Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-05
Another Scene in the House Of Reure
sentatiVes.

= y tlse house OF Repre-
On Saturday week, the debate ON AR
Stevens Reconstracti9n bill was ,resnn,od
and in the course.sof the remarks of Sir,
;Ashleyfof Ohio. he said
rs The.assulnpt ptien, the. brazen faced assumn-
ton, q men here who dtriHg the war, were
IN IN secret a rance with these rebels, coming
netssn aEs now and Joining hands with the apostatc
at rae sestier end ofsthe avenue, who is the
ie'lu ustsssne feeognlzed leader, of a counter
reSolntlon, negative rebellion, as / said
an liile aso, passes comprehension.
After Mr.. Ashley sat down. s.
:. 3 Str.s V inileldsl&ho had in the meantime
procured from the reporter copy of the
foregoing remarks of Mr. Ashleyj rose and
askedsselr Assiiey to whom he had intended
to apply 4hose remarks.
u Ashley. 4 Intended to refer to the
great body Of men in. the opposition-to ey-
cry cry ltlet 70 VAS opposed to the war. orposea
TO- the draft. Tho discouraged enIistaents.
who harbored dcserters, who went into secret
organizations in order to organize conspira-
eles in the North against the Government.
Mr.. Winfield. desire to know whether
the gentleman. from Ohio intends to. CHARGE
that there were nen here who were in secret
alliance with the enemy during the rebellion.
MIR. Ashley. [ am unable to say, from any
personal knowledge, whether there are any
such men here. But, from general reputa-
ton, and from the votes of gentlemen who
were IN the, opposition during the war-"not
another man and not EEpther dollar',,-and
from speeches made. by gentleh,eti on that
side OF the House, have no doubt that some
OF them are here and have been here du.
ring the entire war.
Mr.. Winfield. do not propose to be tried
on general reputation. t desire to saw for
myself, and so far as L know. for my associates
on this hoor,' of my own. school of politics.
that the lusinuati9n that we are or ever have
been In alliance with tho rebels is utterly un>
true; and, if intended to apply to US, it is a
base and unfounded slander.
MI Hunter. And say that, so far as 1
am concerned, it is base lie,
The Speaker pro TEN. (Mr. Upson in the
chalr) called the gentleman from New York
to order
The Speaker then resumed the chair, md
- MIR; Hill excepted to the language used by
The Speaker. Those words are out of or.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania. Neverthe-
less true
The Speaker. The gentleman from Penn
syiVanla IS out of order in interposing that
remark
Mr.. Kelley took exec ption to- the remark
OF DIR. Randall, supposihg it,. however, to
have been made by Mr.rIiuntGf.
MIR; Randall, of Pennsylvania made the
remark, and if my colleague wishes to hear
1t again, will repeat it.
ton: -s"O'"
. R3esolred, That, the gentleman from New
Sork, Mr. Hunter, in declaring during de-
bate IN the House, in reference to the asser-
ton OF the gentleFan from Ohio, Mr.. Ashley.
II say that, 80 far as am concerned, it is a
oasc lie, has transgressed the rules of this
BODY, aGd that he be censurcd for the same
by the Speaker.
MIR. Ancona, after some discussion, moved
to lay the resolution on the table. Negatiyed
yeas 81, nays 76.
Mr. LIE Blond said that the gentleman from
Pennsylvania Mr. Stevens ard his colleague
lair. Bingham] had frequently during the
present session, INDUCED in remarks Which it
would Disgrace apy, ,comtndnity TO listen. to-,
MI; Stevens. 2sllPd Mr.. LIE Blond to order,
out of order
Mr.. lie Blond, resumiDg, asked the House
winch was the most ofFcnsive-the language
used by the gentleman from New York TMr,
Hunterl or that used by his colleague, tMr.
Ashley.] The latter was language which no
American citizen, willing to adhere to the
laws and Constitution, would listen to. TAP
plause on the floor and in the galleries
The Speaker lectured the spectators who
had violated the rules by manifestations of
applause.
Mr., Niblack intimatsd, in an uudertope a
that this time the applause was on the Demo
cratic side, and hence the Speakers rebuke
The Speaker overheard the remark, and in
tmated that it was unjust and uncalled for.
Mr.. Niblaek made due apology.
MIR. Hill asked for the reading of the re.
marES -, ''.'iN
They were reproduced by the reporters and
read by the Clerk, and then the House pro-
ceeded TO vote on the resolution Of cepsurc
NlT. Hale asked to be excused from votinp
saying that he coIId not vote s.No" w;tbo1i
seeming to admit that anything would Justify
one member giving another the lio. nor for 4
without seeming to justify the languupe Of the
gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Ashiey.1 Which
he certainly did not do.
de was not excused,
The vote IVES taken and resulted-veas 81
nays 81. '-0 90
:, MI EIunter was then called upon to receive
the censuTe of the House. He came to the
Inrsr line of seats, and was thus addressed
by the Speaker =
Mr. Hunter: No deliberative body can pre-
serve its o5n, self-respect, or command the
respect Of its constituents, that toIerates the
use OF offensive language condemned by gem
yemen everywhere, as well as by parIiamen>
tary law. For having transgressed the rules
OF the II Ouse, 1t has resolved that vou sb,II
be censured by the Speaker. Having thus
declared the censure of the House. YOU viii
resume your seat. s.e
- Mr. Hnntar sa:I II CT