The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-19

supposed to be the result of q conspiracy fol
the combined purposes of robbery and
revenge.
The Struggle In the House or Rspresen.
tstives.
The very remarkable scene which took place
In the House during the debate on Tuesday
affords striking illustration of the truth Of
the old Latin proverb, "Whom the gods wish
to destroy, they first make mad" Mr.. Pryor,
of Virginia, who has been guilty Of q terrible
amount Of newspaper infanticide, SO far forgot
all the prophecies which obtain between gen.
lemen, as well as the requirements of parlia-
mentary law, as to accuse one of the opposi-
ton members, Mr.. Hickman, of Pennsylvania,
of telling deliberate falsehood. This state.
ment was thrice repeated, when Mr.. Hickman
stated that he would not be bullied into fight
ing duel, and Pryor disclaimed any idea Of
such result. A more ungentlemanly course
ofconduct than that pursued by Pryor could
hardly be found outside Of the Five Points.
Such arc the facts in the case, and they are
not at all pleasant or agreeable to look upon
Up to this time, the conduct Of the Southern
members upon the floor of the House has been
such as to win the admiration and the respect
RI of the whole country. They have been placed
in most trying position. Representing an
enraged constituency, and presumed to be in
their own proper persons more quick to quar-
rel than the coolblooded politicians from the
North, they have, so far, behaved in the most
admirable manner. They have used all
proper parliamentary weapons against
their opponents, but have never till the debut
of Pryor descended to personalities, or debased
themselves by the use of vulgar and black
guard epithets. Pryor comes from State
which is proud, and not without reason, of its
gentlemen. If the manners of the olden time -
the highbred courtesy of the rufile and powder
erar-exist anywhere, it is in the State Of vir-
ginia. Time was, until Pryor, when "Vir-
gilman" was synonymous with gentleman"
Nor was his vulgarity allowed to pass unrc-
buked by his colleagues, one Of whom (Mr.
Millson) called Pryor to order twice, and vim
dicated, to certain extent, the name and fame
Of the Old Dominion. From the tone of the
debate, it is evident, also, thatSother Southern
gentlemen regretted the occurrence, and be-
lieved that the House had been degraded by
it. The conduct of Mr.. Pryor is, after all, what
might readily have been expected from him.
He has simply transferred his brutality and
violence from the columns of the newspapers
to the floor of Congress. He is mental
shoulder-hitter, pathological pugilist, moral
bully. These traits marked him as an editor,
when he always assailed his political oppo-
nents with the vilest personal abuse, and he
has carried them with him into the House.
The stain which ne anxed upon Journalism
now blots the records of Congress The
characters of the other Southern members
should not be judged by the standard Of
such person as Pryor. II is indicated
more fairly by their manly and courage
Gus bearing, their unvarying respect for
parliamentary usage, and their dignifed
manner of conducting very exciting and i'm
portant debate. While some of the opposition
members from the North have been carrying
an affectation Of piety and morality into their
speeches, and at the same time violating the
sanctity of the House with deadly weapons,
the Southern members have afforded marked
contrast to such conduct, and confined them
selves strictly to Legitimate and courteous de-
bate. For long time the republicans have
raised great cry against the 'ruf6anism of the
South" Who seem to be the rufians just now?
It cannot be denied that the black repub-
lican members of the House have lost ground,
and great deal Of it, since the session COM
menced. The arguments Of the prominent
democrats and the leaders Of the Southern op-
position have told well with the country and
the republicans have been struck dumb by the
trenchant truths which have been brought
home to them, fact which Is apparent by their
silence. The case Of Pryor is an exception to
the general rules Of courtesy and propriety
which have been strictly observed by the
Southern members, and it will be so regarded
by the country at large. We call ON the
Southern members and the national men from
the North and West to preserve their
ranks unbroken, to maintain the dignity
of the House, and to preserve the
honor of the republic. This they may ae-
complish by retaining the high toned and dig
nided position which they assumed at the be-
ginning Of the session. The country regards
the personalities and vulgar abuse of a member
like Pryor as matters of very little conse-
quence, when they are promptly condemned
by his own colleagues. It is to the conserva-
tive, national members Of the House that the
people look for the salvation Of the Union and
the perpetuity Of our institutions. That those
members will be found worthy of this sacred
trust we have no doubt Let them only be firm
in the faith, and sectionalism, treason, aboli-
ton, disunion and their train of kindred evils
will be utterly annihilated, and the dark cloud
which now obscures the Capitol will give place
to brighter skies and happier timeE
ConRuprIoN OF THE CORPoRATroN-THE Eff
rECTs OF AN ADvERTfsEMENr.-The following
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