The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-14
The Reign Of Terror ut Washi.gten.

The Reign Of Terror ut Washington.
It would appear, from the recent scenes in
Congress, and especially the debate and It's
coDconitaDts in the House, on Thursday, that
the Reign Of Terror has absolutely commenced
at the national capital.
The proceedings Of the House opened acri-
moniously. The republican candidate for
Speaker, Mr.. Sherman, took up very sharply
Mr.. Houston, of Alabama, and endeavored ap-
parently to fix personal quarrel upon him.
MIR. Houston, however, disclaimed any per-
sonai motive in bis resolution, which alluded
to Mr.. Sherman simply as one of the endorsers
Of the infamous Helper book. Succeeding this
trouble came a personal issue between Mr.
Horace f. Clark, of this city, and Mr.. John B.
Haskin, of Westchester, wherein the latter was
snubbed by the former. Mr. Haskin took the
floor 10 reply; many members rushed to the
part Of the Hall where he was stand
ing; disorder reigned supreme; the Clerk
and other officers of the House in vain endea-
vored to restrain the mob, and there were
strong indications of a general row, when pis
| tol dropped from the breast of the honorable
member for Westchester, and fell upon the
| floor of the House. The appearance of the
carnal weapon shocked the House into COM
parative decency. Apologies were profusely
! rendered on all sides, and, as we are told, the
blouse adjourned in good order
The scene reminds one very forcibly Of some
| of those which occurred during the French
| Reign of Terror; and it affords a striking in
stance of the rapid steps with which our coun-
try is proceeding to anarchy and civil war. 1t
must be terrible state of things when man
| of peace, like Mr.. Haskin, dares not
| go from the Capitol to his house, or
| rice uersa, without a revolver in his pocket.
Mr. Haskin represents a pacific district.
The county of Westcbester is after the man.
ner of the pastoral paradise sighed for by the
| classic poet Its vernal fields and pleasant
Wales are dotted with the villas Of metropolitan
| merchants and the farmhouses OF well-to-do
agriculturists. Here, Mars, Bellona and the
Furies have no place. Here, Pomona, Ceres
and Flora reign supreme. Here flourish the
household virtues. Here the lores and penates
receive due homage. Here temperance, indus
try, religion and frugality thrive and grow
apace. Mr.. Haskin was well fitted to repre-
sent this Arcadian district He was member
of the Presbyterian church, in good standing
| and full communion each succeeding Sabbath
found him at his post as class-leader
| During the religious revivals, two years
ago, the honorable member was faith
| full and able co-worker in the faith, and
| without doubt, brought many sinners to a
realizing sense of their lost condition. He was
connected, too, with the leading philanthropic
movements of the day, was punctual in attend
ance upon the anniversary meetings, and
worked bravely for the cause of temperance.
A Christian, patriot, philanthropist and a
philosopher, the selection Of Mr.. Haskin as the
representative of Westchester seemed to the
good people of that rural district in the light of
one eminently fit to be made
But mark how evil communications with the
black republicans have corrupted Mr.. Haskin' 8
former good manners. He goes down to the
House with pistol in one pocket Of his coat,
and it is so easy to be drawn that it falls upon
the floor. Perhaps he may have had Bible
in the other pocket, in order to carry
| out to the fullest extent the doctrine of
the Beechers and Cheevers, who advocate the
preaching of the Gospel and the sending of the
Sharp's rife to every creature. Easy, saith the
Latin poet, is the descent into hell, and for no
one is the DETECTION so facile as for the saints.
| Here is the honorable member for Westchester
quite ready to be received at the right hand to
enter into communion with Peter and Paul,
l al y1a Of fho do fant
when, in single moment, he throws aside all
his sauctity and assumes the weapons of a
Texan border ruffan or Five Points politi-
clan. Probably he is not alone. Revolvers
are evidently plenty upon the republican
benches. No wonder that member from
Maryland said that the next time he came to
the House he would bring his shot gun and as
things are progressing we might reasonably
expect to see the fire eating members sporting
their private howitzers, and enforcing their
opinions upon the opposition at the cannon's
mouth.
The excuse made by Mr.. Haskin for carrying
his pistol does not mend matters IF be true
that Congress cannot protect the lives of its
own members while in its own territory-if it
be true that the government has so far fallen
into contempt that it cannot regulate the ten
miles square which has been assigned for the
capital-if it be true that the ofiscourings Of
the prisons and gambling bells all over the
country have congregated at Washington to
rob and plumber members and others, without
molestation by the authorities hath the
Reign of Terror commenced in good earnest.
If Congress is powerless to regulate the Dis.
trict, how shall its authority be regarded in the
States and Territories? Of what avail is a
government which cannot protect its own Of
fcers?
| It would SEEM then, that the Christian philo-