Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-04-21


parts of the House, until some 40 mem.
bers were in the area, conlpacted to-
gether, and all talking rociferouslv,
and gesticulatiDg violently, in the midst
of whom stood Lovejoy, with arm still
extended, his mind doubtless intent
upon the spot where he stopped when
interrupted by patriarch Pryor, and
seemingly waiting for the tumult to
suhside, so that he could complete his
unfinished gesture, and go on with his
outline sketch of the black 'stwin.''
The most conspicuous Of the patri-
archs who rushed to the vindication of
their ebony darling, were, in addition
to Mr.. Pryor, Messrs. Barksdale, Bur
nett, and Crawford. If injustice is
done by classification, the error will
be chcerfully corrected.
Of the Roundheads who went down
the prolnptest to the defense of Mr.
Lovejoy, after Mr. Potter, perhaps Mr..
Kellogg Of Illinois, who made the
Chamber ring with the declaration that
his colleague should be heard, Mr.. Mill
ward of Pa, Mr.. Farnsworth of ILL.,,
MIR. Kenyon and Mr.. Beale of New
York, Mr.. Edgerton and Mir. Tomp-
kins Of Ohio, should be mentioned,
though others doubtless deserve equal
credit for the readiness they displayed
to vindicate freedom of speech on the
floor Of the House at any hazard.
The scene lasted some five minutes
"a long time in row. The Chair
man piled his mallet till he grew weary.
and shouted "Order!' till he grew.
hoarse. In despair, he summoned die
Sergeant-at-A Arms. AS is usual in,suca
exigencles, that functionary coulta y OF
be found. A substitute finallf appear-
ed and approached the brawli,t 9 crowd,
bearing alott the mace. tle. aanblem of
authority and dignity. which in this
instance consists Of q black bludgeon,
some three feet iopg having a small
metallic eagle VILE, spread pinions, and
locking rather chicken hearted, perch
ed on its topA But neither the patri-
archs, with Pryor at their head, who
were shouting at the top Of their vol
ces, that Iovejoy should not abuse the
black gslic: nor the Roundheads, with
Potter as their organ, who were declar
ing in stentorian tones that Loveiov
should express his opinions respecting
The relic, paid the slightest regard to
Washburn's mal!et or the Sergeant's
mace.
Abandoning all hope of bringing Or
der out OF such chaos, Dir. Washburn
left the chair, which was resumed by
the Speaker, to whom Mr.. W. hastily
reported that the Committee was una
bic 10 proceed with It's business On ac
count OF the disordcrly conduct of some
of its members. After some time and
much persuasion, the Speaker succeed
ed ID dispensing the excited throng in
front of his desk, and inducing the bel
ilgerent parties to resume their seats
It is worthy Of note, as showing the |
pluck Of the mar, that the last person
who took his seat was Owen Loveioy. |
Order being now partially restored
the House went into Committee. and
Loyejoy, taking stand in the Clerks
desk where he could eye his foes face
to face, resumed his half finished pic
ture. And never was Slavery painted |
with such danning features before =
lie dashed on the colors till the mon
ster seemed ready to leap living from
the canvas. AS he grew excited, he i
pulled off his crayat, while he hurled /
anathemas upon the Negro Propagan-
dists before him with such vigor that
it caused the perspiration to gush from
his brow and from theirs Raising his
voice till it rang through the Hall and
reverberated along the adjacent passa-
ges, he said: "You cannot silence us.
either by threats OF by violence. You
murdered my brother, on the banks of
the Mississippi, more than twenty years
ago, and [ am here to-day to vindicate
his blood, and speak my mind; AND
YOU SHALL HEAR Me p
But enough! The speech will speak
for itself. The scene could be witness
ed, but cannot be described Though |
the interruption was disorderly and un-
provoked to the last degree, and might
have justified summary punishment,
yet all law abiding citizens will rejoice
that there was no actual collision. It
was the most serious disturbance, prob
ably, that has ever occurred in the
House Of Representatives. 1t demon
strated one thing, at least, viz; that
the Republicans will vindicate their
rights in the House, at all times and at /
all hazards, regardless of personal vio-
lence or threats Of dissolution of the
Union. t
Arrangements for the accommoda- !
ton of the PENNSYLVANIA Delegation to |