The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-11


had subpGnaed no action whatever would be taken
upon the matter until tomorrow afternoon at least
but lryings letter upset every calculation upon
the subject and took the entire House by sur
prise. AS 1t was, however, outsiders who
know nothing whatever about the movements OF
the committee made certain to be on hand, anyhow
and so, long before the House assembled the gal
lerIes, the Hobbies and even the aisles on the floor
were more densely crowded than they have been at
any time previous during the session. Standing
room IN front was at premium, and locomo-
ton was quite out OF the question. When
the Speaker announced that the letter Ell.
closing the resignation would be read silence
of death ensued and every neck was stretched for
ward In the general eagerness to hear what Irving
had to say. Armstrong was much agtated, and
read the letter in a trembling voice and as though
the duty he had to perform was not exactly to his
liking will be seen by the letter that
IRVING MAKES FULL APOLOGY
to his fellow members for having given way TO his
temper but that at the same time ne emphatically
relterates the assertion he oh the night OF the
encounter, that Weed first struck HIM at the desk.
The letter speaks for Itself and herewith append
it,
10 THE HoH. SPEAKER or THE ASSEMBLY,
SIR-Tnere Is no man who thinks on his past life
but calls to mind words that he would wish
spoken and Things done tina. he would wish undone.
We have all much To regret and much to forgive.
For my share IN the unhappy occurrence OF last Fri
day evening" which occupies the uention of the
and under tine spur of what seemed TO
me great provocatlon / have committed
H House "a ana offensive to its dignity desire
to offer an al, ample apology ! Weld 10 no man IN
member OF it. | am, / think, the oldest member;
and although Providence did not bless my early
with that culture which graces so many other
gentlemen of the House, yet | nave enjoyed the
friendship of many members and, until recently, the
kindly acquaintance Of them all. | do not seek TO
mitigate any proper censure that may be due to
CT to defend an act which ! know was IN violation
OF tue decorum necessary III all legislative bodies,
yet / think it due to myself to say that the unior.
tunaIe alteration between the member from Clinton
and myself would never have occurred had not his
conduct toward me on that occasion ana Tor some
time past satisfied OF the existence OF settled
desire on his part to irritate and insult me. DIS
tincy state that was struck by the member from
Clinton before raised my hand against him. In
conclusion, thank the House with all my heart FOR
the kindness with which have been treated by It,
and with no less earnestness and sincerity renew
the assurances OF my deep regret that any act OF
mine should have diminished that feeling
changed the relations we have borne toward each
other. Respectfully JAMES IRVING.
The reading of the letter was great surprise TO
Irvings friends, FOR he had late four O'Clock in
the afternoon engaged two OF the most eminent
lawyers in this City to appear on his behalf before
the committee and had said In a conversation with
a gentleman as to what action he thought the COM
mittee would take, ~ want sympathy. but
simple justice, and court the fullest Investigation
II is believed that had he been left his own views
OF the case he would have stood fast and faced the
fnal result OF the investigation but that tue pres
sure brought to bear upon him by
HIS OWN FAMILY,
who were well aware that the camOr raised by the
rumpus on Friday night outside the House and the
attitude OF the country members would IN the long
resist. When che reading OF the letter had been
concluded Ex-Governor AlvOrd was the first one TO
rise from ms seat to speak upon the subject. He
contended, as will be seen by his remarks, which
append below that he did not think
THE DIGNITY OF THE HOUSE
would be maintained II the resignation was allowed
10 stand y the finale 10 the Investigation and he
then cited case to prove that after a member had
resigned resolution to expel him would still be in
order. Tom Fields went for the giant mt this and
gave him severe castigatiOn about his own fstcur
exhibition which he went through few days ago,
when he so lar compromised the dignity OF a leVis-
lator seize by the neck anu strike gentleman
"a DAMNED OLD RASCAL"
Certainly Alv0rd, under the circumstances, was
Litteiohn took the ground that az Mr.. Irvngs let
ter left an fmputation upon the conduct OF Mr..
Weed II necessary that the committee should
go on with Its investigation. At this point
wrangle ensued between him and Tom Fields about
reporting the resolution TO the Bouse-which the
committee had unanimously Instructed him TO do
which finally cnued by the reading OF the
luton Everybody at first thought that II referred
to the
QUESTION OF EXPULSION;
hut II turned out to be simply one suggesting that
the House should adjourn tonight until tomorrow
morning II the committee were not ready 10 make
their report. The resolution was tlnally adopted
and the House adjourned. IL would thus seem that
The republican leaders, whose rank aud file not
hand in their full strength are determined, II the
committee can be made to report u resolution Of ex
puslon, to make the passage oil II party question:
Now that irving II
NO LONGER MEMBER
Of the House, many OF shem who might have voted
for expulsion think that such resolution l. IN
necessary. II 4 very uncertain whether majority
Of the committee can be made TO agree to report the
rcsoiutlon for MIR. Aiken, who stood next ~ Irving
aud Weed at the CLERKS desk swore positively thls
afternoon that
WEED DID STRIKE IRVING
in the ribs anu Afterwards pushed MN away from
members think, now that the resignation has been
handed H. sufficient to Justify them In refusing 10
go Tor the resolutions. Indeed. three OF them, who
called upon Irving nj his rooms this morning, told
MIN thar they would not go for II. Irving LEFT
Tor New York TINS evening" and was accom-
panied TO the boat by a large number Of his po-
lt,cal cOn,ffres Although he has gone away under
cloud, and 1t Is the common custom the world over
10 Kick man when ne is down. | will s0y for INN
that he has been, during the entire session, one OF
the most ndeiatigajle workers IN the Assembly, and
That IN him The majority lost da ~ adherent:
through the levy. the Registration bill ANA the
new Election law They cannot do 1t without
AID FROM THE REPUBLICANS,
ana who the men are who will help them out OF
their difficulty has already given rise 10 consider
able conjecture. II Is rumored that i've ruralisss
have promised 10 go the whole animal on all their
bills when the time comes FOR them TO act, but their
names nave not vet come to light The following is
the discussion had upon 1rving's letter OF 'resigna
ion:--
Mr. rIEIps-Mr. Speaker, was instructed by
the special committee OF investigation 10 oner
resolution 70 this House, but aster the resignation
OF Mi Irving, this House has no longer Jurisdlc
ton OF his person, II certainly mas no longer juris-
dictlon OF the subject matter before that committee
MIR. ALvoRD--l think, sir, that the dnties or TINS
committee are not yet finished We are called upon
Ia examine and report 10 this House on tho conduct
Of the member from Clinton and the member from
New York. we have not yet performed that duty.
| believe that It Is our duty as committee to re-
port Notwithstanding what has taken place. do
not undertake to say what course this House will
take upon the close OF the investigation, but
l will call the attention OF the gentle
man IRON New York and the attention OF this
House to the fact that, In at least one celebrated
case In washington where q party undertook to get
out from the censure the House by resignation