Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-12-24
Congressional incidents.

The editor Of the Chicago Journal,
writing from Washington, mentions an
amusing scene in the House Of Represen'
tatives when the election of Clerk took
place. After Etheridge, the old Clerk,
had done all he could or dared to do to
prevent the organization of the House, or
throw the control into the hands Of the
Copperhead minority, Mr., Mallory, Of
Kentucky, had The impotence to appeal
TO the magaaaimity of the Union men,
bers to induce them to vote for the said
Etheridge; whereupon the veteran, Thad.
Stevens, of Penasylvania-cold, sarcastic,
and able-rose slowly from his seat and
said: Mr.. Speaker-Such lerity is I'M
becoming this House, "-and Thad, sat
down. 1t was the ablest speech in its
eSSsctS thus far delivered,
The other day the double-dyed Copper
head and rebel sympathizer, Senator Pow
ell. of Kentucky, insolently took the Sen
ate to task because be and the other oppo-
sition Senators were not consulted in the
for,oaton of the committees, and in the
con,,e Of the discussion which ensued, Mr.,
Esfe treated the " Democrats with the
following bit of history. 1t must have
! made their ears Jingle:
MAY be allowed a word, SIR DO
not know what the question IS; but l
| think if there be member here who has
right to speak of the experiences OF be-
ing in a minority of this floor, | am that
man. have been here for many years
and | think it is within a very short pc
Rod that ever /, or anybody with whom
ever acted, was consulted in regard to the
formation of the committees. | remember
on one occasion-I think, sir, you will re
member the same-a list of committee
were reported here, got up do not know
how. and was omitted altogether iron
any committee, and so was my excellen
friend on the left G Mr.. Sumner), and S
was the distinguished gentleman who nov
stands at the head of the Treasury OF tn
United States. We were omitted alto
gether, and on instituting some little IN
curry of the Democratic ohgarchy tina
ruled the Senate as to why it was done
were politely informed that we did not be
long to healthy political organization
and therefore we had been left off the com
mittees entirely. But, sir, finally m,
health got so, politically, that this sam
party did put me at the tail end Of tn
Committee on Private Land Claims, lou
laughter where l served without remon
STRANGE or reproach.
A Washington correspondent of tn
New Hampshire Statesman says Emerson
Etheridee was recently introduced to 5ru
tus j. Clay, of Kentucky, and immedi
ately began to denouGce the government
Mr.. Clay, after hearing his tempest fev
: moments, replied: swell, Mr.. Etheridge
this is pretty rough. Before the war, whe
| was a democrat, used to bear Of 20
down in Tennessee as an abolltionst. 70
, must have lately changed your views.
Z This was somewhat willing to the retlrin
, clerk, who supposed he had got a ma
5 after his own heart. He plucked up cou
E age, hewever, and went into another
f rade Mr. Clay thereupon, with calmne
! mingled with manifest Indignation, rsin
to his full hight, interrupted: swell, 81
!, this is our first meeting. Your languag
SIR, seems to me atroclous, and all ha'
: to say to you is, that when men talk TIN
z down in Kentucky, we regard them as S
. cessionists, and treat them accordingly