The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-05-08

a pIsGRAcEFUL DEBATE.

al explanation, and made a statement
relative to his presenting a bill some
time since in Congress to aid 4 railroad
in his State, to the introduction Of which
Mr.. Washburn Of III. had objected
Subsequently Mr. Washburne wrote q
letter TO constituent of Mr.. Donnelly,
making certain charges regarding Don
nelly's previous political record and his
action IN this Congress.
M. Donnelly, after causing the letter
to beTead, said it contained twenty-thTce
falseh0ods, and continued in Yindication
Of himself Referring to the charge
made against him in Mr.. Washbume's
letter, 81 his being an 'Offieial beggar,N
Mr. Donneliy said "An official beggar'
and that from a gentleman bearing the
name which he does? Et tn Brute
AN official beggarp Why, MIR Speak
err. VIXEN I entered the state of Mime
sofa it was Democratic; when / entered
the county in which / live it was two to
one Democratic. | asked no 0iiice-l
expected none. But the charge comes
from such quarter that / cannot fail to
notice it. The gentleman's family are
chronic Office beggars. They are moth
ing ii they are not in Office Out of Of
flee they are miserable, wretched, God
forsaken-as uncomfortable rs that fa
nous stump-tailed bull in fly time.
I.aughter.l This whole trouble arises
from the persistent determination Of
one Of the gentleman's family to sit in
this body. Every young male OF the
gentleman family is born with Nc
frauSed on his broadcast part. laugh.
ter) The great calamity seems 70 be
that God in His infinite wisdom did not
make amy part Of them proud enough TO
make room for u. :. - but the other
S. slipped over, and u. :. & Co.. is the
firm. (Laughter)
The speaker interrupted MIR. Donnel-
Is and reminded him that his language
was beyond the usual limit Of parlia-
mentary pfopricty.
A.r Washburne again expressed his
desire that the party" should be per-
mitted 10 20 on.
Mr. D0nnelly said be was -orFy 90
,ransgrcss the proper limits OF debate,
but the House would perceive that the
character OF the letter Oh which he was
commenting made him speak under
some feeling I was drawn into IT, he
said by the charges made against my
personal character, by the vile insinua-
ton contained in that letter that ! was
a fugitive from justice, and that He'd
from the city of Philadelphia under sus-
UiciOus circumstances between two days.
This Sir Speaker, is an unmi igated
falsehoOd, and but for the respect / have
f0r Won and for this House 1 would use
S tronucr language. Mr. DOnnclly then
went on 60 refute that charge, and had
read bv tie clerk letter from the at
t0rney general of Pennsylvania, with
whom Mr. Donnclly had studied law
speaking n strong terms OF the pr0hitE
and purity of his (Mr Dom elly's char
actor and the public esteem in which
hc is held i'm that community Mr..
Donnelly then went on 20 say - stand
here repeating the challenge that if any
where or God s earth, down in the mlre
of filth and ali nastiness, the gentleman
can pick up anything which touches
my honor, let il come, | shalt meet 1t
on its merits. have gone through the
entire catalogue. ! have analysed the en-
tire contents of the gentleman's foul
stomach, | have dipped my hands I'm it,
gall, and have examined the half digest
cd fragments which find floating in
The gastric juice. hut if it IS possible for
the gentleman from Illinois, by his per-
istalic action, to bringup anything more
loathsomc, more disgusting than he has
vomited over me in that letter, i'm Gods
name let il come
Mr. D0nnelly occupied his hour I'm
similar strain, and was allowed 10 pro-
coed by consent ofthe House, Mr.. Wash
burne joined in urging thathe have per
mission TO proceed. Mr.. Donnelly pro
cecded in a strain of vindictive retOrt
to dispose Of certain charges made in
letter, his remarks being
received with great good humor by the
membegs. Finally, he concluded as fol-
lows: Mr.. Speaker, J need enter into
10 defense Of The forteth Congress. In
roini Of intellect. of devotion to Che pub
ficwelfare, ofintegrity, Of personal char
a5ter, il Will compare faVOrably with
onSt Gotzrv-- that ever sat 9iuCc the
OF the government. IL y IL I
Illustrated by names that would Go hon
or to any nati0nin any age of the world
Ii there be in ourmidst one low, sordid, .
vulgar s0ul-one barren Of mediocre in /
heart callous to every
kindly sentiment and toevery generous +
emotion-onc tongue leprous with slam
Csar-one mouth which is likaUnt a den
% foul beasts. giving forth deadly odors +
If there has been one character which, (
while blotehed and spotted, yet raves T
and rants, and blackguards like pros
there be here one bold, bad, /
empty, believing demagoguc, it is the {
gentleman from Illinois"
The Speaker several times called MIR. I.
to order, saying that his re-
marks were not honorable to the House
Of Representatives, and that, although (
the House tolerated them, the chair
could not consider that they should go
on the record, except with his protest
Mr.. Donnelly begged the pardon of
:. l,o ~. 7
.lnowlcdge that no member had met
with so vile an assault as he.
Mr.. Washburne said, During the en-
ire time | have served in this House |
have never asked leave to make q per-
;0nal explanation and never expect to.
The party from Minnesota has had a let
Ter which | wrote to a gentleman in that
state read to the House, and it has gone
lpon the record. Every assertion made
N that letter IS true, and whoever says
{ is not true states that what is false
If were called upon, and | desire only
70 say this, if |, under any operation Of
circumstances were ever called upon to
make a personal explanation in reply to
member, it would not be to q member
who had committed q crime. 1t would
lot be to q member who had run away.
It would not be to q member who had
hanged his name. 1t would not be to
member whose whole record in this
House is covered with yenality, cowup-
ion and crime
The Speaker reminded Mr.. Wash
)urne that his remarks were unparlia-
nentary.
Mr. Washburne was sorry that the
hair supposed him out of order. II re-
,eat, If / We're called upon to make a
PERSONAL explanation, | should make it
o member who is not covered over
With crime and infamy, whose record is
tanned with every fraud, whiszey and /
,ther frauds, with man who has prov
d false alike to his friends, to his coun-
ry, his constituents, his religion and
lis Cod
Mr.. Window of Mimi. gave notice
hat he should offer resolution of cen
ure on Mr.. Washburne for his letter,
which provoked Donnelly's remarks,
nd the House adjourned.
PoLITICAL.-A Washington special
avs it is understood that Senator Grimes
grees with the democrats ON impeach-
nent, and will vote not guilty. twas (
tated in Democratic and Republican
ircles Monday night, that he would
ote for acquittal. lie is also said to
ave expressed the opinion that the