Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-04
erOuR ENEMY FOR LIFE"
How Gordon got His Bill Through
and squelched sPeneer-A Dramatic
Set.tO i'm Grants Presence.

How Gordon got His Bill Through
and souelched SPeneer-A Dramatic
Set.tO ian Grants Presence.
Atlanta Herald
As various accounts of the difficulty
between Gen. Gordon, theSenator from
Gaoroia. and Spencer, the carpet-bog-
rer Who. through fraud and yillainy,
ENJOYS the right to lnisrepresent our
sister State of Alabama in the Senate,
have been going the rounds OF the
newspaper press, a Herald reporter,
learning that Gen Gordon had returned
TO his home, called upon him and gath
cred the following statement OF facts IN
reference to it:
Gen. Gordon received letter from
Hon. John Forsyth, of Mobile, request
ing him to see that the bill for the re-
moval of his disabilities be taken up
and passed. The bin had been reported
on favorably by the committee, but
under the rules of the Senate could
not be taken up except by unanimous
consent. Gen. Gordon called 1t up, not
supposing that there would be any one
who would object. He was mistaken,
however, for when it was called Spen-
Ger said, Il object
Gen. Gordon, who was sitting near
Spencer, said to him:
Spencer, why is this? What objec-
ton can you have"
He replied:
'D-n him, l hate him. He has
abused me in the columns of his paper,
calling me Il carpet-bagger, thief,
BLACKBOARD, ETC., and ! intend to give
him something to hate me for"
The General replied:
Spencer, I am astonished at you;
you certainly DO not intend to bring a
personal grievance into the Senate of
the United States, and allow your ha-
tired of an individual to control your
vote. If l had a personal enemy, sirl-
ilarly situated, would take pleasure
in being the first to rise and show him
that was above such petty vindictive-
ness"
Spencer said:
THAT may snit you, but it is not my
way of dealing with an enemy"
The General replied:
well, Spencer, we viii not discuss
the matter. You and / have different
views, but / give you fair notice that 1
intend to pass this bill before the day
is over"
In less than half an hour afterwards,
amid the confusion and pushing and
hurry to get bills through, the General
got Carpenter TO recognize him, and
Spencer. who was either absent or not
paying attention, failed to hear the bill
called. 1t was read, and Carpenter, the
President pro TEN, said, eff there is no
objection, the bill will be considered,
read third time and passed. The
General then took it. carried it to the
House, had it enrolled and brought
back, and signed; and when it was an
nounced Spencer jumped to his feet
and moved to have 1t reeonsidered.
Gen, Gordon at once offered TO allow
him to be heard if he would state pub
hcly his reasons for objecting; but
Carpenter cut off further debate by
announcing that 1T was too late as
the bill had been enrolled and signed,
and had already gone to the President
for ms signature. Spencer, who by
this time had worked himself to fever
heat, said:
Il viii go to the President of the
United States and stop it, them
Gen. Gordon said, $50 will / 20 TO
the President, " and at once disappeared,
following Spencer, who, rushing up to
where the President was signing bills,
surrounded 10y the Cabinet and a num-
Der of Senator's, who had followed to
see the fun, said:
Mr.. President, don't sign the bill
for therelief of John Forsythe, for he
is a scoundrel.
Gen. Gordon, who was SO full of
laughter as scarcely to be able to con-
troll himself, said, Mr.. President, IL is
only personal spite, sign the BILL
The President 10y this time compre-
hended the situation, looked up, and
smiling blandly, said, Gentlemen,
save yourselves futher trouble, the bill
is signed
Poor Spencer was whipped, and turn
ing fercely to Gordon, he said to him,
i shall hold you to personal account,
sir, for this conduct. l have always
treated iRebelsEcourtcously, but you
can't run over me, if you did fight in
the war
The General, who was in the best
humor imaginable, said, Spencer,
calm your troubled spirit, don't let us
! fight before the President, come out
side" and left 1.-The presence" closely
followed by Spencer, who continued to
reiterate his determination TO be re-
venged. but the General only replied,
Spencer. you are joking, l know you,
are only in fun"
No, am not sir, and you will see.' >
Whereupon Gen. Gordon told him,
with a resolution which be understood,
This thing has gone far enough, and
if you really mean what you say, l
assure you. that you can hear from me
whenever | am called upon"
This ended Spencer, and he went of,
saying as he did 50, Il am your enemy
/ for life.
! This last assertion overwhelmed Gen.
! Gordon, and it Is doubtful whether his
nerves have yet recovered the shock
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