The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-20
. sharp Debate I'm Congress-A Radi'
- cal Cornercd.

cal Cornercti.
:, the House Of Representatives on
Thursday night
" ELDRIDGE addressed the House in
n,>;tion 10 the new reconstruction bill.
W. M1arr3s would fail him, he said, to denounce
:. 9th the feelings and emotion with
.,;ch Il inspired him. He had listened in
WIN for some gentleman advocating the
.,oasnre to show by what warrant or au-
.Sor;,v. under the Constitution, the right to
,.,s his bill was claimed. He had ex-
as,orted the able gentleman from Ohio fMr.
RyGuAN), the last champion of the mea-
.nres of the so-called Reconstruction Com
,,ittee, TO show some further foundation
N which he could test this measure; but
when he applied to him to state that au-
tbori;v he had only answered by referring
"a that oht-repeated and much-abused
c,arsc which authorizes the United States
"a guarantee to the several States repub-
Trap form of government. He would re-
neat the question, and let the gentleman
answer it now. What preexisting govern
rnont did he propose to guarantee by this
billH
Mr.. BINGHAM: I intend that form Of
government to be guaranteed which is con-
t,nlplatcd by the words ga republican
form Of government; and inasmuch as
the majority in every one Of the ten States
lately in insurrection battered down by
.TeaSon--
Mr.. ELDRIDGE Gmpatiently cutting off
the Scntence): Oh, don't give us any OF
yonr rhetoric now laughter give US your
answer.
MIR. BINGHAM: Never mind. IF you
want an answer you will have it.
Mr.. ELDRlDGE: I do not want any OF
Your rhetoric. do not know how to deal
with it. [Laughter.I
Mr.. BINGHAM: That is a fact, sir
You may call it rhetoric, but it is fact
Mr.. ELDRlDGE: Well, then, let us
have it.
Mr.. BINGHAM attempting to finish
the interrupted sentence): They battered
down their Government by treason.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE without allowing the
sentence to be closed) Well, Mr.. Speaker
l must resume the floor. The gentleman
will not answer my question.
Mr.. BINGHAM am going to answerit
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: cannot wait for the
answer. But the gentleman shall no!
escape me. If he answers the question be
shall have the opportunity, but / don't
want rhetoric. We have had enough o.
that.
Mr.. BINGHAM somewhat rufiled)
But is not that fact2
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: 1t is fact that the
gentleman deals with nothing else than
rhetoric. [Laughter.l
Mr. BINGHAM IA little ruflled): Is it
fact, sir, that treason battered down the
Government of South Carolina?
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: Well, supposing it is
Mr.. BIN CHAM: Having thus battered
down
Mr.. ELDRIDGE (nearly out of pa
tience): Well, none Of your rhetoric, sir ;
answer my question.
Mr. BINGHAM: I do answer it, sir,
and answer it in the words of Mr.. Madi.
son, the maker Of your Constitution.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE with patience entirely
exhausted): | resume the floor. Laughter
The gentleman cannot answer my ques-
ton; he dare pot answer it.
Mr.. BINGHAM: dare do it, sir, you
let me. [Laughter.]
Mr.. ELDRlDGE: will give the gentle
man an opportunity to answer 1t now III
one minute.
Mr.. BINGHAM: One minute is rather
short.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: 1t is rather short, but
! want TO get rid Of the rhetoric. Laugh
teri
Mr.. BINGHAM: Shakespeare gave a
fellow forty minutes TO girdle the earth.
Laughter.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: Yes, but T don't want
you to 60 all round the world in giving an
answer. Laughter.l
Mr.. BINGHAM: The man who was
called The father of the Constitution
James MadisoD) has answered the gentle
mans question. He knew as much as
both of us, and be declared, touching that
clause Of the Constitution, that when a
majority of State batter down its govern
ment by treason~it is the right and the
duty of the Federal Government to enable
the minority to rebuild it. That is my an
Swcr. Applause in the galleries, which
was promptly checked by the Speaker
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: That is not fact
Madison never uttered such sentiment
Mr.. BINGHAM: Ibeg leave to say that
he did, and | will prove it tomorrow.
Mr.. ELDRlDGE (sneeringly): To-mor.
row.
Mr.. BINGHAM firing up) Yes, sir
tomorrow and l challenge the gentle
man
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: O, I care nothing
about the gentleman's challenge; but will
he answer me
Mr.. BINGHAM: know all that the
gentleman knows on that question, and
what l know myself besides. General
laughter.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE: The gentleman never
lost an occasion to put before Congress
and the country what he knew; and a
great many things, l think, that he does
not know. Laughter.
This was the last hostile SHOT, and the COM
batants hauled off, Mr.. ELDRIDGE contnu-
Ing his argument more directly against the
bill, and Mr.. BINGHAM changing his posi-
ton to another part Of the hall.
The Southern Observation-Disclosures
uess TO the Government.