Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-13

sentstiyes our Washington letter furnishes
count OF this very dsreputable aiioirba6o'e american
The sbomef,@ disturbance in the House OF kep'
ressntat;ves yosto, day, ridiculous and contempt
ible as it was sinks into inslgninoanee ~nei
compared with the absurd c,arlca'uie' On Apologies
perpetrated by the honorable 'en'ieneh VINO were
distinguished as the chief actors ia ehe rumar
scene.
We quote the following from the "ASpuohc
of this morning, emitting nothing essential 70
right understanding Of the subject:
Mr. Brown, Of Mississippi, in rising, said that
his object was to make party speech. He thought
that his colleague (Mr Wilcox was in rather bad
taste when he spoke of the % Old-line Democrats
sneaking back into the Democratic ranks, &c.
Mr.. Wilcox said l was informed that was to
be deyored this morning by my friend, for such
l hail him to be, and he is such but really the
storm is past; the missiles of my colleague were
weak, and have fallen harmless at my feet. My
colleague says that the Secession party in Missis-
sippi existed as a chimera, and that there Is no
party in favor Of secession. | had thought that
the gentleman had too high regard for truth to
rise and make declaration so baseless of truth.
Mr.. Brown / desire to ask my colleague
whether he means to say that have been guilty
of a fasehood? That inference may be left upon
the minds of some gentlemen
MIR, Wilcox. ] have spoken boldly; my Ian
guage cannot be misconstrued on that point.
Mr.. Brown, (who was standing near the gentle
man, Do you mean to say that what l have
stated is false?
Mr.. Wilcox. If you mean to say that there is
no party in Mississippi in favor of secession, it
is false. This we believe to be substantially the
purport Of the dialogue.
Mr.. Brown directly the last word was uttered
struck Mr. Wilcox blow in the face, which was
returned. The parties then closed. In q mo-
ment they were surrounded by the majority of the
members of the House The utmost alarm and
excitement prevailed in every part of the Hall.
There were calls for the Sergeant-at-A Arms and
the Doorkeeper In vain the chairman of the
committee endeavored to enforce order. Messrs
Brown and Wilcox were separated at about the
time the Speaker came in and resumed the chair.
Mr.. Clingman and other gentlemen addressed
the Speaker amid the general confusion.
Mr.. Bayly, of Virginia, demanded that the
Sergeant-at-Arms take Messrs Brown and Will
cox in custody.
The Speaker directed the Sergeant-at-Arms
and the other officers to perform their duty.
Mr.. McLanahan. Let US have the report of
the committee. Cries of "No," s'no."1
The Speaker said that the report would be re-
ceived when order was restored and he appealed
to gentlemen to take their seats and preserve
order.
Mr.. Richardson. I was just going to make
that request.
Quiet having to a great degree been restored,
the chairman Of the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union made his report.
Mr., Brown, Of Mississippi, asked unanimous
consent to make personal explanation Cries
of Agreed" "agreed y nobody objects."l
The Speaker again called to order requesting
gentlemen to take their seats.
Mr.. Brown then said During the six years
that have occupied seat on this floor, am
not sensible of having violated decorum or COM
mitted any breach of the rules of the House.
deeply and painfully regret that there should
have been any necessity for my doing so now.
i shall not recur to the circumstances under
which was induced to perpetrate an act in the
presence of the House which / know to be a
breach of its rules and violation of parliament
tary decorum-a thing which / certainly would
not have been guilty of except under very pressing
and extraordinary necessity. | apologize to the
House, sincerely and earnestly-frommy heart l
apologize TO the representatives of the people,
and express to them my Deep heartfelt regret,
that should have been engaged in any transac-
ton which could by possibility reflect discredit
on the councils Of the nation. More than this,
under the present circumstances, cannot say.
The House, | trust, will receive my apology and
throw myself on the indulgence Of the country,
and ask its pardon. | offer the guaranty which
my past life in the service Of my country affords,
that like occurrence will not take place except
aHder some other Uery extraordinary and pressing
circumstances.
Mr.. Wilcox said: 1t is matter Of deep regret
that have to rise, 50 soon after having become
identified with this body, TO make an apology fol
breach Of its rules. During my identity with
this House, SO far as in me lies have discharged
all the duties devolving upon me as n representa-
tive Of the people, and have complied strictly and
rigidly with the rules and regulations governing
this House That the quiet and repose Of this great
deliberatiye hall of the nation should have been
disturbed, under circumstances of the kind
and character which transpired few moments
ago, | again repeat, is matter of heartfelt sor-
row TO me- ! tender an apology to the House; /
mean what say as the language of my heart l
intended no disrespect-I am incapable of ito
the representatives Of this nation and now per
NIT me, for once and forever, TO say | desire to
enter my disclaimer to that effect But, as my
honorable colleague alluded, indirectly, to the
unpleasant difficulty, permit me to say conside,
the Vrong and outrage offered by him 10 me 10 Justin
me IN the course wh'ch pursued. have nothing
further to soy, except to claim the indulgence and
forgiveness OF you, who, / know are maqnani.
nous and generous.
Mr.. johnson, of Arkansas, moved that the gen
tlemen be excused.
Mr.. Clingman suggested that no proceeding
had been had and he hoped that none would B,
found necessary against those gentlemen.
Mr.. Johnson said he understood that they ha,
been arrested by order of the House
The Speaker remarked that no arrests ha
been made by the Sergeant-at-A Arms
Mr.. Johnson, presuming that his motion wa
unnecessary, withdrew it.
Mr.. Brown apologies humbly, and will not b
guilty Of like offence again, except "ander yer
pressing and extraordinary necessity" or "ercq
under some other oery extraordinary and pressia