The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-20
From Washington.
Mr.. LovEJoY's srEDcn-rIiE pArRIARcHAL MOB
r. ~ IN TIE HOUSE. t

state of the Union, and Mr.. washburn, OF
Maine, was called to the chair. After laying
aside dozen bills, the Committee reached that
upon the tariff, which was taken up for con-
sideration. The floor was assigned to Mr..
Lovcjoy Of Illinois. For three or four days,
honorable gentlemen, and especially those from
the South, had been sketching the lineaments
of polygamy with free pencil. Mr.. Lovejoy,
with an eye to artistic harmony, now proceed
ell to paint the beauties Of that other "twin rel
ic of rbarism'-Slayery. The patriarchs
from below the Potomac who gloat over the
black twin, but detest the white, were eager to
hear what Loyejoy had to say in disparage-
ment of their ebony fayorite.
1t was soon evident, from the high key in
which he pitched his speech, that the eight
weeks OF incessant abuse to which one side OF
the Chamber had been subjected, during the
struggle over the Speakership, had not been
thrown away upon Loyejoy. Apt always to
free his mind, he had what our Methodist
friends call uncommon elderly" to-day
When he commenced speaking, he stood quite
on the Left hand of the Chair. and ut remote
point from the Democracy. Getting warm with
his theme, he advanced step by step, as is his
wont when reused, until he reached the area
in front of the Chair, and continued, rs he ut
tered one sentence after another, to cross grad
ually over toward the Democratic benches, his
right arm, with the fist clcnched, being exten.
ded high in the air-this not being menace,
rs was evident to everybody, but simply one OIL
the usual gestures of the Illinois orator.
In the ardor of his argument, Loyejoy was
approaching the line which divides the Repub-
lican from the Democratic side of the Chamber
lie was uttcring severe philippines against sla-
very as system. lie was endorsing and ex.
planning and enforcing John Wesley's declara-
Al. z. 4. -. m at,,ta =
he was neither attacking, nor abiding to per-
sons, but only to the Constitution" Doubtless
he was using sharp words, and was looking
straight ut the Chiyalry And thereupon ROg-
err A. Pryor rose and walked rapidly down one
of the aisles, and, confronting Loyejoy, and
standing close to him, said in substance that he
would not allow him to utter such language.
At that precise instant Lovejoy's right arm
was lifted on high, and the fist clcnched, being
in the act of enforcing his argument with an
emphatic gesture. In the twinkling ofan eye,
Mr.. John +. Potter, of Wisconsin, confronted
Pryor, and said, in substance to him, "Love-
Joy shall speak For eight weeks We listened
10 your stuff in silence, and now we intend to
say what we please. Loyejoy shall speak ~
Pryor made no remark.
In the briefest possible space Of time, there
was rush to the spot from oil parts Of the
House, until some forty members were in the
ARIA, COupuCtCu tb-CtHCIs uhu uh w
ciferously, and gesticulating violently, in the
midst ofwhom stood Loyejoy, with arm still
extended, his mind doubtless intent upon the
spot where he stopped when interrupted by pa
triarch Pryor, and seemingly waiting for the
tumult to subside, so that he could complete
his unfinished gesture, and go on with his out
line sketch OF the black "twin."
The most conspicuous of the patriarchs who
rushed to the vindication Of the ebony darling,
were, in addition to Mr.. Pryor, Messrs. Banks
dale, Burnett and Crawford. IL injustice Is
done by this classification, the error will be
cheerfully corrected.
OF the Roundhcads who went down the
promptest to the defense of Mr.. Lovejoy, after
Mr.. Potter, perhaps Mr.. Kellogg, of Illinois,
who made the Chamber ring with the dcclara-
ton that his colleague should be heard. MIR.
Millward of Pa, Mr.. Farnsworth Of ILL.,, Mr.
Kenyon and Mr.. Bealc ofN. Y, Mr.. EdgcrtoG
and Mr.. Tompkins of Ohio, should be mention
cd, though others, doubtless, deserve equal
credit for the readiness they displayed to yindi-
cate freedom Of speech on the floor OF the House
at any hazard.
The scene lasted some five mnutes-a long
time in q row. The Chairman piled his NAL
let till he grew weary, and shouted "Order ~
till he grew hoarse. In despair, he summoned
the Sergeant-at-Arms. AS is usual in such cx-
igencics, that flnctionarv could not be found:
A substitute finally appeared and approached
the brawling crowd, bearing aloft the mace,
the emblem of authority and dignity, which in
this instance consists of black bludgeon,
some three feet long, having small metallic
eagle with spread pinions, and looking rather
chickcn-h hearted, perched on its top. But neith-
or the patriarchs, with Pryor ut their head,
who were shouting, at the top OF their VOICES
that Loyejoy should not abuse the black relic,
nor the Roundheads, with Potter rs their or
gan, who were declaring in stcntorian tones
that Lovejoy should express his opinion res.
pecting said relic, paid the slightest regard
to Washburn's mallet, or the Sergcant's mace.
Abandoning all hope of bringing order out
of such chaos, Mr.. Washburn left the chair,
which was resumed by the Speaker, to whom
Mr.. w. hastily reported that the Committee
was unable to proceed with It's business on NC
count of the disorderly conduct OF some OF Its
members. After some time and much persua-
sion, the Speaker succeeded in dispensing the
excited throng in front of his desk, and induced
the belligerent parties to resume their seats.
II is worthy Of note, rs showing the pluck OF
the man, that the last person who took his seat
was Owen Lovejoy.
Order beng now partially restored, the
House went again into Committee, and Love
Joy, taking stand in the Clerks desk, where
he could eye his foes face to flce, resumed the
half-hnishcd picture. And never was Slavery
painted with such damning features before I!
lie dashed on the colors till the monster seem.
cd ready to leap living from the canvass. AS
he grew excited, he pulled off his crayat, while
he hurled anathemas at the Negro Propagan-
dists before him with such yigor that II caused
the pcrspiration TO gush from his brow and
from theirs. Raising his voice till II rang
through. the hall and rcyerberatcd along the
adjacent passages, he said: "You cannot ST.
lence us, either by threats by violence. You
murdered my brother on the banks of the Miss
ssippi, more than twenty years ago, and am
here to-day to vindicate his blood, and speak
nv mind AND You SHALL HEAR NE J"
But enough The speech will speak for it
self The scene could be witnessed, but cannot
be described. Though the interruption was
and unprovoked to the last degree,
and might have justified summary punishment,
yet all law-abiding persons will rejoice that
there was no actual collision. II was the most
serious disturbance. probably, that has ever
occurred in the House Of Representatives. II
one thing, at least, viz: that the
will vindicate their rights in the
House, Mt all times and at all hazards. regard
less Of personal violence, or threats of a disso-
luton of the Union.