Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-12

a scene, in the House Of representatives:

personal explanations, and salu nc ueSheu W
refer to some matters that had been spoken OF
by the gentleman from Kentucky. He MIR.
Rousseau came here as the defender OF the
President, but if he Mr.. Grinncll were Presi-
dent, he would say, God save NC from such
an unmanly, abandoned, insolent, incoherent,
and brainless defender! who is equal in virtue
in civil life as he was in military. Who ever
heard of the gent!eman's exploits? In what
volume of the history Of the war are they writ
ten? When was be great? Was it il the
reputation he gained in kentucky of scndtasGe:
negroes across the Ohio after they had swan
the river for freedom? When was he great in
battle? Was it when he was $50 miles away
from the field? Ask General Grant, and he
will give an opinion Of that gentleman. The
gentleman also speaks of having had command
of Iowa troops, and goes on to defend then'.
The Iowa troops need no such defender
His words in that behalf we're simply aprctence
and mockery. A leading Iowa general had told
him Mr.. Grinnell that when ever there was an
excitment in camp, it was said it was caused
by rabbit, or general whose name common
COS with an Il. In speech in New York, the
gentleman from kentucky had spoken OF him
Mr.. Grinnell as political demagoguc whose
name he believed was Grinnell. ~ Well, bis
name was Grinnell, and he was known by it
everywhere. He Mr.. Rousseau had also
spoken of a member of the House as 4 mlscre-
ant. tsr sh..I
Mr. Rousscau had by this time moved around
to Mr.. Grinnc!fs vicinity, and the latter re-
marked, There he stands, a x-loot bultoned
up officer, calling himself general officer and
gentleman. '.>
Mr Banks asked if when gentleman rose
to personal explanation it gave him the
right to violate the rules OF tic House and IN
dulgc in personalities.
The Speaker said he could not check mem
Der unless some one made point against
him.
Mr. Banks said he made the point that the
gentleman from Iowa was out OF order
The Speaker sustained the point, and said
the gentleman must proceed ID order.
Mr. Grinnell said if the gentleman would say
he had not called Il member Of the House Il
miscreant, he would have nothing moro to say.
deus Stevens 1niScrcant, but he had SAID a
tending parties and keep them apart was u mis-
creant. -. ..
Mr.. Cirinnc snecrng'y suggested that 4 Tel
low who had had quarrel with L co!orcd bar
Der could get out OF it in that way.
Mr. Rousseau said if the Speaker would not
protect him from insult he would protect him
self.
The Speaker again intimatcd 10 Mr. Grin,
nell that he was not proceeding in order
Mr. Griuncl said he had not"qucstioued the
integrity or doubted the veracity OF Il member
of this House, but when his veracity was
impugned he was rot willing to rest under
the ilnputatioo. He concluded by disavow-
al of any unkind feeling toward his friend
Ilaughtcr) from Kentucky or his State.
Mr. Rousseau made calm explanation. lie
said that the aliusion referred to by the gentle
men from Iowa as having been made to HIM
self Mr.. Grinnell WAS cccasioncd in this wise.
He Mr.. Rousseau had on a former occasion
made a speech, in which he referred to the out
rageouls acts committed upon Il family in Ken
lucky by an officer of the Freedmen 5 Bureau.
and had SAID if these men acting without au-
thority of law, and claiming to act as shcr,tts
and jailors, had treated his family shameiully,
he would defend his family. These words had
been distorted by the gentleman from Iowa,
who said that he Mr. Rousseau had said he
wonld shoot an officer Of the Frecdman's Bu-
reau if in the discharge Of his duty. There
was no reason for this assault upon him, Mr..
Rousseau There was no gentleman upon the
floor to-day, except, perhaps, a member from
Iowa, who would not stand by his family.
The gentleman from Iowa bad also said that
he did now know Oh which side he Mr.. Il. !
had fought for four years-whethcr on the
rebel or Federal side; and he Mr.. R. would
say here to day that the gentleman did know 1t
when he made that remark.
Mr.. Cfmnnel. | never said that.
Mr.. Rousseau said that he understood the
gentleman to say he could not be iuslltcd, and
with such Il man he could have no quarrel.
Mr.. Rousseau, in continuation SAID, the allu-
sion made by the gentleman to the remark that
had passed into the annals OF the Army OF the
Cumberland 1T is either Il rabbit or Rous-
seau,' was to his honor rather than to his dis.
credit At the time when the remark was first
made the soldiers were not so much in the hab-
it, rs afterwards, Of maDifestmg great cnthusi
asm when this commanding general rode along
the line. lie had been absent from his COM
mand, and on his return he was enthusiastically
cheered by his troops, and was at that time al
most the only one to whom such demonstra-
tons were accorded 1t was also the custom
in that army, when a rabbit left its cover, for
the soldiers to chase it to the death, and at the
same time to shout and hollow, and make all
possible noises. On one occasion, when Gen.
eral Rosccrans was at dinner with some officers,
one of these exctements occurred and an officer
remarked, 1t is either rabbit or Rousseau, :"
and thus the words passed into general use i'll
the army.
Mr.. Rousseau concluded by saying that if
the history of fifty regiments of the Northwest
we're correctly written, his name would figure
honcrably among them all. The 9TH Iowa cav
airy, ono Of the bravest of reg ments, was among
that number, and he would give his right arm
if aught could be said against his justice or his
courage If he was six feet high, as was sheer
ingly said, God had made him so and he also
felt thankful to the Almighty that whatever of
courage had been given him he had used on
the side of his country.
The House then, at clock, adjourned.
Nr1y, n 49, 4