Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-06
Not 70 he Cowed Down.

As matter of interest to such OF our rea-
ders as are the constituents of Mr.. DeLong,
we give his account of the difficulty between
| himself and Speaker Stratton. He arose to
question of privilege on Friday last, and
made the following remarks;
Mr.. DELoNG-Mr. Speaker: rise to a ques-
ton of privilege. On yesterday sir, for the first
time in my life, was placed under arrest l felt
the order, sir, and the action, to be an ndignity,
! sir which sunk deeply into my soul, and wound
ed my pride probably more seriously than any
thing which will happen to me in after life. |
wish to state briefly the circumstances which led
to the arrest have reasons for my action which
presume will prove satisfactory to every MEM
Der, and which | wish to send forth TO the world,
in order that they may know that in my course
was not governed by fuctious motives; that did
not desire to delay the progress of legislation
necessarily and improperly | wish simply to
state the facts in the case, in justification of all
! parties concerned. The question before the House
was one of a political nature. 1t called up feel
| ings on both sides which were probably bitter in
| quality and degree. Means were resorted to to
put the matter through which did not justify in
| the honest convictions of my mind and | obtain
ed the floor on a question upon the suspension of
the rules. Now, sir, during the last session of
the Legislature, and during the sitting of the pres
ent Assembly thus far spent, honestly supposed
!
debate, so that the remarks bore in the smallest
degree upon the subject under discussion. How
| ever in the course of my remarks on Yesterday |
was interrupted frequently by the Speaker which
! interruptions annoyed me very much. At last, |
was called to order by the gentleman from Neva-
da, and the point of order was sustained by the
Speaker. then made an appeal from the deci-
sion Of the Chair. l appealed three times dis
tinctly, in as loud or louder tone of voice than |
am speaking in now. Itwas then ordered under
arrest by the Speaker of this House. | remarked,
as left the floor of the House, that would hold
| the Speaker responsible for that arrest. Imme-
dately after the House adjourned, proceeded to
the desk of the Speaker, and now will state in
Justice to both of u.s. the conversation which there
| took place, inasmuch as it has been greatly dis
! tOrted outside, in some cases to my detrment, in
other cases TO your prejudice. l indignant.
| considered that my rights had been outraged in
more ways than one. | considered that it was
my conscientious duty to express my views on the
subject before us that the sentiments of the mi
norty ought not to have been st6ed on that oc-
| casion. felt that my rights bad been violated.
After the adjournment stepped up to one side Of
the Speakers desk aed remarked, "Mr Stratton,
you have to-day ungentIemanly, unjustly, and
wantonly outraged my rights. come here to in
suit you" Mr. Stratton replied, "Will you wait
one moments" | said, "For WHAT" He answer
ed, "Unti explain the reason for my action" l
said, 81 will hear your explanation" Mr. Spevk-
u
man and not as the presiding officer ofths House
Mr.. Stratton then said, "If show to you, Mr.
DeLong, from the rules, that have but perform
ed my duty, that have done only just what is re-
quired of me by the rules of the House, will you,
gentleman and member of the Assembly,
declare yourself satisfied" l answered, Ger
tainly." The Speaker, or Mr.. StrattOn, then read
from rule No. SO, which is as follows If any
member in speaking or otherwise, transgress the
rule of the House, the Speaker shall, or any men,
Der may, call to order-ln which case the member
so called to order shall Immediately sit down, un-
less permitted to explain, and if called to order
by member, such member shall Immediately
state the point of order. Ifthe point of order be
sustained by the Chair, the member shall not be
allowed to proceed, but it it be not sustained
then he shall be permitted h. 90 on, Every such
decision from the Chair shall be subject to an ap-
peal to The House but no discussion of the ques-
ton OF order shall be allowed unless an appeal be
taken from the decision of the Chair" Now, sir,
replied to the reading of that rule, that although
it might justify the Speaker to a certain extent in
calling me to order, yet it did not cover the point
| considered grievance towards myself; that
grievance consisted in the refusal of the Chair to
recognize me in the exercise of the constitutional
and legitimate privilege of taking an appeal. To
that the Speaker replied that he did not hear my
appeal. This was said in explanation. Then |
turned to the gentleman from Sacramento (Mr.
Jackson, who was convenient by, and asked him
if he did not hear me make the appeal He re-
marked that be did. The Chair, or Mr. Sraiton
again said that he did not hear my appeal from
his decision. Then asked Mr.. Stratton, "Ifyou
had heard my appeal, would you have recognized
me?" He replied, Il would have done SO" Then
asked, "lf did make an appeal, were not in
order, and had | not a right to be recognized?"
Mr.. Stratton replied, "You had an undoubted
right to make an appeal; and, had heard you,
would have recognized your appeal; but did not
hear your appeal" The gentleman from Sacra
mento then said, "He says he did not hear your
appeal aud that, if he had, he would have recog-
nzed you you can ask nothing more than that"
Then left the Speakers stand. Thus was this
difficulty settled. As member of this Assem-
bly,, as man, wish the facts to go before the
world exactly as they are