The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1860-02-11
PRYOR ON BENNETT.

Auhs L hlOhs NIL O'OA
to solicit the attention of the House, even
for moment, on matter of personal privi
lege; but the disagreeable duty is imposed
upon me by an article in the latest issue of
the N. Y. Herald. / wish to protest at
once, however, that own no obligation to
respond to anything that issues from the
pen OF the inspiration Of James Gordon
Bennett. | should disparage the dignity
of my position, and affront the feelings Of
honorable members, if l were to admit the
propriety or the necessity of recognizing
any utterance from that notorious individual
IA man who is conspicuous by the per-
sistent and fragrant violation of all the lights
and virtuous instincts Of humanity; who
has supplied himself with money and the
means of pernicious influence by extorting
contributions from the fears of innocence,
and levyiug subsidies upon the gratitude Of
sympathetic and confederate villainy; a
wretch who bears upon his back the scars Of
many a merited chastisement, and upon bis
soul the faint of every conceivable abomina-
ton; a miscreant wLo, in consenting to the
dishonor of his own family and the protana,
ton of the most sacred relation of life, has
committed a crime which no language fur.
nIshes a commensurate term of scorn and
detestation foul and filthy creature, whose
name is the execration of both continents,
aud from whose contact truth and virtue
shrink as from the touch of lie 2rosy; fiend
who, denied the privileges of human fellow.
ship and exiled from the courtesies and
charities of the social circle, is condemned
to wear out the small remnant of guilty
and miserable existence in solitude for
which the wages of prostitute press can
purchase no relief and no consolation.
repeat to the House, that ] would not OBJ
trude upon their presence the image of au
individual whose unutterable infamy dis
tinguishes and stigmatizes him as the shame
and the opprobium of humanity.
But, in candor, Mr. Clerk, l will not deny
that be has some pretext or apology for his
attack On me, since, in the discharge of my
duty as a journalist, had freqent occasions
to lash him until even his rhinoceros hide
quivered with the pangs of excoriatcd sen
sibility. Let him continue his assaults.
No gentleman can desire more significant
and satisfactory compliment than the abuse
of James Gordon Bennett. His applause is
an argument of suspicion his invective is Il
title of honor.
| repeat, that do not advert to the arti,
Gle in the Herald in recognition of any is.
sue between Mr.. James Gordon Bennett and
myself, but to vindicate myself on an issue
which the language of that journal raises
between my honorable colleague Mr. Mill
son and myself. With that view l. invite
the attention of the House to single para
graph from brutal attack upon me in the
New York Herald of January 10:
"Timc was, until. Pryor, when Virgin.
ian was synonymous with gentlemen MOI
was his vulgarity allowed to pass unrebuked
by his colleagues, one of whom Mr.. Mill
son called Pryor to order twice, aud vim,
Dictated, to a Ger ain extent, the name and
fame of the Old Dominion. From the tone
of the debate, it is evident, also, that other
Southern gentlemen regretted the oceur-
reuce and be leved that the House had oeen
deg AIDED by it,"
The country regards the personalities
and vulgar abuse Of member like Pryor as
matters of very little consequence, when
they are promptly condemned by his own
Now, Mr.. Clerk, it is possible tha; may
have misunderstood my colleague. I Ger
tainly did not understand that on the coca.
sion alluded to by the Herald, he intended
any rebuke for me. Am correct?
Mr.. Mill,on, in response to question
asked by Mr.. Pryor, said that be had never
heard of the Article in the Herald until he
had heard of it odoy. When he called his
colleague to order, he intended no personal
rebuke, as charged, but to protect the dig.
nifty and decorum of the House. There
were other transgressions of order that day !;
and he had wished, if possible, to arrest
that sort of discussion, which might leal to
calamitous results.