New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-13
A FESTIVE OCCASION.

The pursuit Of MIR. Blaine has amount
ed to persecution. Congress would, we
should suppose, have at least covered
with the mantle Of decorum proceedings
which might go to prove the unworthi-
ness of member. It has resolved itself
into an inquisition, with the effect of de-
flaming one of their own body in an at
tempt to destroy party antagonist.
To effect this and other party objects
the House Of Representatives has left all
the interests Of the country desolate, and
has descended to make the House of
Representatives scene of personal per-
secuton.
Mr.. Hunton, q Southern Democrat,
who had been engaged in personal alter
cation with Mr.. Blaine, moved to close
and publish certain testimony in regard
to Mr.. Blaine's connections with certain
pending charges. Mr.. Blaine desired
that telegram deemed by him essential
to the vindication of his character should
be included in the committee report. He
had obtained motion to reconsider the
vote by which the committee report had
been ordered, and perhaps expected the
ordinary courtesy of another vote upon
his proposition to amend the committee
report as intimated. In this he was dis
appointed. Mr.. Hunton moved to lay the
motion to reconsider upon the table,
which. if carried, would have been final
exclusion of the matter which Mr.. Blaine
desired to publish in vindication of him
SELF
We would have thought that such a
motive would have disposed the House to
favor any effort on the part Of the per-
son impugned. It would even have ex-
cited indulgence, if not sympathy, for an
enemy if not for an associate. It does
not seem to have had any such effect.
Mr.. S. S. Cox was in the Speakers
chair. He said that although he had con-
scented to the motion to reconsider, he
could not permit motion to defeat the
reconsideration. Mr.. Blaine struggled
for the withdrawal Of the motion to lay
on the table. He wished the publication
of telegram which he charged had been
kept in his pocket by the member from
Kentucky (Mr. Knott), which was given,
as he alleged, to the Associated Press,
but which he had never given to the
House. At this there was indignant calls
to order from the Democratic side, and he
was called to order. In the midst of cloud
uproar and confusion" MI. Blaine is re-
ported to have retorted that all the Demo-
cratic side of the House was out of order.
The Speaker ordered all the members to
take their seats, and added that
The gentleman from Maine was out of
order, and that no one k,letc ii better than
himself!
Nh. Blackburn, Democrat, made the in
terlocutory point Of inquiry whether the
utterance of member, when delivered
out Of order. should be published in the
journal The effect of such ruling
would have been to exclude from publica-
ton the serious charge involved in tie
statement of Nj. Blaine, to wit: That a
member of the committee gave for out
side publication document which had
not been permitted to go on the committee
record.
Mr.. Kasson, Republican, made the
point that the motion to lay the motion
to reconsider On the table was out of
order. The Speaker properly ruled the
point out of order. 1t may have been q
breach Of faith, or of courtesy, to make
such motion, lut it was in order.
Then follows the collision between the
member on the floor and the presiding
officer, with the stage directions of the
press:
Mr.. Blaine (fercely)-On what grounds
The Speaker pr" tenn (coollyl-The Chair
is not bound to G We the re asOn.
Mr.. Blaine (scu. nfully)-I never heard
Speaker refuse to give the reason for his
decision.
The Speaker pro tem (severely)-The gen.
tleman Is out OF order now. Applause on
the Democratic side.
Mr.. Blaine Grrltatingly)-Have you any
reas0n?
The Speaker pro tenn (more severely
The gentleman has no right to make col
loquy with the Chair.
Mr. Blaine-The Chair does not seem dis
posed to hear q colloquy.
Then followed a skirmish for and
against vote, pending which and before
the announcement OF the result a further
alteration arose between Mr.. Springer
and Mr.. Blaine, the latter contending that
no inquiry was proper during the call or
previous to the announcement of the VOTE
The Speaker announced that the roll
call had been completed, and Mr.. Blaine
said never such thing has been done"
This opinion seems to have excited the
Speaker, who said, with great severity of
manner:
1t is highly improper and hardly decent
for the gentleman to confer with the Chair
in that peculiar style.
Mr.. Blaine demanded that the vote be
announced amid "shouts of order from
the Democratic side OF the House"
Mr.. Springer demanded
That the gentleman from Maine take his
seat and be in order.
Mr.. Blaine-I am in order.
The Speaker pro tem.-If the gentleman