New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-06
STRIKING DRAMATIC SCENTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TElBUSEI


WASHINGTON, June 5.-Judge Kelley. who is older
in continuous service the House than any other
member while speaking knot of his younger col
leagues of the scenes which occurred during Mr..
Baincs speech this afternoon, said that the day had
been fuller of striking dramatic efforts and universal
sensation as manifested by the audience than any
day or nirlt ne had seen during his whole Congre'-
sional career. lie was sworn in as representative
Of one of the Philadelphia districts July L. 1861,
when Mr.. Lincoln called Congress together
in extra session TO provide the neccs-
sary means for prosecuting the war lie
witnessed the scene. late in night session, when
the venerable Gov. frank Thomas of Maryland, in
the vehencnce of his overpowering eloquencc and
patriotism, advanced gradually from his place in 4
distant part of the Chamber until he stood at the
desk of his colleague Ben Harris and denounced
in the most earnest and exciting language the az
faithfulness of the latter. The old whltc-haired
man. as he raised himself 10 his full hight, lowered
above the object Of his attack ike giant
although smaller in stature and physically
weaker Again a similar scene had occurred
in night session. when Mr. Crittendcn and Mr.
Wichlifie were battling against the Use OF the col
ored man in the war; and the galleries were thronged
far into the morning hours. Judge Kelley himself
took an active and honorable part in that meIn0ra-
bic debate Although no did not refer to il in his
conversation to-day, be continued that he Icmem-
bered the excitement attendant upon the passage of
the bill aboshing slavery in the District Of Column
bia and the adoption by the House Of all the cOnsti
tutlonal amendments.
But in them all, hc said there had been nothing
approaching in dramatic effort the scene when
Mr. Blaine advanced to the space in front of the
clerks desk, and denounced Mr. Knott 10 the House
and country for having held a dispatch from josiah
Lat
Col. "Tom" SCOTS testimony, and denying that
Mr. Blaine had any connection whatever with tho
SG4, 900 bond transaction when the members burst
forth in loud and long continued applause and every
man in the reporters gallery it seemed 10 his eye,
participated in it, There was he said evident
thrill through the House such as is rarely felt when
he proclaimed the fact that two gentlemen, one of
whom had served in the Confederate army, had
withheld the dispatch, the publication of which
would have done him only simple justice.
The climax had seemed TO him to have been reached
when he avowed that he had possessed himself
of these letters and retained them in vindicaton of
the right Of every American citizen and that stand
ing on that right, neither the Committee nor the
House had power to take them from him. lie never
theess produced them in vindication Of his honor
and integrity against the destinations and unjust
coniectures of Congressional committee, although
announcing that he did it with great modification.
But the real climax, Judge Kelley thought, like the
curse of Lear which falls at the end Of the second
act Of the tragedy was in the scene first alluded to
when he appalled, Mr.. Knott and Mr.. Hunton by
proclaiming the fact that they held dispatch the
publication of which would establish his freedom
from all connection with the subject which could in
any way injure his reputation.