Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-05-15
Specimen OF Congressional dignity
and Decency. ~

oPecimen oi congressional Dignity
and Decency. ~ 81
On returning from the Senate, Mr..
Donneny, of Mimi, obtained leave,
to make q personal explanation. He
then made statement relative to his
presenting bill some time since to
aid railroad in his State, to the con-
struction of which Mr. Washburue
objected. subsequently Mr.. WASH
burne wrote q letter to the constitu-
ents Of Mr.. Donnelly, making GER
tain charges regarding Donnelly's
previous political record and action In
this Congress.
MIR. DONNELLY, after causing
the letter to be read, said 1t contained
twenty-three falsehoOds, and contin-
ucd intimidation of himself, charac-
terizing Washburne's course in charg-
ing him with boing an Office beggar
as inconsistent and coming with
bad grace from a gentleman of his
family name. The Washburnes are
chronic Office beggars, and are as mis-
cradle and uncomfortable out of office
as stump-tailcd bull in fly time
Every male born into the Washburne
family, IL born with M. G. ranked
on his broadcast part. c
After further comments Mr.. Dom
nelly said he had analysed the stom-
aeh of the gentleman from Illinois,
and Ii 1t is possible for him by his per-
istalic action to bring up anything
more loathsome and disgusting than
he has vOmited over me in that letter,
In Gods name let it come. &C.,. !
The Speaker called Mr.. Donnelly
to order twice. uu Att a
Mr.. Donnelly occupied his hour in
a similar strain, and was allowed to
proceed by consent of the House, Mr..
Washburne joining in urging that he
have permission to proceed.
Mr.. DONNELLY continued i'm q
strain of indicative retort to disap-
prove the charges made i'm the letter,
his remarks being received with great
good humor by the members. -.
Mr.. DONNELLY concluded by
saying that Mr.. Washburne had low
cred the honor of Congress. If, said
he, there be in our midst one low, sOr-
did, vulgar soul, one barren of intelli-
gence, one heart calious to every
kindly sentiment and to every gener-
Gus emotion, one tongue leprous with
Islander, one mouth like unto den of
foul beasts, giving forth deadly
orders, II there be here one character
while blotched and spotted yet raves
and rants and blackguards like a
prostitute, if there be here one bold,
bad, empty, believing demagogue, it
is the gentleman from Illinois.
The SPEAKER, with severity in
his tones, stated to Mr.. Donnelly that
his remarks were not honorable to the
House of Representatives, and that,
although the House had tolerated
them, the Chair could not consent
that they should go on the record eX-
cept with his protest, d.. ~ s,l
Mr.. DONNELLY begged pardon
of the House, but the House would
acknowledge that no member had met
with so vile an assault as he. f..
Mr.. WASHBURNE, of Illinois,
said, during my entire time Of service
in this House, ! have never asked
leave to make a personal explana-
ton, and never expect to. The par
ty from Minnesota has had the letter
which / wrote to a gentleman in that
State read to the House, and it has
gone on the record. Every assertion
made in that letter is true, and who
ever says it is not true, states what Is
false. III were called on, and / de-
sire to say this, if /, under any opera
ton of circumstance, were called on
to make a personal explanation in re-
ply to q member, it would not be to O
member who had committed crime.
1t would not be to n member who ran
away. 1t would not be to member
who had changed his name. II
would not be to a member whose
whole record in the House is covered
with corruption and crime.
The SPEAKER reminded Mr.
Washburnel that his remarks were
supplementary. Lsf.
Mr.. WASHBURNE was sorry the
Chair supposed him out of order. 81
repeat, if | were called upon to make
q personal explanation / should make
it with q member not covered with
crime and infamy, whose record Il
stained with every fraud, whisky anC
other frauds; not with a man who ha:
proved false alike to his friends, mi;
country, his constituents, his politics
his religion, and his God" ...uiY,
Mr.. WINDOW gave notice that III
should offer resolution of censure OF
Mr.. Washburne. ..-.'t. 80
Adjourned. a.. I....U. .r.