Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-24
A Scene in the House of RepRasen-
tatiVes.

An unexpected excitement in the. House
yesterday grew out of the discussion upon a
motion of Mr. Banks to.amend the Diplomatic
and Consular Appropriation bill, by providing
for Minister Resident at Rome. Mr. DaW-
es took exception to the amendment upon the
ground that it was spiritual power that pre-
vailed at Rome, and that there was no COM
mercial interest to Warrent minister at that
place.
Mr. Bingham also opposed the amendment
The Democrats, led by Messrs. Voorhees,,
Crooks and Cox. called the Republicans to ac-
count for this opposition. and imputed 1t to a
disposition to persecute Rome and the Cath
oIics, on account of peculiar religious tenets.
The excitement grew as the speakers pro-
crossed Members moved about !rom place to
place as new speakers arose upon the floor, and
gathered about them. Passion and sensation
were wrought up to the highest tension. Mr..
Dawes charged Mr.. Brooks with Know-Noth-
ingism in former days, and the latter fndigs
nantly denied that he had ever been Know
Nothing, or that he had been in sympathy
with now-Nothingisn. Mr.. Voorhees,
dashed at Mr. Dawes fercely, and charged
that the latter had no charity or Christian
forbearance that he had brought his religion
into the House, which was that which he had
inherited from his ancestors who burned the
witches in Massachusetts,, and that he brought
here the reflected glare of the burning con-
vents destroyed in Massachusetts some fifteen
years ago. Mr.. Roar, of Massachusetts,, re-
piled to this, and explained the burning of
witches and of converts, and wound up by
charging that it did not become the POLITICAL
friends (meaning the Democrats) of the men
who had burned alive our soldiers at Fort
Pillow, and of those who had burned orphan
asylums in New York and hung negroes on
lamp posts, to talk of cruelties in past ages
Mr. Voorhees, had risen exctedly before Mr..
Hoar had concluded, and with manner full
of excitement and anger, cried out: Every
word he utters is false, aud he knows it,
Here the whole House was worked up to the
highest pitch. Each particular member
seemed to be taking part, and gesticulating
and talking vehemently. The confusion vas
so great that twas impossible to discover
what was being said, and by whom. The chair
man, (this was all in Committee oft Whole)
raped and thundered order. at the top OF
his voice, until at length partial order was re-
stored, when Mr.. Stevens demanded that the
offensive words of Mr.. Voorhees, be written
down.
Various motions were made to put an end to
the controversy, aud the excitement grew
more intense. Mr.. Voorhees, was asked to
Withdraw his offensive words. and declined
unless those which provoked him were with
drawn, and Mr.. Cox demanded that the often
sre remarks of Mr.. Hoar be written down.
Both demands were complied with. Mem
time dozen or twenty members were on the
floor at once, gesticnlating violently. The
Chairman decided that Mr. Voorhees, remaks
were out of order, aud in comical manner
and rather mixed phraseology, that Mr. Hoar's
language was rather pungent, but not unpar-
liamentary. This decision was received with
roars Of laughter and stamping and clapping.
A motion was made that the committee
raise and report the offensive words used by
Mr.. Voorhees,. but motion that the committee
rise prevailed, and the House thereupou ad-
journed in uproar.
-llcrunt7ri" Gazette, Nay 20.