Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-01-24

Of all the Thirty-ffth Congress, in
which he presided over the House
as its Speaker, and especially the
turning contest Of the anti-slavery
struggle on Monday, the sth of
February, 1858. 1t was the great
question whether Buchanan's mes
sage on the Lecomption constitu.
ton of Kansas should be referred
to, the Democratic Committee on
Territories or to u select commit
tee of fifteen. On this there had
been an angry discussion on the
preceding Saturday, prolonged
through the night, and enlivened
by regular row at very early
hour on Sunday morning, in which
member-not Grow, of Pennsyl-
vania, although he had a gold med
al presented to him therefor
knocked Keitt down, while the wig
of Barksdale was snatched from
his head and sent spinning up near
ly to the ceiling.
speaker Orr shouted at the top
of his stentorian voice, sOrdcrv and
Sergeant-at-Arms Glossbrenner,
Pennsylvania Dutchman, who was
here as Representative in the last
Congress, seized the huge mace as
the emblem of his authority with
both hands, rushed into the
midst Of the melee, and was hustled
unceremoniously about, mace and all.
Old General Quitman finally stilled
the tumult, but it was not until half
past six o'clock on Sunday morning
that the Democrats would agree to
pass the resolution that vote
should be taken on Monday, with
out further debate, delay or dilatory
motion. When Mr.. Orr's mallet
raped the House to order at noon
on Monday, only six of the two hun
dred and thirty-four Representa-
tives were absent, and the galleries
We're packed like boxes Of Smyrna
figs. DR.. Sampson made a concilia-
tory prayer, the journal was read,
two enrolled bills were presented
by DR.. Davidson, and then the
Speaker, in an unusually earnest
tone, stated the question. Tellers
had been ordered, and he appoint
ed Messrs. Buff ngton, of Massa-
chnsetts, and Craige, of North Caro-
linia. IS the demand for the pre-
viouS question seconded p
"The imposing form Of Bufing
ton was seen making his way down
the area before the Speakers table,
where Craige met him. The two
shook hands and there was then
quick obedience to the Speakers re-
quest that gentlemen in favor of the
motion would pass between the
tellers. Father Giddings, crowned
with silvery locks, led the Repub-
lican host down to be counted as
they passed between Burlington and
Craige. Burlingame followed, and
among others who filed along were
Henry Winter Davis, General Spin
ner, John Sherman, General Bing-
ham, Frank Blair, the trio of w ash
burns, Gooch, Schuyler Colfax,
John Covode, Governor Fenton,
Cragin and bully Humphrey Mar
shall. When all had passed be-
tween the tellers, Burlington wheel
ed about and reported to the Speak
ers who announced the result rath-
er hesitatingly: 'One hundred and
ten in the affirmative; those OPP
posed will now pass between the
tellers.'
"Then the Southern champions of
slavery with their Northern allies
came trooping down, headed by the
attenuated Stephens, Dan Sickles
and John Cochrane, who were after
wards Generals in the United
States armies, others then allied
with Zollicoffer, Keitt and others
who fell in the rebel ranks. and
there were SO many of them that
the result appeared doubtful. At
last it was Mr.. Craige's turn to re-
port, and then all was silent as the
grave.
"Never before had l seen the
Speaker at all disconnected, but he
hesitated, and his usually loud,
clear voice hesitatcd as he announc-
ed 'One hundred and four in the
negative. The ayes have it, and
the demand for the previous qucs-
tion is seconded. Shall the main
question be now put?'
"Victory had at last favored free
dom! The main question was now
put, and the vote by ayes and noes
on q reference Of the Kansas ques-
ton to the Committee on Terrific
ries was, ayes, ll3; noes ia. Then
came the vote on the reference to a
select committee Of fifteen, and
Speaker Orr had to announce the
result: Ayes, ia; noes, Ill. And
from that hour the power of Dem
ocracy has walned! Mr.. Orr en-
deavored to remain true to the I'm
ion. but was swept into the mael-
strom Of session, from which he
escaped at the earliest possible mo-
ment, although he has never, l be-
lieve, been allied with the existing
State Government Of South Carroll
na."