Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-08-26
KASSON AND HEWITT.

The dying hours of the session of
Congress just closed were enlivened by
highly exciting conflict, which, as the
subject matter Of it will probably en-
ter into the controversies of the now
imminent Presidential Campaign, we
propose to narrate in some detail.
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa is a member
of the House who has done useful
service to the Radical party in the way
of dirty work. If an inexperienced
Democrat has to be badgered and be-
devilled out of what he has got to say
by irrelevant questions and interpola-
tions-if weak point of Radical ras-
eality has to be covered over with gar
bled statements and fimsy sophistry
or if as now a powerful antagonist has.
to be blackened with dirt thrown from
the political sewers, Mr.. Kasson was
the man to do it. In this department
he waited till the end of the session
for his great opportunity; with a man
of his calibre it was n double advan-
tage if he could take advantage of the
scanty moments left for debate so as
to cover his antagonist with SANDER to
which no reply could be given.
The subject before the house was
the proposed increase of cavalry for
the Sioux war.
Mr.. Kasson got the floor and charged
the Democratic party with persistent
opposition to the Federal government
when at war with its enemies, and this
was his point of departure-nOthing
more was heard of the Sioux or the
cavalry, but the Speaker undertook to
make a record>for Mr.. Tilden as the
constant and implacable foe of the
Union.
Then came a torrent of the scandals
that began to food the press in New
York from the time that Mr.. Tilden's
name was used in connection with the
proposed convention at st. Louis as q
probable candidate for President. He
had expressed disunion sentiment be-
fore the war. He had signed the treas
onOus Tammany letter of 1868. He
had refused to subscribe out of his
great fortune to any of the expenses of
the war. He had grown rich by set
ting on their feet rotten railroad con-
Germs. He had been the friend of
Tweed and his accomplice in robbery
&c. &c. ISLANDERS which had most Of
them been already Fefuted but which,
it was hoped, would gain some respect
ability by being repeated in Congress.
1t was still more fondly hoped that as
Congress was to last only till IL evening
the next day, and unfinished business
kept thronging the halls of Congress,
no opportunity for an answer could
possibly be given.
Here is where they missed it; if the
matter could be delayed till the next
morning session it was known that in
dispensible business would occupy the
house till its final adjournment and no
reply could be made, the Democrats
were resolved that adjournment should
not take place, the Radicals that
no reply should be made.
A night of filibustering was the re-
suit. During the evening various re-
ports from the Senate and other bust
ness kept coming in and in the inter-
walls the skirmishing went on. A new
New York member had retained the
right to the floor, but all use of that
right was nullified by motions of ad-
journment motions to suspend the rules
&c, during all this occurred the fol-
lowing dialogue. Mr.. Cox in possess
sion of the house:
Mr.. Hoar.-Before the gentleman
proceeds, will he allow me to ask
Mr.. Cox.-Not now. All l desire
is one minute to call the attention of
the house to a statement made by the
defender of Belknap in this house, the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Kasson.)
Mr.. Hoar.-Will the gentleman,
before he proceeds allow me to ask
question of the gentleman from Penn
sylvania, (Mr. RandalD about the pub
lie business.
Mr.. COx.-Not now. The gentle
man from Iowa repeated apocryphal
statement
Mr.. KassOn.-If the gentleman does
not withdraw that statement
Mr.. Cox-I have the floor.
The Speaker pro tem.-The chair
protected the gentleman from Iowa
andwill now protect the gentleman New
York.
Mr.. Cox.-The apologist of the post
traders made q statement here.
Mr.. Kasson.-I call the gentleman
TO order, his statement is untrue.
Mr.. Cox.-I did not say it was you.
The Speaker pro tem.-What is the
point of order by the gentleman from
Iowa.
Mr. Kasson.-That the gentleman
has no right to state an untruth on this
Roor against any member.
Mr. Cox-I call the gentleman to
,rdsr for he lied deliberately about
Gov. Tilaen. EGreat cOnfusion.l
All this Of course produced excite
meut andtalk and one man wanted one one
49,. 800 and one man another, and Mr..
Coz Cor advanced on Mr. KassOn with his