The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-06-05
THE PARhIAMENTARy FASHION.

Some people may ike the way IN which
members of Congress are in the habit Of
abusing each other on the floor Of the House,
and the very plain English with which they
interlsrd their personal remarks. And it is
evidently popular in some portions Of the
country for a member to waylsy another and
try TO cane or shoot him, after the occurrence
OF sueh sparring match at blackguardism.
The chivalry, who claim TO have inherited
English gentry Of the sixteenth century, are
doubtless responsible for this style of pro
ceeding in Congress. But recent report
of scene in the English Parliament ind-
Gates that very different course prevails
there, and one, we opine, that has much bet
ter tendency to preserve the dignity of legis-
lative body and the temper and decorum of
its members.
An instance occurred recently, which fur
nishes an almost ludicrous Illustration Of the
devotion of the members of Parliament to
the requirements of parliamentary etiquette,
and the digni6ed composure with which
breaches of privilege are treated by that au-
gust body, A Mr.. Layard had, during the
canvass before his constituents, spoken ofthe
renegades from his party as traitors and snoth
ermember, Mr.. Layard subsequently meeting
him in the lobby Of the House, a slight alter
cation in words Of plain English took place,
during which Mr.. Lewis pronounced the
aforesaid statement "a lie Whereupon the
! Il
and Mr.. Lewis begged to present personal
matter to the Speaker of the House, in open
session, for the credit of the House, aud
asked him what course to pursue in the
premises. Mr.. Layard denied that he had
used the language attributed to him in the
lobby, and had only spoken Of the seceders
as traitors, in a Pickwickian, not in an often.
sive personal sense, by any means. Mr.
Lewis then withdrew his charge, and the
Speaker in the chair congratulated. the House
that, notwithstanding what had occurred the
two members, he was happy to announce
regarded each other with feelings Of recipro
cal respect. And thus with a quiet smile
and precepGble, but sly wink, here anc
without the slightest intimation of pistols and
coffee, blunderbusses or bludgeons.
The English papers are facetious, or seri
Gus over the matter, as the humor strikes
them.
The London Examiner gives the scene il
the House as follows:
please, Sir, was going through the lobb,
and never done nothing to him, and he's been
calling me names"
"No, Sir, it was he, Sir, as called me Trsito
somewheres, and l wouldn't minded that il h,
hadn't asked me whether wasn't afraid O. See
ondary Symptoms. Which it being Latin arc
Greek up and gave him bit o Saxon English
Which said be was a Lie"
II didn't call him traitor. Lots here know
! didn't. / did it in fun. He's lab0ring under
extraordinary hallucnaton, that's what he is.
80 if its in six sylables l wish had known it
OF course then Iunsay my Saxon.
"Please, Sir he ought to unsay what be said I
said"
Il can't. lie did say what a. /, at, t, r, i, tri
attri--b, Il, bu, attribu-t, e, d, ted, attri'-
Leader ofthe Commons: at is past two in thu
morning and these boys are sleepy. They regar,
each ether with reciprocal respect. We are al
susceptible Of SEASONAL ebuilitons."
Speaker Every good. But will say gentle
men should leave their Saxon English out o
Aontsf ohu Put ~ AAAV tlhoics WITHIN thl
auditorium"
The Pail Mall Gazette treats the matte
more seriously, in allusion 10 other matters
"The world outside is now given to understan,
that traitor and seoundrer were the exact cpl
thets applied by one honorable member to another
and further learns that "a gallant general, to WHOM
the noble lord, the victim in the latter case, ap
pealed, advised his friend 10 do something yer
like gougng the offenders other eye out Thi
delicate advice has not yet been followed, we be
leye; but does not seem impossible consum
nation after what we heard in the House Of Com
mons last night When such language passes be
tween gentlemen sseems to have passed betwec
Mr. Layard and Mr. Harvey Lewis, the line be
tween personal abuse and personal violence mus
be very fine indeed. Nor is it quite certai
whether there would be more improperly 10 set
Ting such difficulties as Mr.. Layard and VI
Lewis fell into by downright blows in the obb,
than in making them matter for repetition an
discussion in the legislative chamber itself"