National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-05-15

The House Of Representative was
the witness of an outrageOusly dis
graceful scene on Satufday-dis-
graceful alike to the parties engaged |
IN the debate and to the House
which permitted it. We append the |
Geographic report
Mr.. Donnelly of Minnesota OLD.
tanned leave to make a personal eX-
planatiOn. He made a statement |
relative to his presentinga bill some |
time since in Congress to aid the |
railroads in his State, to the intro
duction OF which Mr.. Washburne of
Illinois objected. Subsequently Mr..
Washburne wrote n letter to n con !
stituent of Mr.. Donneliy'S making |
certain charges against Donnelll'S
previous political record and his ac-
ton in this Congress. MIR. Donnel
y, after causing the letter to be
read, said it contained twenty-three
falsehoods, and continued in vindi-
cation of himself. characteriZing Mr..
! WaShburne's course in charging him
with being an Office beggar as in
consistent and coming with a bad
grace from the gentleman of his
family name.
Mr.. Donnelly continued in a strain
of yindictiVe retort to disprove Ger
tain charges in Mr.. Washburne's
letter, his remarks being received
with great good humor by the mem
bers. Some of his remarks were
exceedingly personal and even vul-
gar, and he was twice called to or
der by the Speaker. but was allowed
toproceed by consent of the House.
Mr.. Washburne himself Joining in
urging that he have permission to
continue.
The Speaker with severity in his
tones, stated TO Mr.. Donneily that
his remarks were not honorable to
the House OF Representatives, and
although the House tolerated them,
the chair could not consent they
should not go on the record except
Z with his protest.
Mr.. Donnelly begged the pardon
of the House, but said the House
would acknowledge thai no member
had met with so vile an assault as
he.
I Mr.. Washburne of Illinois said
5 During the entire time of service in
9 this House | have never asked leave
, TO make personal explanation and
LcNer expect to. The party from
> Minnesota has had the letter wrote
= to a gentleman in the State, read to
h the House, and it has gone upon the
! record. Every assert ION made il
that letter is true, and whoever SAYS
7 it is not true states what is false.
J. desire only to say this: If | under
y any operation Of circumstances were
/. were ever called upon to make a
= personal explanation in reply to Il
member, it would not be to a mem
, Der who had changed his name; il
c would not be to a member who's,
G record III the House is covered Will
d venality, corruption and crime.
The Speaker reminded Mr. Wash
u" burne that his remarks were unpar
C liamentary.
/, Mr. Washburne was sorry tina
le the chair supposed him out of order
~ and continued Il repeat, if | wcr
called upon to make personal eX
PLANTATION, should not make it will
q crime and ignominy, and whose rec
ID ord is stained with every fraud
III whiskey and other irauds--with
man who has proved false alike {
his friends, his country, his constit
n. uenss, his politics, his religion an
n. his God.
ID MIR. Window Of Minnesota pay
81 notice that he should offer reSolu
ton of cenSure on Mr. Washburn,
y On Monday Mr.. Donnclly rctrac
- ed two of the most offensive par,
~ graphs of his speech rs printed
the daily Globe, and Mr.. Washburn
Withdrew the words he used in r,
~ ply. Upon this peculiarly Picl
y wckian termination of the seen,
VI Mr.. Donnelly inquired if it woul
y. be in order for himself and the gc,
~ tlcman from Illinois to initiate Stal
vi ton and Thomas in the War ID
partment and take u drink togethc
ST The investigating committee al
ne pointed under WINDOWS resolution
I'd which was adopted, is as follows
in Mcssrs. Banks of Massachusetts
n Thomas of Maryland, Poland
lg Vermont, Griswold of New Yorl
1t Blair Of Michigan, Woodward
Is Pennsylvania, and Beck of Kcl
x lucky.