Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-04-17
An awful, Scene in the .. s. Senate.

an 'AWfnp' Scene In the u .. oenate.
Yesterday, in the Senate, on motion OF Mr..
Howard, the bill to resciud the order OF the
President designating the Sioux City and
Pacif, Railroad Company to construct the
branch of the Union Pacific Railroad from
Sioux City, was taken up.
In the course of the debate Mr.. CONFESS
was charged by Mr.. McDougall with having
personal interest in the matter under discus
sion, and that he was discussing it with a view
| to his own interests and not with regard to the
public good.
Mr. CONFESS replied with considerable warmth
that Mr. McDougall was not in condition to
know what he was saying. lie was constantly
in such,a stute that he was a disgrace TO this
body.
Mr.. McDougall- President, rise to
pronounce the assertion OF the Senator false
hood. [ call him to order.
Mr.. CONFESS. President, | ask to be
protected in debate
The President pro tem.-Ihe Chair will en-
deavor at all times to protect Senators IN debate
Mr.. McDougal- President, l wish to
The President-The Chair will hear the
point of order.
Mr.. McDougall- President, my col
league has made statement personal to my
self, false in point Of fact, and submit that
having made an assertion which is untrue it
is strictly parliamentary for me to pronounce
that assertion what it really is, falsehood,
and to call the Senator to order.
Mr. Sumner-Mr President, | submit that
the Senator cannot be allowed to proceed lie
is entering into an argument.
Mr.. McDougall.-la am stating my point OF
order ;.
The Chair was unable to see that the Senator
had made any point of order.
Mr. McDougall-I repeat that my colleague
has uttered falsehood, that the term which !
apply to his remarks is parliamentary, both
according to the practice and precedent Of the
British Parliament and of the Senate for fifty
years, and that I have right to use it.
Mr.. CONFESS said the Senator did not repre-
sent the great State OF California either politi-
cay OF morally. lie was enfranchised by that
State some five years ago. and in that time had
not once visited his constituents. Mr.. Presl
dent, | have sat here in my seat aud submit
ted to his assumptions and representations and
have borne them. | have occupied my scat
when that Senator instead OF representing the
high, toned, moral and courageous constituent
cy of my State, las sat or rather lay III his
chair, an object of pity to an audience assem-
bled from every State in the Union. | have
| more than once covered my eyes with shame at
such an exhibition.
[ do not wish my associates on this floor to
imagine that | am dead to considerations ct
this character. No, sir but silently and quiet
ly, and even with pity toward him, | was await
ing the time when that Senator, by the expira-
ton Of his official term, should cease to mis-
represent mis- State, should cease to humillate
| and disgrace not only the State which gave
| him honor, but the American character and
the American Senate. | have looked on in
silence heretofore but, sir, this morning when
that wanton, unprovoked and most disorderly
assault was made upon me, / could bear it no
longer The Senator rises here and uses the
term falsehood against me. Mr.. President,
the Senator dare not repeat that word outside
Of this chamber.
Mr.. McDougall. LIN an excited manner and
striking his desk with his fist. I'll do it.
Mr. Conness.-I cannot trust myself to reply
Mr.. President, as my senatorial character Is III
issue here. cannot reply to conduct so de-
spicable; l dare not notice it, sir. have DO
comparison to make with him as to my charac
ter for truth, yeracity and honor, i'll my
representative capacity. l shrink as much
from the contrast as from all the pollution
which hell could vomit forth. With a due
regard, sir to charity and kindness and to- the
senatorial relation, | should at any time have
been ready to cast them aside, and yielding to
the high and imperious duty Of indicating
the dignity of this great American forum, have
voted for the expulsion Of the Senator on &C
count of his offenses, time and again, against
the dignity Of this body.
1t was not meet, however, Tor me to lead IN
such work. Not approaching this conces-
sion in his behalf, he has continually repeated
his outrages against the dignity Of this Senate,
Eorbearance has ceased to be virtue, and the
Senate is now wronging both itself and the
country by longer tolerating such conduct
That Senator has been left off of all committees
because of his inability to decide upon leglsla-
tive questions, but this silent reproof, SO tar
from inducing reformation, has if possible
sunk and degraded him still more, until he has
now no character to lose.
Mr. johnson would suggest to the Senator,
whether it would not be better to cease dis
cussion of this character.
Mr. CONFESS said he had no more to say
He regretted this scene as much as any one,
but was not to blame for it.
Mr. McDougall said he should endeavor to
be more respectful in his language than his
colleague, whom be should not,call the sober,
| but the superb Senator from CaltOrnla. Inere
was story told of man named Pettigrew
who lived in South Carolina, who had a diff
Guilty with an other man who called him q
God-damned liar. Pettigrew did not reply to
this, whereupon the man called him a God
damned scoundrel Pettgrew still did not
take notice. and the man then called him a
God damned son of bitch.
The President pro tenn. said he was Of the
opinion that stories containing such language
were not of character to be repeated in the
Senate.
Mr.. McDougall said he would not continue
the story if it was not agreeable He then
proceeded to give an account Of his election
as senator from California, stating that he
had not sought the position, but was solicited
to become candidate by man who afterwards