Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-02-22
Letter From the Capital.
Corumrrs. February 10. 1872

House of Representatives of 1870 on
the 18th Amendment, was tame, and
that of the Joint Convention, which
elected John Sherman United States
Senator, not to be mentioned.
The Sayler- Kemp contest came up
for action on Wednesday, and was
argued pro and con by Senators Hart,
Smith and Updegroff, for Sayler, and
Patrick, Murphy, Holden and Jones
of Licking, for Kemp, until Friday
evening, when the previous question
was moved and the Senate brought to
vote. In the mean time Senator
Gage Republican who voted for Gov.
Cox for U. S. Senator in the Joint
ConventionJ had absented himself,
leaving the Senate II Republicans and
Is Democrats, counting Kemp whose
seat was contested. By rule of the
Senate, adopted at the beginning of
the session, no Senator is allowed to
vote on any question in which he is
directly or indirectly interested. This
would, of course, exclude Kemp from
voting on his own case, thus leaving
the Senate tie, with the Lieut.. Gov
ernor having the decisive vote. The
Democratic Senators, however, insist
ed that Kemp should vote on all pre-
liminary questions until they reached
the main question, but the Lieut.. Gov
ernor ruled otherwise, and directed
the Clerk not to call the name of
Kemp. This was situation the Dem
ocratic Senators had evidently not
anticipated, for they seemed taken en-
tirely by surprise, became panic strick-
en- and furious. They were all on the
floor at once, gesticulating and talk
ing in the most excited manner posi-
BILE. A scene like pandemoniam at
once ensued. It resembled half doz-
en- fights on street corner, for the
Senate Chamber was packed full, and
everybody, as is usual, became en-
listed on one side or the other. In
the midst of the confusion the Lieut.,
Governor directed the roll call to pro-
ceed, but before it could proceed Sen
ator Daugherty,in voice that was
heard above all others, called on the
Democratic Senators to meet him in
the Library. They all at once followed
him and retired into the Library and
locked themselves in, so that the
Sergeant alarms could not arrest
them. AS they were leaving the Sen
ate Chamber some of them INDUCED
in the most profane language and dis
graceful conduct. For instance, Sen
ator Putnam, who raved like lunatic,
at the top of his voice declared to the
Lieut. Governor, "You have under
taken to run the Senate in defiance of
law, and you may take the Senate
and go to h-ll with 1t! Cd d-n
you" Senator Skif declared that
the Lieut.. Governor was disgrace to
Germany and mankind, and ought to
be dragged from his seat. Senator
Murphy said "G-d d-n you, your
blind eye is on the Democratic side.
you can't see anybody but Republi-
cans; you ought to be pulled out by
the hair of the head" And many
more such chaste and delicate expires
sions were indulgei in. What made
it worse was the fact that large mum.
bers of ladies were present, having
come to hear the discussion.
The Democratic Senators having
retired to the Library, left the Senate
without quorum, and nothing further
could be done until some of the Dem
ocratic Senators were brought back
The Sergeant-at-Arms was dispatched
for absentees, and returned reporting
the fact that the absentees were Sc
curely locked in the Library. Then
they were apparently determined tc
fight it out on that line, and all bu
two were writing out their resigna
tiOns. The door outside was sur
rounded by Democratic members Of
the House, and other sympathisers
ready to give any aid, comfort or as
sistance. Finally Mr.. Callen, of Mer
Ger county, knocked at the door, anC
it was opened unto him. He inquired
!, if he should send them round ''grub'
mo-" responded Senators Patricl
and Putnam. Cd d-n it! brin!
. us knives-we want knives" Sena
/ tors Wright, of Hamilton, and Daugl
erty, of Fairfield, however, could no
be induced to participate in such dem
, onstrations or resign and they finally
after an hour or SO, returned into tn
Senate Chamber, and the show wen
, on. The vote was taken-no Demo
crat but Wright voting-but the jour
nal showing that all were present. MI
Kemp was ousted and Sayler declares
entitled to the seat. Then whe
Sayler came forward to be sworn il
another storm broke out-the Deme
Gratis protesting and swearing like a
5 army in Flanders, but all to no effec
Sayler marched up and was sworn j
and took his seat. So ended the mo!
exciting, and think, the most di
a graceful scene that ever took place
t the Senate of Ohio, and all in an a
:. tempt on the part of the Democrat
9 to disfranchise the wounded and di