Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-07-31

general and necessary authority which the
House has over its members. Now, it seems
to me that, if my responsibility to this House
for an offence committed elsewhere is because
of my membership, it is a logical conclusion
that my responsibility ceases when that rela-
ton is dissolved. Whether or not the au.
thority of the Senate reaches me after my
relations to this House Mve terminated, it is
not for me now to inquire, but, in justice to
myself, take occasion 70 say to the country,
that if the Senate take thatsyiew, 7 shall re,
cognise its authority Now, sir, let me in,
form the honorable meyS5ers who have been
pursuing me 50 iiercely, that my present at.
titudc was long since foreseen, and that
am altogether prepared for any of its emer,
gencies | knew with whom had to deal,
and my resignation has been for more than
ten days in the hands of the Governor of S.
Carolina, to take effect the very instant that
announce my resignation upon this floor
But before [ make the announcement, de-
sire to say word or two in reference to what
has been said Of me in debate and elsewhere
| saw in some of the New York papers that
a certain feminine gentleman from that State
Mr.. Morgan] had applied to me the term
civilian" Well, that was not word "spo.
ken in debate" and only allude to it to ad
vertise the indignant gentleman that I have
seen the word, and know that it was spoken
in New York, and not here in debate He
need not be much alarmed and, if he will
"hold still" when get hold of him, I'll not
hurt him much and this is all that | can
say about that matter here.
Your amiable colleague, (Mr. Knapp
who was presented by his constituents with
a revolver, intended for my particular bene.
fit, yesterday declared that Massachusetts,
would "takc her own time and place" to re-
sent what he and she both pronounced to be
an insult and injury. l do not intend
Mr. Speaker, to utter an offensive, unkind
or even a rough word to that gentleman
for he is a gentleman, socially, I know-but
l wish to say this to him, that I will never
plead the statute of limitations in bar Of the
wrath of Massachusetts.
On yesterday, however, we had violent
demonstration from the gentleman from Con
necticut, (Mr Woodruff,) who is now neal
me, and who, with his historical accuracy, (H
has asserted that the bones of Connecticut
revolutionary soldiers now lie in the valleys
of the sunny South. That member, with a
show of manhood which elected my adnira.
ton, in his written remarks, used the follow,
ing language
evil not this Hall, with too much rea.
son, continue to be characterized as a cham.
Der Of assassins, if we do not now unite to
rcbuke and emphatically condemn this mon,
strous violation of all honor and decency
The country demands action, and the times
are hot for some expiation of dastardly and
brutal outrages, whether committed in the
Capitol or on the plains.o Kansas.
"Ifthere is not spirit or lnanliness enough
here to promptly purge this body by proper
and constitutional means, at all events let Il
trial be made let the vote come We shall
then know who dare screen audacity or give
countenance to crime"
Again: -.
81 court no disturbance but the privil-
eges of his House shall not, so for as am
concerned, be einfringed With an endeavor
aud design always to cultivate courtesy, |
shall not hesitate here in my place, Or else,
where, to freely characterize as they deserve
any lofty assumptions Of arrogance, or any
mean achievements of cowardice."
And again:
81 say again, let the vote come and if
honorable gentlemen cannot wholly rid
themselves Of an unwelcome presence, they
can at least show their appreciation of an
action wanting few Of the clements of the
most audacious crime, and of Il spirit equal
to deeds that | shall not name"
His conclusion is grandloquent 1t is as
follows
"And let ME tell you, Mr. Speaker, that
the spirit of true courage in Connecticut still
lives"
Well, sir, [ confess TO you that all other
considerations escaped NE when heard the
expression of so much manhood. He went
through the motions well, and when he had
finished could not resist an expression of
admiration of Il spirit with which we have
not recently been familiar, and involuntar-
lily arose from my seat and made him a pro-
found bow
L thought, sir that gentleman who could
utter such sententimepts so handsomely, was
a foeman worthy of anybody's steel, and I
! determined, in a very quiet way, to treat
him as a gentleman, for he spoke like man.
The very first friend who chanced to come
by me, after the gentleman had concluded,
was my friend from Tennessee, (Mr. Saw
age about whom I happened to know some
thing in Mexico. He was the very man |
wanted and l asked him to present my
compliments to the gentleman from Connec-
ticut, and say word quietly in his car in
my behalf. My friend did so, and here is a
letter giving report of the interviews:
WASHINGTON CITY, July IL, 1856.
Dear Sir make brief statement Of
the main facts connected with my call on
the Hon. Mr.. Woodruff, of Connecticut,
who spoke to day in the House Of Rcpresen-
tatives. A few momt It's after Mr.. w. con-
cluded his speech, you requested me to bear
him message. I Immediately went round
to that part of the House Where he sat, just