Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-01-10

The appointment By the President of
Judge Orr a. Minister Plenipotentiarv 10
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the
Russias recalls the eventful scenes of the
Ihirty-hith Congress. in which he presided
over the House as it.sSpeaker, and especially
the turning contest.ofthe anti-slavery strug-
gle, onlAlonday the eighth Of February. 1855.
ltwas the great question whether Buchanan'S
Message on the Lecompton Constitution Of
Kansas should be referred TO the Democratic
Committee on Territories or to a Select Com
mittee Of Fifteen. On this there had been
an angry discussion on the preceding Satur-
day, prolonged through tho night, and en-
liyened by regular row at a very early
hour on Sunday morning, in which mem
ber-u0t Grow of Pennsylvania, although
he had q gold medal presented, to him
thereior-knOcked keitt down. while the wig
of Barksdale was snatched from his head
and sent spinning up nearly to the ceiling
Mr.. Speaker Orr shouted at the top Of
his teut0rian voice '' Order order ?" and
Sergeant-at-Arms GloSsbrenner. Ga Penn
7ylyauia Dutchmau who was here as Rep
reSentatiye in the last Congress- seizing
the huge mace rs the emblem of his author
Ity. with both hands. rushed into the midst
of the melee, and was hustled unceremoni-
ou~ly about. mace and all. Old Gen. Quit
man finally -tilled the tumult, but it was
not until halt-past six O'Clock on Sunday
morning that the Democrats would agree 10
pass bis resolution that q vote should be
taken on Monday, without further debate.
delay. or dilatory motion.
When Mr.. Orr's mallet raped the House
% order at noon on Monday. only six of the
two hundred and thirty-iour Representa-
tiyes We're absent. and the galleries were
packed like boxes OF Smyrna hg~. Rev DR..
Samson made q conciiiatory prayer-the
journal was read-tw0 enrolled bills were
presented hy Mr. Davidson. and then the
Speaker, in an unusually earnest tone,
stated the question. Tellers had been or
dered, and he appointed MeS~rs. Buihnton
of Massachusetts, and Caige of North Caro-
lima. Is the demand for the previous
question -econded?'
The imposing form of Buffnton was s1Ou
seen making his way down to the area before
the Speaker table, where Craige met him.
The two shook hands. and there was then
quick obedience to the Speakers request
that gentlemen in favor of the motion would
pass between the tellers. Father Giddings,
crowned with silyery locks. led the Repubh-
can host down TO be counted a. they passed
between Buthnton and Craige Burlingame
followed. and among Others who filed along
were Henry Winter Davis. General Spinner,
John Sherman, General Bingham, Frank
Blair, the trio of Nashburns, Gooch. Schuy-
Ter Clliax, John Covodc, Governor Fenton,
Senator Cragir and burly Humphrey Mar
shall When all had passed between the
tellers, Buthnton wheeledA bout and reported
TO the Speaker. who announced the result
rather heSitatingly One hundred and
ten in the affirmative Those opposed will
now pass between the tellers.'
Then tho southern champions of slavery
with their Northern allies came trooping
down, headed by the attenuated Stephens,
Dan Sickles and John Cochrane, who We're
afterward generals in the Union armies.
were then allied with Z0llicofier. keitt and
Others who fell in the rebel ranks. and there
were 50 many of them that the result ap-
peared doubtful. At last it was Mr..
Craige'S turn to report, and then all was
silent as the grave.
Never before had | seen the Speaker at all
disconnected, but he hesitated and his
usually loud and clear voice hesitated as he
at last announced: ''One hundred and four
in the negative. The ayes have it, and the
demand for the previous question Is second
ed. Shall the main question be now put?'
Victory had at last favored freedom The
main question was next put, and the vote
"S al - anu nay ; on Il reference OF Tie Nan
sas question to the Committee on Terrific
ries was ayes ll3, nays Iii. Then came
the vote on the reference to Il select com
mittee of fifteen, and Speaker Orr had to
announce the result ayes III, nays Ill
And from that hour the power of Democ-
racy has waned Mr. Orr endeayored to
remain true to the Union, but was swept
into the maelStrom of secession, from which
he escaped at the earliest possible moment
although he has never, | believe, been al
lied with the existing State Government Of
South Carolina.