The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-05-08
Extraordinary Scene in the House of
Representatives.

On Saturday, after the House ie.uri ed
fhou the Senate chambeE OF the conclusion
/ Of Stanbpry s argument, Mr.. Donnelly, of
Minnesota, rose toa personal explanation,
aud seut 10 the clerks desk letter signed
by Elihu B. Washbune, published in the
st. Paul Press, TO which he proceeded 10
reply in speech of over an hours length.
This speech and Washburnes reply were
certainly the most violent ever heard ia Con-
gress, within the memory of any of its pres
ent members. Washburne's letter refers to
complaint made by Donnelly against him for
objecting to the introduction Of some bills,
and in reply to this accusing Dopnelly Of
venality and corruption, he denounces him
as. having runaway from Philadelphia to
escape criminal charges; having changed his
name and turned up as an Office beggar in
Minnesota, and makes other serious aceusa-
tious against him, and it is throughout quite
bitter aud severe in its tone.
Donuelly began by saying that the letter
thds written by a fellow member of this.
House concerning him, and Published in an
influential paper in his district, contained no
less than twenty seven distinct and separate
falsehoods.i TO these he proceeded to reply,
in order. He then turned upon his accuserl
and began an exceedingly bitter and personal
onslaught on him. He said the nature, of
this assault was to break him down in his
district, and so make room for Washburne's
brother, who lived there, and was anx ious to
come to Congress. Every member of that
family considered he had an inalienable
right to go to Congress, or live iu some way
off the Government. Every boy of the fami-
ly when born wasifranked an. c." across its
shoulders. ssBn t.s szsw ysdt frs,,d
Th;a cart;ou1ar Wos shhnrna uaS nop try.
ing to persuade the country that he ran
Giants machine, and while he turned the
crank be wanted to have the rest of the fami-
ly mounted on top to serve as the little mokeys
to haul in the pennies. 1t was true he and
Grant had lived in the same town, but that
was only TO be accounted for on the philo-
sophicsl doctrine of the theory of compenss-
tion.r Galena hsd been afflicted for many
years with so much shame and dishonor in
having Washburne live there that Providence
iu ordsr to compensate it for this Disgrace
was compelled to give it as great man as
GeBersl Grant to restore the balance. sa as
Wasbbulne had covered himself with filth
and slime, but he (Donnelly) had never
put his hand into the man s vomit.s He had
shown the nature of'his bile, had analysed the
contents of his.stomach, shown s periltaltic
action, and exhibited tie whole thing TO
The House.
The above sentences give:but faint idea
of the nature of his speech, which lasted
nearly one hour and parts of which, although
delivered in the presence of good many
ladies in The galleries, we're unfit for pub
licatiaR, 3a tol ita.i = a3
Donnelly spoke with great vehemence, and
elected the closest attention of the House.
He was repeatedly ru ed out of order by the
Speaker, who pronounced his language un-
worthy Of deliberate body, but Mr.. WASH
burne each time rose and requested that the
party from Minnesota be permitted to say
whatever he pleased.
Mr. Wasbburne spoke but avery few mo-
ments in reply. He didn't rise for any per-
sonal explanation, he bad never made ono in
the fourteen years of bis Congressional ca
reer, and he didn't think it very probable
that be ever would. But if he ever should
do So it would not be to take notice what
ever of man whose hands were reekipg with
fraud and corruption whose career was full
| of veniality; a man who as criminal bad
been forced to leave his residence under dis
graceful circumstances; whore word was
worthless; who :, betrayed his friends and
enemies alike; had deserted every bonora-
BILE cause with which he had been connected;
hsd changed his name, abandoned his relig
ion and disowned his God-he had only to
say that the letter which the party from
Minnesota had caused to be read had gone
upon tho records; that it was there to re
main forever that every word contained in
it was true and that the member could nev-
er more escape from the infamy of the
charges it contained.
The House the next day appointed a
com mittee Of SEVEN to investigate the charges
contained in the letter. af
The Disfranchisine Legislature.