The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-26
THE WHIrrEMoRE BUSINESS.
Animated Scene In the House OF Repre-
Rcsixn-Another Case In View.

sentatives-Whittcm Gains Time to
Rcsixn-Another Cnse In View.
A Washington dispatch Of Wednesday, to the
Baltimore Sun. says:
At no time since the impeachment trial. or
since one year ago yesterday, when the cleo
toral vote tor President was counted, has
there been such a crowd assembled within and
without the hall OF the House OF Representa-
tives as was this day witnessed. AS soon as
the House met at noon the spacious galleries
commenced to fill mp, and for half an hour be-
fore the hearing Of the question OF privilege
involved in the proposed expulsion from his
seat of Representative Whittemore, there was
not standing room in the aisles even, while
the reporters and diplomatic galleries were
over-crowded by those who had ootalned
special permission to enter them on TINS occa-
lhe Diplomatic gallery, that foreign representa-
tiyes could not obtain an entrance, but areiled
themselves OF admission to the floor, where, IN
some instances, they were invited to occupy
the members seats. The reporters gallery
was absut halt occupied with ladies'. On the
floor of the House, members Of the Senate.
employees of both Houses, and probably several
hundred other people who were not privileged
filled the vacant spaces beyond the desks ana
chairs. even extending to the cloak rooms.
All the doorWays on the outside were 30 block
ed up with people that the police had TO Sc
cure ingreSs and egress for members and oft-
GERS of the House. The dense masses packed
into the galleries were not moved during the
entire sitting Of nearly five hours. on
the floor, nearly every member was IN MS
seat. That of Mr.. Whittemore, on the right
of the central aisle, near the main door,
was noticcably vacant for some time, until
buzz ran around the spectators galle-
ries. as diagrams Of the floor were hasti-
" consulted, when Mr.. Burr, Demo-
cratic member from Illinois, sat down in Whit
teDorc's seat, and was taken 10y strangers 10 oc
the notable member arraigned at the Gar OF
the House. But at the precise hour OF 2 r NJ.
fixed for the case, Whittcmore did appear.
holding bundle of papers In his hand, and
walked almost unconcerncd!y to ms seat, a
sensation ran through the hall as this part oil
the programme was filed, for it had been
generally circulated that lie would not put in
an appearance. Opera glasses were leVelled at
him from various quarters, and Tor nall an
hour everybody looked at Whltttemorc. But
Dockery, ofNorth Carolina, who sat in the next
seat, chatted away with him, and to all
intents the accused seemed full of self:posses-
sion. This, it afterwards appeared, was
founded good deal on his belief that
the House would not at least succeed
in expelling him to-day, but that he would
succeed in securing postponement on Inc
affidavit which he had made, asking lor more
time and for additional Witnesses FOR his de-
fence which was presented by Mr. Butler, VINO
stated. by the way, that he appeared as his
counsel, and which was followed soon there
after by resolution, offered by Judge Poland,
to postpone for further investigation. The
moment Mr. Logan rose, as chairman OF thc
Military Committee, to debate the resolution
of expulsion, appeals were made 10 MN oy
Messrs. Butler and Poland 10 yield for post
poncment. Mr.. Butler became quite irate at
Mr. Loran's refusal to yield. and, humping
the desk with his fist, while his face grew red
der with every thumP, Numbered out: II am
here now rs counsel for this man, and nc
went on to characterize the Military Commit
tee as public prosecutors, which Mr.. Logan as
vehemently repelled. At this point the House
rot into one of those annoying parliamen-
tary muddles, which lasted nearly an hour.
as to what should be the particular order
of proceeding in the case. Mr.. Butler and
Judge Davis, OF New York, made several
among the many points of order that were
submitted as to the rules that governed the
courts in opening and closing cases; but these
were for the most part overruled, the Speaker
informing the gentlemen named that this was
parliamentary body and not court OF law,
and going farther, and stating that Mr.. White
more could not deputize Hr. Butler as his
counsel. Finally the Speaker brought down
his gavel and brought up Mr.. Whittemore,
who, as he rose to his feet, met the eye OF
every person in the assemble age. docs the
gentleman from South Carolina desire to 6e
heard ?'' said the Speaker, to which Mr.; Whit;
temore replied, ~ take the floor and yield
half OF my time to the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts," (Mr. Butler) "The member mas
forty five minutes remaining OF his hour, nf-
teen minutes having been occupied by the
reading Of the affidavit" added the Speaker;
"Is that all the time am to have ?" inquired
Mr. Whittemore, in an mplcrng tone Of voice.
'That is for the House to decide," replied the
Speaker.
There was at this stage another wranSle as to
who should speak first. during which, amid
much merriment Judge Poland finally got his
resolution read to postpone the hearing OF the
case, and to continue the investigation ON the
~. ;,,N Nr