Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-27
ADAY IN THE HOUSE.

WASHINGTON. January 10Th, 1860.
Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, who has thus far
ra.rained from speaking, with a special view
to ultimately becoming Speaker. said that
Nj Houston, Of Alabama, had been indulg-
Jug in pleasautries at his expense. Mr..
Houston had called him a burning, witherng
clr-e and shame and had otherwise jocularly
expressed himself He desired to know if the
gentleman from Alabama had intended to
stigmatize him as personal whitening curse
and shame, or merely as political one.
Mr. Houston, of Ala, replied that no one
bur raying and inexpressible idiot could
suppose. as the gentleman from Ohio had
donr, that any personal application was in
tended. He simply considered Mr. Sherman
"a reasonable and infamous character, besides
being stingy and not al all manly. That was
all.
Mr. Sherman said every one ought t. Do
satsiiel,with SO noble "a disclaimer He had not
concealed his opinions, and he would say TO
Nlr. Houston frankly, and with sIncerest re
gard. whenever occasion demanded, g You re
another.
}Ir Houston then observed that in "a p0lit
.cal sense. no one could deny that Mr.. oher-
man was fimsv and dish0norable, and also
suilied in various ways TO a considerable ex-
tsnt, to say nothing of his being foolish and
ucendiary from early infancy.
Mr. Sherman agreed in the main with the
1norable gentleman's -entiments, but sug-
-ssted that it would be personal convenience
e., him to have the resolution offered by Mr.
Clark, Of Missouri, now before the House,
declaring him to be an offensive and gnoble
object, withdrawn, because it intertered with
his appetite, and gave him unpleasant visions
at night
Mr. Houston SAID that for his part he was
IA man Of resolution, and he objected to the
withdrawal.
Mr. Sherman cordially reciprocated the
honorable gentleman's friendship
Mr. Clark, of Missouri. rose and announc-
ed "a physical inability to sit still in hls seat,
so he would stand by his resolution. With
out calling in question the integrity OF Mr.
Sherman, be would say that gentleman was
not tit, politically, to iron shirts in a third
class laundry As he himself represented
yr.uous community, he could only say
what are You going to do about it?
Mr. Harris. of Maryland, conceded with
everybody that hao thus far taken part in the
debate
Mr.. Clark, of New York, begged to call
the attention # the House to a work entitled
.' The impending Crisis written by one
Helper, in relation to which he would offer
some feeble remarks.
Mr Haskin, Of New York, said the feebler
the better.
Mr.. Clark said 1t was none Of Mr. Haskin's
business, and that he would then and there
fight him for the beer.
Mr.. Haskin remarked that his colleague
was a very good circus-rider, but that he
certainly could not keep hotel, as he was
ready to testify before the Supreme Court, or
the bar of any house in Washington.
Some vil-disposed person here cried . Or
der" This was the signal for instantaneous
uproar. Tne cry was echoed on all sides with
the natural and physical consequences. The
Clerk grew pale with envy as the shouts of
the honorable gentlemen overpOwered the
noise Of his gavel. Mr.. Haskin threw his re-
volver upon the floor and invited somebody's
mob. Then ensued rare pegging and stop
ping, unexceptionable clinching, feinting and
planting of one twos on pimple and in wind.
The Sergeant-at-Arms having at length de
tected a foul blow on the part Of an inexperi-
enced new member, interposed, and said that
ifthe disturbance continued he should he COM
PEELED to exclude the reporters.
Mr. Kett, of South Carolina, said if people
entertained enmity towards one another, their
true plan was to do as he did, and never let
it be known.
Mr.. Davidson, of Louisiana, dispatched
messenger for his brold-sword and double
barrelled shotgun.
Mr. Winslow, of North Carolina, suggest
ed that the House proceed to business.
Mr.. Clark, Of Missouri, said, Never Ap-
plause.
Mr. Clemens hoped that Mr. Haskin would
be held politically responsible for throwing
his pistol upon the floor.
Mr. Haskin explained that he had never
before used pistol, except in an honorable
way, and he trusted that this single failure to
put it to legitimate Use would not be visited
too harshly upon hil.
MIR. Clark begged to say that he had acci-
dentally been discourteous. He wished to
add that, in using the Ian -uage he did to his
colleague, he meant that he would fight him
for the political, and not for the personal
beer.
Mr. Etheridge, of Tennessee, observed that
the House had passed pleasant day, and
that such events would sometimes occur So
far as he was concerned, he would be very
well pleased to have them happen oftener
but as al appeared now very quiet, and as it
was growing very dull, he moved an adjourn
inent which was carried - Vanity Far.
RAIN IN EGYPT.-Sir Archibald Alison, in
his history of Europe, writes as follows: 1T
never rains in Egypt; centuries may elapse
without more than shower of drizzllng mist
moistening the surface Of the soil Ii is said
it has not raj ed in Egypt for 100 years.
A correspondent Of the Times writes from
Alexandria. Oct 81, 1859, as follows :
Englishmen express their astonishment at
the heavy rains we have lately experienced,
having come with the erroneous impression
that it never rains in Egypt" Upon this,
it is asked whether the rain which is referred
to by the above correspondent is the first
which has appeared in Egypt for 100 years.
SOUTHERN PoLITIcs. Mr.. Memminger' S
speech to the Virginia legislature, on Thurs
day. as the am bassador of South Carolina,
occupied four hours in a full review OF
the steady encroachments of the North. de
counselled a convention of southern states to
see what they would do about 1t.
The Louisiana legislature met on Wednes-
day, and the governor recommends In his
message a conference of all the southern
states, and retaliation upon the North by a
discriminating tax on northern gooos
arro,-,tin-- - ahz>lrt> -7hfN''7