The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-03-17
WASHINGTON.
RADICAL DEsPoTIsM. .
AN ExC1TIHG SCENE
OPENING OF THE FORTY FIRST
CONGRESS.

the Clerk sustained.
/ Mr.. Woodward submitted a resoiu-
ton to amend the roll of members by
adding the name of Henry ID. Foster
as Representative from the twenty
first district of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Washburne, of III, rose to q
motion which he said would take
precedence of the motion submitted
by Mr.. Woodward, and that was that
the House do now proceed to the
election of Speaker. -E
The Clerk entertained the motion
Of Mr.. Washburne, and 1t was agreed
to, l34 to 58. -
Mr.. Brooks made a point of order
that the Recording Clerk had not cal
led the names Of the members elect
from Georgia and Louisiana.
The Clerk overruled the point of
order. l-- =.
Mr.. Brooks appealed from the rul-
ing of the Clerk. - l
The Clerk refused to entertain the
appeal.
Then commenced a scene of noise,
uprOar and excitement, which, for a
time, threatened to result In general
row. -. r.-.
Mr.. Brooks, at the top Of his voice,
asserted his right to appeal from the
tyranny Of the Clerk.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, deman-
ded that the Clerk shoDId go on to
call the roll. The Clerk was proceed
| ing, but -
2 Mr. Brooks seemed determined not
to be put down in that way, and
shouted 81 am member of the House,
and have right to appeal from the
| tyranny Of the Clerk" 'si
The Clerk mildly directed that the
| take his seat. t-
Mr.. Brooks defantly, declared that
the gentleman, from New York we'd
nnt take his seat on the order of the
Clerk. The Clerk reminded Mr..
Brooks that the clerk was acting un.
der authority Of the law
Mr.. Brooks was not to be appeaSed
in that manner, and declared that the
clerk was not acting under such au-
thOrity, but in violation Of all laws.
lLoud calls tor order, and great con-
fusion -
Mr.. Washburne, Of Ill.,, demanded
that the clerk should put the question
on the nomination for Speaker, and
he nominated Jas G. Blaine, of Me.
Mr.. Brooks insisted on his right of
appeal, amt tried to make himself
heard, but his voice was drowned in
SAAOHNo w A<et4 VIC AO4AS
Z The Olers- once more directed Mr.:
Brooks to take his seat. - ~ .--
Mr.. Brooke refused, and asserted
that he was member of the House,
while the person undertaking to die
tate to him was CLERK of the House.
The Clerk retorted that the gentle
man was not a member of the House, /
but only member elect.
Mr. Brooks-And the Clerk Is not
the Clerk of the House, nor even a
clerk elect. The Clerk replied-the |
gentleman was mistaken, BY the law |
the Clerk of the last House Is clerk Of |
this BODY. - -.
- Mr.. BrO0ks-The clerk Is bound by |
the law and the rules, and the rule is, !
that pending the election of a Speak !
er the clerk shall preserve order and 4
shall decide all questions of order that |
may arise, subject to the appeal Of the |
House, The Clerk inteTrupting Mr.. !
Brooks Said-it Is a very unpleasant /
duty for the clerk.
Mr.. Brooks, interrupting-I know /
1t IS; but the Clerk Is bound by the |
law, and he is bound to hear the law.
Clerk The Clerk is enforcing the |
law. .- ..-rr ..H--
Mr.. Brooks-The Clerk is not en-
forcing the law, but is violating it,
Great confusion and excitement.]
Z Mr.. Washburne. of IIl.,-The mem
Der fpom New York should he put in
arrest by the Sergeant-at-aTms. saf III I
At this. TING almost all the men,.
bers were on their feet. Republicans
calling to order, and Democrats sus- /
tainingi Mr.. Brooks. The excitement
was intense on the floor and. in the
galleries. ---.-
Mr.. Eldridge inquired as 8 question
of order by what rules the clerk was
governed, the rules of the House or
BY the law of the land. The Clerk
replied that he was governed by the
law of the land, and by the rules of
the House. ..-.-5- g.. 9f H. Ea
Mr.. EIdridge-It Is the law Of the
land the gentleman from New York
seeks to have enforced, and the Clerk I
refuses to entertain an appeal. 1 do
would deny the right of appeal to a
member. loud shouts OF "call the
roll. The Clerk, In the midst of the
now increasing confusion, inquired
whether there were any nominations
to the office of Speaker, a-.E
Mr. Eldridge, however, persisted
in keeping the floor, and In trying to /
make himself heard. He would not /
say that the Clerk was not right, but
he would say the right OF appesl was |
allowed to members of Congress, and |
he demanded that rigf s now. APP
plause and encouragement from the |
NJ. Jones, of Kentucky. addressed
the Clerk, but he was met with vocif- /
erous shouts of ''cali the roIl',
Mr.. Eldridge put it to the other
sids whether, when an Rpn6al was IA
ken In respectful language, 1t should ]
be denied2 - slE
Mr.. BroOks-It never has been de-
nied. 70 a'Eglgoo. .-e-E s..-
Mr., EldrIdge 1t never would be |
denied but that we are slaves. fGEeat |
exeitement.J ! appeal to the sense Of |
light Of the public men who hold the |
power Of the right of the majority.
Mr.. Logan-1 appeal tO the Clerk |
to keep order If the gentlemen are
determined to make displays Of this I
kind, / ask that the clerk shall have |
them arrested by the SeEgeant-at- |
arms. .i5-+ go
This suggestion was heard by the |
clapPing of hands ON the Republican {
side and III the galleries. 1Io5el ast
Mr.. Brooks defied the gentleman |
from Illinois to make any arrests.
The Clerk again inquired whether
there were any other nominations for |
Speaker. .E2s
Mr.. EIdridge persisted in appealing !
to a sense of iustice OF the majority.
Cries Of :tCall the roll.u r... -
Mr. Brooks-I Insist upon my right !
to appeal. a1 -eH
The Clerk upon Messrs. Collun,
Sears, Woodward and VOORHEES, TO |
act as tellefs in counting for Speaker, /
Mr.. Eldridge-1 ask, gentlemen, Is |
they will not let Us appeal from the |
arbitrary action Of the clerk. tCalls to |
order. 5-
Mr.. Logan insist that the Ser
geant-at arms arrest these men. Ap- !
plause, and great excitement.
Mr.. Brooks-There is no Sergeant
alarms: -sL
Mr.: Logan, (menacinglyl--IfI L were |
Sergeant -at-arms ] would do it very |
uuick. --r--- '7.TC-sCym ii
Mr.. Stokes at the same time was
Rociferating % an excited wRnnsr,
and fhreAtened VeREeA5aes on Defas' !