government and its
preservation and improvement as National
property.
On motion it was referred to the Committee
on the District of Columbia, and ordered to
be printed.
Mr.. Berrien of Ga. moved to take up the
bill relieving the Justices of the Supreme
Court from doing duty as Circuit Judges
until the present accumulation of business
before the Court shall be disposed Of
Mr.. Ashley of Ark, opposed the motion of
Mr.. Berrien. The subject was one that re-
quired mature consideration. 1t was an i'm
portant change in the procedure of the Court
which was proposed by the bill and ought not
to be made without due elaboration. In the
present circumstances of the Senate such
delberation was impossible and he trusted
that the Bill might be allowed to rest until
the more pressing business now before them
had been disposed of.
In consequence of these suggestions Mr.
Berrien withdrew his motion.
Then on motion of Mr.. Sewer the Senate
went into Executive session.
HousE.-On motion of Mr.. Crowell of O.,
the House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole upon Private Bills, Mr.. Brodhead,
of Pa. in the chair.
After some time spent without action, the
Committee rose, there being no quorum present.
1t was then moved to adjourn, and the
House divided upon the motion.
While the tellers were engaged in the taking
on the question, quarrel between Mr.. Haral-
son of Ga. and Mr.. Jones of Tenn. broke out
in the shape of fight, in which the parties
employed the weapons with which Nature
had endowed them, with much industry and
effect.
The difficulty sprang up in the following
manner: when they came 10 vote, Jones
charged HARRISON with inconsistency. Some
hasty words followed until Jones gave the lie.
Enraged at this, HARRISON returned the lie
with blow, after which they clinched each
other with great fury.
The confusion at this moment was indie
scribable. The Speaker in vain endeavoring
to restore order, members overturning their
desks as they started from their seats, those
in the immediate vicinity of the belligerents
crowding around and attempting to stop them,
added to the noise of the contest, combined to
render the whole supremely disgraceful; only
the fear lest serious harm might be done to
one or both of the combatants, saved it from
being disgusting.
At last, by the exertions of the other mem
bers, the brawling Legislators were separated.
When the heat of the quarrel was somewhat
cooled off, they returned to their senses and
manifested degree of shame for the outrage
they had committed. Each of them then pro-
ceeded to make an apology to the House !;
they affirmed that up to the moment of the
quarrel perfect friendship had existed be-
tween them; but of course such shameful
affair could not be suffered to end in that
manner.
Mr.. Palfrey moved that when the House
adjourned it should adjourn to Monday, in
order that perfect calmness of feeling might
he restored before business should be resumed
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Jacob Thompson, of Miss, submitted
resolution for the appointment of Select
Committee of five to enquire into the nature,
causes. and circumstances of the rencontre,
and to report to the House thereon.
Mr.. Stephens, of Ga. opposed the appoint
ment of such Committee.
Mr.. Hunt, of n Y. supported it.
Mr.. McLane, of Md, announced to the
House that the gentlemen involved in this
unfortunate difficulty had already apologized