The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-23
FIare-up In the Massachusetts, House OF
REPRESENTATIVES..

members were the cOmbatants ON one side, and the
democrats and free soilers, combined occupied
Ngonistic ground. During the war Of words which
ensued, and which lasted until late hour in the
evening, one party was frequently denominated as
the red hot republicans, while the others were Sc
yerely retorted upon being the worshppers of an
ass In the midst of the confusion, Mr.. Coggswell
of Bedford, got in few words in favor of woman's
rights, which soon cleared the galleries of the ladies'
and left the closing performances Of the bear garden
to be witnessed exclusively by male audience.
According to the report of the proceedings, which
we lind IN the Boston papers, confusion and noise
reigned supreme, amid cries of " Mr.. Speaker by
fifty voices at the same time, !" sit down." turn
him out" g shut up shan't voten ~ protest.
&C. &C., which, together with the calling OF the eroll
by the clerk, and the raps of the Speakers gavil,
rendered confusion thoroughly confounded. After
the adjournment of the House, an indignation meet
ing was held by the democrats and free sellers,
report OF which, as given below will serve to show
the state OF feeling which was manifested during the
legal sitting OF the members
The indignation meeting of the opposition, or, as
they were called the democrats and free democrats
OF the House, took place Immediately after the adj
journment of the House. Mr.. Usher of Medford
called the meeting to order, and that gentleman was
called upon to preside He stepped forward, and
was about to take his seat in the Speakers chair,
when
Mr.. BUTLER exclaimed" Not there that seat has
euRy t. Izvs Of 1anesho,o moved that q, II. nor
sons except democrat and free democrat members of
the House, and those who sympathise with them in
political faith, excepting also the reporters Of the
public press, be requested to leave the House. The
Sergeant-at- Arms was directed to clear the hall
On motion of Mr.. LEWIS, Richard |. Atwill, Esq,
reporter for the Post and Charles w. Slack reporter
for the Commonwealth, were appointed Secretaries
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the object of the
meeting was to express the feeling of the members in
relation to the rulings of the Speaker of the House
during the session just closed. The rulings have
been so extraordinary supplementary so utterly
inconsistent with the rights of the minority it was
thought expedent that expression of their Opin
ions should be made The decisions Of the Speaker
have violated the rights of members and the rules
and orders of the House. We have met to act on
this state OF affairs.
Mr. BUTLER, of Lowell, said the thing necessary
to be done, and the only thing left for them to do is
to protest in firm, manly and forcible tone against
the outrages that had been put upon them that day.
and to endeavor to get that protest entered on the
journal OF the House He felt it his duty to call the
attention Of the meeting to the doings Of the MAORI
ty. They had turned the room Of the Committee on
the Judiciary into drinking room, and liquors with
out stint, from brandy down, had been furnished
freely. He knew the fact, for it had been offered
decisions ofthe Speaker must have seen that he was
obfuscated. He would not assert that that officer
had deem indulging in the liquid refreshments, but
ne would say that many members who talked with
Is,
his ear, were filed with it. The greatest outrage had
been committed on the rights of the minority ever
attempted and he was determined to show the spirit
that actuated the men who committed those out
proceedings. He alluded to the Speaker as the
gentleman,-no, | beg pardon, will not use that
name-the person who sat there" -pointing to the
Speakers chair, who was controlled in his course
by members who 'squattng like toad, poisoned
his ear" He thanked God the course he reprobat-
ed had been taken on this questionable secret bal
lot law. 1t will endear it to the peoples they will
see in it the palladium of their liberties, and they
endeavored to take it away before the March elec-
tons take place. He concluded by moving that
committee Of three be appointed to draw up, in
manly, dgnifed and forcibe language, protest
journal OF the House-the committee to report at
an adjourned meeting to be held in the Green Room
on Monday morning, at 10 o'clock.
MI. LEWIS, of Lanesboro, seconded the motion.
lie began by saying, that injuries inflicted upon HIM
self he could forgive but an injury inflicted upon the
rights ofthe people of this commonwealth he could
neither forget or forgive. We have proceedings
in this House today more tyrannical and worse than
any recorded of Louis Napoleon or of Cromwell;
proceedings that no sane man, of whatever party,
could approve. He hoped the time would come when
he should be called upon to vote vote of thanks to
the thing who sits in the Speakers chair He called
the majority in the House miserable minority in
the State (Whie he was speaking a member en-
tered, holding in each hand tumber which, he
said, contained brandy and gin, from the committee
room) Mr.. Lewis took the tumblers and held them
up at arms length, exclaming, "can there be any
doubt Of the Speakers decision These are the rules
and orders !"
Mr.. DAGGRTT rose to point Of order. Such re.
Elections upon the Speaker were out of place.
CHAIRMAN-The gentleman from Attleboro rises
to point or order.
MEMBER.-There does not seem to be pint left.
Mr. BUTLER said, in reference to the liquor, he
wished the blame to rest where belongs It was in
troduced to the committee without the consent
OF the SergeantatArms. He permitted proper re.
freshments, but no liquor.
MEMBER cried out, addressing the Chair "Mr.
Speaker
ANOTHER MEMBER object to any one insulting
the Chair by calling him Mr. Speaker. It is out Of
order.
Remarks were made by Messrs. Sherwin of Buck
land Corthell Of Bridgewaer and Coggeswell of Bed
ford. The latter gentleman proposed mass indig-
nation meeting to be held in Faneuil Hail. on some
evening prior to the first Monday in March. The
was entertained, and the committee on
preparing protest. directed to consider it and
report.
On motion Of Mr.. ROBINSON, of Lowell, Mr.. Stone,
of CharlestOwn, past member of the House. was in
vited to address the meeting. He stepped forward
and made lengthy and forcble speech.
The following gentlemen were appointed on the
committee on the protest -Messrs Morton, of Fair
haven; Robinson, of Lowell; Lewis, Of Lanesboro:
Clark Of Northboro and Usher, of Medford.
The meeting adjourned at twenty minutes past
love No