Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-06
"HIS LITTLE BILL"
A Speech That should Not Die.

4
ture-A "JObber'' Recites His Griey-
ances i'm Pathetic Accents.
The "Reform" Legislature of New York
las at length adjourned. The closing days
If the session afforded many scenes OF pc
,uliar character, but none more striking
han the episode of Mr.. Pierson on May ~.
This gentleman introduced early in the
session a bill giving the Central New York
and Hudson River Railroad the rlght 10
build another track all the way from New
York City TO Buffalo. This was regarded
as the big job Of the session, but the rail-
road proposed to fight it out on the square;
insisting that increasing commerce demand
ed it, and Brother Pierson undertook 20 en-
gineer the scheme on the high moral prin-
ciples becoming a "Reform" Legs
lature. He hoped to carry it
through by ''swapping" jobs. The sess-
ion now expiring, one last desperate effort /
was ventured. Mr.. Oakley, OF Queens
county, with whom an arrangement hsd
been made, rose and offered resolution TO |
advance the double track railroad bill from
its place in the Committee Of the Whole TO !
the order of third reading. On bearing the
resolution read, every member, looked to-
wards Mr.. Pierson, and most Of the reform
ers laughed sneeringly at him for bis au'
dacity, fo- the great corporation whose In
terests he represents had cluDg its de-
cision, made some time ago, that they would
not paw the lawmakers for this bill, but
would rather wait until the people became
suif ciertly interested to demand the pas
sage of the bill as a public benefit. OF
course the resolution was speedily voted
down.
1t was at this interesting juncture that
Mr.. Pierson rose aud made the remark able
speech as given below, every member and
spectator paying the closest attention:
'NIr. Speaker: l rise to question OF
privilege. l gave no authority for the Of
fering ofthis resolution. l regret that on
the threshold Of my departure my rep
utation should be placed in jeopardy.
I have been in the habit from my
youth up of meeting with obsta-
cles and difficulties in the way nf life.
| have labored in the heat of the day; like
the children Of Israel have been often re-
ouired TO make brick without straw; and
when l have been in a strange land, l
have been asked to sing, and have had
| to answer, How can l sing in strange
land?' l have sat here all winter long,
and have voted for jobs put up by members,
willingly to accommodate them; and when
| they have asked for unanimous consent to
| put their little jobs through l have sat In
| silence, though have been worn and weary
of such doiDgs. (Sens2tion.) think it is
hard (sorrowfuIly). True, have been COM
plimented by the gentleman behind the
| desk "a deputy clerk biOgraph:st of the
House), who published us in yellow-cov-
cred books, and spoke of me as the mem
Der of Assembly sitting in the centre with
| gray locks aud placid MEN, But what is
thai to me? The hours are waning,
and the hands on the clock-dial
point to the hour when we shall
depart, and here l ami L, with my little
bill! have long written speech in my
drawer to answer my friend from New
York, (Mr. Norton), who wanted to fix the
pro rata upon MS. And now, after doing
all I can do, this House will not consent to
put my little bill through. l do think it is
tough. IfI am bereaved, then am be-
reaved' [Laughter.l cannot say more
ISmiling1-I wish had language to ex-
press to you how feel! l shall remember
This winter with pleasure all the balance Of
nv life. TSorrowfully agaiD]-l have met
men whom l shall always remember VILE
gratitude-but what is that to my little
Bill? [Laughter.l l came here and WeAl
through my duties. saw sd
iournment in the distance. wen
about lat fall and spoke in my dis
trict. l shook hands across chssms that
never shook before, and Fever expect t
acain. They came to my house, they ser
e1aded me there-bus where is my little
hill? have vcted to increase the salary o
the little friend of the gentleman from
Queens (AIr. Prince), voted for this thing
, and the other; for my friend from Jetfer
,, son (Mr. Hendee) with his insurance bill
and Alberger and his many bills, handin
,, them in by the armful and they all WEI
: through. And here am L with my lit
bill! Gaughter). Now, Mr.. Speaker an
gentlemen, this is no laughing matter"
, Mr.. Batcheller, of Saratoga, here intel
:. rupted and said he would like to ask IL
: gontIeman # he was alluding to his not
hin. Gaughter) Mr.. Piersonc ontinue'
r aAh. if there is one man upon the foC
ofthis House that l shall have reason to r
member it is the eloquent gentleman fro
|, Saratoga, You all remember his little b
q near the opening of the season, when /
d wanted to have red flag to scare the bu
AT every railroad crossing. (SarcasticallY
9 when he arose here and shook his r;
bantana hankerchiefin the eyes OF th
Honse-(brightening up again)-and insi
ted that that bill should pass don't kno
:. but it did pass, but have not heard OF it
II 7 am weary. Osuehter.) My eloquel
a friend from Rensselaer--not Il
:, heavy weight, but light al
y ELEGANT (Mr. iSnyder), l remember no
much he tried to do for the cause Of EDUC
1t tion. the $4,000 be wanted to buy far
with. Yet, Mr.. Speaker. when that ge
:, tIeman rose and addressed the House
d HE Question of privilege the other day
canse some newspaper had criticised hiI
g and when he spoke his first senisnce-
E. Won remember it'll never was so II
!, 1Tassed with the necessity Of enlaJging t
e, Ineana of education in all my life as L W
II, al that moment" (GreAs laughter, all I
lg members looking around after Snyder, vi
f. had suddenly left his seat and diss
Is Is peared.)
oil Mr.. Jacobs then rose and said he wor
like to know what the question OF privile
C. was which the gentleman Mr.. Pierso
,a yu was speaking 70.
OF fully towards jacobs
~Haye you no bowels? Creme ndC
Ol lauehter.) am weary and worn. I
od can see the furrows on my face. You m
y observe the tears that are FILLING down
Id cheeks. L rose to say that my rosy cheek
friend from Queens Mr.. Oakley when
nd offered the resolution did not sit on
ell knee. "a psuse.) l am prepared to
down in sorrow, and retire with my lii
ne William in my pantaloons pocket" Is
re. sation and laughter.)
sly This speech, although disguised so
fullv. was intended ss singing rebukt
yes those reformers who had allowed the bill
droop and die simply because catastroI
er, happened to the ring charter and some
la er pet Jobs accidents which Mr.. Piers
OK it must be said to bis shame and not TO
&c credit, did all be could to avert it. w
ays Mr.. Pierson had finished, a large mum
m ofmembers fastened toward him and sh'
in him BIZ the hand. All tried to laugh it
as az nothing but joke, but by this t
mo every reformer of the Assembly must
le'" as plainly as Mr.. Pierson himself that