The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-21
CHARLESTON LETTER.
Correspondence oil the IntGlIiEcrccG)
~ CnARLRsTON. Feb. 1G. L

SlihtLhbEONy CCu' ~ 1910
The present House of Delegates is one
of tho most queerly constituted set oil
men have ever seen assembled in Leg.
islative capacity. The sessions are almost
entirely consumed in ordinations and
recrimination. Charges of lying, drunk
cnness, debauchcry, and inCompetency
IRE as Astounding as blackberries in har.
vest time, and arc banded and thrown
about with recklessness that is perfectly
bewiidering and astounding to an Outsid.
or, and yet there is no bloOdshGd. Scarce.
~ day but what some member talks
about his personal responsibility" for
words uttered in tho heat OF debate, and
a willingness 10 be held accountable tout.
side Of the House." hut nothing results
from these fierce remarks. suppose the
old axiom that I" It's poor rule that won't
work both ways" holds good in these
cases; for rs little spirits taken before
the assembling Of the House are provo
CativC OF severe ansIhemas and heavy de-
nuucIations, so little spirits after the adj
iournment Of the House, tends TO allay
the passions and soothe the outraged
feelings.
The latest occurrence OF this kind took
place on Yesterday afternoon. After the
reading Of the journal, Mr.. Butcher de-
mandGd call Of the House, which was
ordered. Upon the call OF the roll, it was
found that quite number oil gentlemen,
who arc ostenSibly here representing their
constituency, instead OF being in their
seats, attending TO business, were gala
wanting somewhere outside The Ser
geant.at.arms was thereupon ordered TO
arrest the dilatory members; but upon in.
Quiry Il was found that This lordShip" also
had business somewhere else, and was not
at his post. This ncCessitated the appoint
ment Of Sergeant pro TEN, and Dir.
Jack Wel2el, q committee clerk OF the
House, was thereupon appointed, on mo-
ton Of Mr.. Bradford. or course, during
all these proceedings the doors Of the
House were kept closed. In the mean.
time several Of the $4.per day-ior.doing.
nothing absentees had assembled in the
outside hall and were clamorously de.
mapding admittauCe. But the House
was memorable and they had 10 submit 10
be regularly arrested, before they could
gain admittance. herewith give you
the roll Of the ARRESTED delegates
Mears. Davenport, Trlplett, Floyd,
Hudson, Bridges, Fleming, Knots, (ol
Calhoun Legg, Laldlcy, Shirley, snider
(oi Gilmerl Bumgarner, Campbell and
John ". Homer, Sergeant.at.arms.
The countenances and actions Of some
OF the prisoners, as they were marched In,
were ludicrous in the extreme. Some
took the whole thing as O good joke.
Others were indignant and angry, and
still others were affected almost TO tears.
When tho representative from your coun.
~, Mr.. Geo. o. Davenport, was brought
in, his clenched fists, lowering brOws and
heavlng chest were indicative of such in
tense indignation at the disgracelul pro-
ceeding OF the House, as he thought it to
be, that 1t was apparent that nothing less
than regular old.built thunder storm Of
invectives would satisfy him. Breakers
aheadp was the cry from the look out.
As soon as he could get the floor, he
flooded the House with Seathing inyec-
tives against those gentlemen who had
presumed TO interfere with his liberties
and bring him TO the House as prisoner.
He said the act OF the House in ordering
u call Of the House was unreasonable, un.
generous and unmauly, and the cause Of
the whole thing was whisky. For his
part when no got drunk, he stayed aNOV
from the House until he got sober; he diu
not come to the House drunk as some
gentlemen did. He would hold the man
Who instigated this proceeding personally
TeRDOnSib6. He hoped the proceedings
would not be given publicity. Vain
hope, George)
I'D. Butcher said he had moved the
call Of the House at the instance Of Mr..
Bradford, the gentleman from Barbour,
who desired the passage Of certain bill.
II the gentleman from Ohio alluded to
him In his remarks, as he had reason 10
believe he did, personal responsibility"
was what he liked, and il any satisfaction
were desired he would say TO the gentle
man from Ohio that he could be found al
any time and place he desired him.
George rather subsidized after this re.
ioinder, for r. Hume Butcher generally
stands up for what he says, and Is not
frightened by threats. hardly think a
duel will grow out Of this recontre, but
II II does, ! will try and DO on hands, and
give you full particulars, and all the
bloody details Of the affair.
Mr.. Farnsworth thereupon offered the
following resolution:
Rs0o!usd, That any member of this
House found In the Hall Of this House,
under the influence Of intoxicating liquor,
dnrinp session hours, shall be fined TWEEN.