Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-12-22
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE HOUSE YES
TERDAY.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1S49.
The scenes of to-day in the House beggar
description. The scenes of yesterday were
mere bagatelle. The south and the north
are really getting by the ears sooner than
expected. The excitements of this day,
fear, are but the forerunner, the premonitory
symptoms of more disgraceful scenes before
the House is organised.
The members came together this morning
without any concerted plan of action. 1t was
expected, however, that, as all parties weIe
at sea again, they would commence boxing
the compass for new candidate for speaker
that would command a majority of the votes
of the House. But after short time it be-
came apparent that there was an itching for
speech.making which could not be longer
repressed. The ball opened with two or
three propositions in the form of resolutions,
proceeding from the north.
MIR. Thompson, Of Pennsylvania, made a
proposition of mode TO elect Speaker,
which was amended in form Of resolution
by MIR. Carter, of Ohio, who wished the pow
ers Of the Speaker to be restricted as 10 the
appointment of the members of the Commit
tees on the District of Columbia and the Ter
ri,ories. These propositions formed basis
for speeches from both and all sides of the
House. Things went on harmoniously, how
ever, that is comparatively SO, until MIR. Duer,
Of New York, made speech. These speech
es, lei me premise, were upon the exciting
topics of the day, and not upon the resolution
or its amendment, and several were made
cording to the geographical divisions which
parties have assumed.
MIR. Meade of Va. finally made an ultra
southern speech, and cast some pretty severe
reflections on the people of the north and on
the motives of members representing them.
He concluded, and Mr. Duer, an able men,
Der from New York, arose and made pow
erful and conciiatory speech.
In the course of his remarks, Mr.. Duer
said that he believed there were some dis
unionists in the House. MIR. Bayly of vir-
ginia inquired of him who they were. MIR.
Duer said he thought there was one from his
own state. Mr.. Bayly asked him to specify
the member. MIR. Duer pointed to Mr.
Meade who stood in the centre aisle quite
near him.
Mr.. Meade said ''it is false, it is false, it is
false !"
MIR. Duer replied, "You are liar'
You can scarcely imagine the scene that
followed The members had previously con-
gregated about Mr.. Duer, and there was con-
siderable excitement manifested in this con-
test between the north and the south, but
when this latter charge was made the men,
bers rushed to the spot, and there really
seemed danger that there wotld be gen.
eral melee. The Sergcan: at Arms, how
ever, proceeded to the spot Immediately with
his mace of Office and prevented any out
break of violence.
After time the House attained a compara-
tive state of order, and MIR. Duer proceeded
with his remarks, stating at the commence
ment that he expected pardon from the House
for the remark which he had made out of Or
der; but that he had felt himself called upon
to make that charge under the circumstances,
&c. There was really some danger of a col
lision between the North and the South, and
God only knows what things may come &c
yet here. The doorkeepers say that knives
were drawn on the part of the South, but
was too far from the scene of action to OBJ.
serve them.
The House abandoned all order, and the
Clerk of course having no rules, could not en-.
force it. MIR. Toombs, of Georgia, made an
eloquent ultra-Southern speech, and received
nine separate rounds of applause from the
South. He was not in favor of disunion, ex
cept in certain contingencies.
MIR. Baker, of ILL.,, democrat, followed
him, and received great applause from the
! North.
MIR. Stevens, of Geo., and Mr. Cleveland
OF c., also spoke, and were applauded at in
tervals.
In fact the house presented the appearance
of regular mass meeting in Tammany Hall
The members left their seats and gathered
around each speaker, and the applaudins
even went on in the galleries.
1t is now half-past four o'clock, and the
House has just adjourned, taking one vote
however, for Speaker since the speeche
were made. Neither party concentrated
upon any one man.
The course taken by Mr.. Brown, to Sc
cure the Speakership of the House, has calle'
down heavily the censure of his own party
and created disgust in the minds of man.
Of the other political divisions. His attemp
to justify himself was most lame affair, an,
his persisting TO the last in saying to hi
friends, both Southern and Northern, whe
appealed to in private conversation, that h
had made no pledge to any party, makes tn
matter still worse for him. candidly be
lieve that not single member of his ow
party was cognizant of this act, except III
two or three out-and-out democratic free soil
ers. And although it was believed and pre-,