Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-07
The BRANCH AND GROW DFFTCULTY-A CARD
rpnU MD pANCU


In tho House of Represcntatyc on Thursday last the
following colouuy occurred between Mr. Grow, of Penn
/ sylvauia and myself:
| Mr. Grow - And had the gentleman from NORTH
Carolina Mr. BranCh been familiar with constitution
al law and parliamentary pecedents as his long pracuce
in legislation would have led TO suppose, ne couiu
have found sufficient aud abundant reasons to justify my
conduct and that of majority of the House, without
violating all parliamentary and gentlemany cour'eseS
that are recognized in all deberatve bodies by impugn
ng the motives of his peer and charging sordd and sell
sh considerations the moving motive and cause Oh our
action
Mr. Branch. l desire to ask the gentleman from
Pennsylvania whetherI am TO understand his language
imputing to me any conduct that was ungentlenah
Mr. Grow. said that the gentleman violated all par
iamentary and gcnemanly couresies that are recog-
nizcd in all deberatve assemblies. IL needs no refer
enCe to parliamentary law to know that The hrst RUE
of parliamentary law is that no gentleman has the right
TO impugu the motives Of another.
Mr. Branch. l desire to ask the gentleman whether he
means by that language, TO mpute TO me any conduct
that is ungentemanly?
Mr. Grow. ] ask the gentleman 10 refer TO his own
language and see what he thinks
Mr. Branch | demand of the gentleman from Penn
syvauia to know whether he means by that language to
mpute to any conduct that is ungentemanly or I'M
becoming?
Mr. Grow The gentleman charged, the other day
that had defeated the Post Office appropriation bill, IN
order to compel the President of the United States call
an extra session OF Congress say that such mpua-
ton on my motives was not gendemanly under parlia-
mentarv law.
Mr. Branch. repeat the question which have al
ready asked the gentleman from Pennsy Observation-Disclosures
be designs in those remarks impute TO any conduct
/ unbecomng a gentleman? 4 failure to respond shall
/ assume to be an affirmative
/ Mr. Grow Mr. Clerk take the language Of the gen
teman. What l have said on it is plain English, and
there it stands The gentleman the other day impugned
my motive of action the Post Office bill. The I'M
pugnment of motives in legislative body is everywhere
regarded not only supplementary, but as nngente
manly, under parliamentary practice and law.
Mr. Branch. repeat that the gentleman has not re-
sponded to my inquiry, and that shall take his failure
to respond an affirmative answer.
Mr. Grow. The gentleman can take just what he
pleases.
Mr. Branch. I will do
Immediately after the occurrence addressed to Mr..
Grow and handed to my friend Mr. Winslow, for deiye-
~ a note, OF which the following is n copy;
WASHINGTON Cry, Dec. %, 1859.
/ SlR-WI YOU please name time aud place outside
the District OF Columbia at which you will receive from
me a communication in writing:
Very respectfully, l.. O'B. BRANCH.
| Hon. GALUSHA \. GROW.
On the copy of this retained is endorsement by
| Mr. Winsow in these words:
The note of which this is a copy was handed to me by
iI Branch Immediately after the cOlloquy between him
/ and Mr. Grow. No opportunity occurred OF delivering
il without attracting undue attention until met Mr. Grow
at the Capitol or Friday. WARREN WlNSLOW.
During Friday evening | received from Mr.. Grow,
through Hon. r. Z. Fenton, of New York, reply, OF
which the following is a copy
WAsHIxGToS CRY, Dec. 80, 1859,
o'clock, p
SIR: Your note Of 22.h instant was placed in my
hands by your friend Gov. Wiuslow at y o'clock, NJ,
to-day know of nothing that makes it necessary for
me 20 name time and place outside the District OF Co.
Umba 70 receive from you communication IN writing.
Your note was doubtless nothing else has occurred
between US based upon remarks made by me IN debate
in the House of Representatives in reply 10 your speech
mpugung my motives and the integrity OF my acts as
/ legislator.
On that occasion used no language in violation of
parliamentary law and not warranted by your re-
marks thus Impuguirg my conduct.
If YOUR note is to be considered Of hostile character
then have tins to reply Regarding ducins as at yari-
ance with the p-eceps Of the Christian religion and the
sentiments of Christian people, and it being prohibited
and declared a crime by the laws enacted 10y the body
of which we are members cannot recognise i, JUS
tfable mode Of settling difficulties among even in
cases Of uuvarraGtcd p-oyocatiou. But my personal
sights and freedom Of debate guaranteed by the COnst-
tuition shall defend whenever they arc assai,ed.
Very respectfully yours,
GALUSHA A. GROW.
/ Hon L. OBJ. BRASCH.
b. those who are acquainted with the penal code of
this District TO which my attention is drawn by Mr. Grow
In his letter il win De readily understood that other
course is left me than TO publish this narrative and leave
the whole matter 20 the impartial Judgment OF honorable
men OF al sections of the country.
L. OBJ. BRANCH.
Z