Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-04

The legislature, ana, OF course, hlcn
mond, had an excitement last week which
eliminated in tile debarring of the report
err of the Evening Journal" from the
privileges of the floor. On Tuesday, Mr..
T. Spicer Curlett, the member of the
House from Lancaster, rose i'll his seat,
and demanded the reading, by the Clerk, Of
the following editorial from the Evening
Journal" ...,-.----..-,-
"FONDLING TILE TIC ER--TOssING COPPERs
A bill has been introduced in the House
by one of its prominent members, to punish
alike the patty who plays and informs on a
faro-bank and the owner of the bank. The
morning papers give Mr.. Crockett credit
for this, and i'll So doin. they lave erred,
and robbed the real author of the glory
and likewise reflected on old Dave. Mr..
Il. Spicer Curlett, Of Lancaster, is the
gentleman Wlo offered this bill, and it is
not right to give another credit for it. and
thus rob this young man of his popularity
with the owner OF Il large tiger whom Mr..
Il. Spicer has been fOndling.
There is SOMETHING in name even though
it is parted in the middle. The Very first
initial CIT" how it sends joy to the heart
of IA Legislator. Spice, positive Spice.
comp Spcer. superlative Curlett. But
apart from this suggestive name Mr.. L.
Spicer Curlett, of Lancaster, has an ele
gance OF manner, a grace CT person, and
a tluency of speech, which, with his ex-
quisitely fitting clothes, and his carefully
studied positions, mark Tim at least ''un-
usual" In ad lition to all this Mr.. Tea
Spicer Curlit wears y beaver hat and cane.
The latter is adorned with a well-carved
"calf," with foot attached, and is twirled
when in conversation with rapidity quite
equal to the ''sWell of the day"
MIR. Peter X. Jones offered a bill to ar
rest three card monte men without a war
rant, which was also referred. 1t looks as
if there is some combination between the
two. Mr. T. Spicer Curlett was put up to
Offering his bill by a large tiger dealer, and
thinks 1t ought to be passed.
Mr.. Curlett frequently bucks at. the til
ger, and this little effort on his part to III
gratiate himself is but natural.
Mi Curlett will bet on most anything,
it is said, and on last Monday during
prayers, he and a friend passed the time in
''tossing coppers for drinks!" Now, while
man, or perhaps did not seriously inter-
rupt the devout pray ers Of the rest of the
members, still it was not exactly the cor
rect thing. AS the other party has rela-
tiveS living here, his name, at their request,
has been withheld"
The reading of the article caused good
deal of merriment among the members,
but Mr.. Curlett seemed to be considerably
excited. He said the editor OF the Jour
nal" had refused to give him the name of
the author of the article, and as i've found
the editor to be physically disabled lie had
no means of redress, but to move TO expe
the young man whom he believed generally
sat in the gal cry, and whose name he
hoped to obtain from the privileges of the
House. He desired to say, however, that
the author WAS Il liar and a coward, and he
would cowhide him if he found an tppor-
tanity.
The Journal that evening calls the at
tention Of the Chief of Police to a card
published in the "Whig' by Mr.. Curlett,
in which the above article was denounced
us ''defamatory and false.' and says the
aggrieved legislator should seek his remedy
in the courts, by suit for libel.
Says the "Journal:''
But his clustering talk about "personal
esponsibility'' and his threats made on the
floor of the House this morning will Meth
intimidate anybody nor help his cause.
The journal" is performing public duty
by looking after the public servants Of the
State, sent hither to legislate for the
State and paid for such service, even
though it be neglected. The House OF
Delegates places Il stigma upon itself by al
lowing members to talk such bully talk as
he talked this morning on the floor
But this is business Tor Major Poe and
the police justices. And if Mr.. Curlet1
suffers harm attempting TO carry out any
of his bully threats, Mr.. Poe will have to
shoulder the responsibility. One thug is
very certain, viz: That the "Evening Jour
nal' will not be intimidated by the bully
talk ofaggrieved legislators, however much
members of the Legislature may be intimi-
dated by the bold threats of tainted
judge.
RESOLUTION OF EXPULSION.
The House passed the following resolu-
tion of expulsion:
Whereas, malicious articles have ap.
peareG from time TO time, in the Evening
Journal. "againSt members of the Legisla-
ture, false and uncalled for, and whereas,
the editors only hold themselves legally res
ponSible, therefore be it resolved that the
editors of said journal" he expelled from
the floor, and be denied access to the gal
leries Of the House of Delegates during the
sessions of this Legislature.
The next day the resolution was recon
sidered on motion of Mr.. Bagwell, the
journal in the mean time having pub
lished an absurd speech purporting to have
been made by Mr.. Curlett. The motion
to reconsider was supported by Mr.. Gil
mar, of Richmond.
Ex-Gov. Smith, of Fauquier, expressed
his establishment at some of the sentiments
that had been uttered on this subject.
What! The House of Delegates of Virginia
has no power to protect itself against the
attacks of those who occupy seats ON the
floor by the grace and favor of the House
Such persons, when admitted here. have
no right to misrepresent, falsify and ridi-
cule the House, or any of it's memLers.
They are admitted that they may report
the proceedings, and when they abuse that
privilege they are trespassers. The report
ers are the agents of the editors and pro-
prletOrs of the newspapers, and the latter
are responsible for their Misrepresentation
In this case there had been no apology OF
recantation. On the contrary, the I'M
worthy writer has aggravated his offence
by subsequent articles. The blow had not
only been followed up, but enlarged, and
an insult had been offered to tire whole
House. The former leniency of the House
had only made the writer holder and more
insolent. ARTICLES from the journal"
of Friday were read by the clerk, at the
request of Mr.. Smith, amid much laugh
ter Mr.. Smith proceeded to comment
upon them with much asperity. as defama-
tory and insolent. The aim of these ar
ticles seemed to be to subject not only the
member from Northumberland, but the
whole House, to the contempt and scorn
Of the public. He asked if the House
would sit coolly and permit this outrage
upon its dignity. He did not know Mi.
Curlett. but he was a member of the
House, and as such entitled to it's privi-
leges and protection: His politics should
not be considered. Mr.. Smith referred to
the Republican side of the House as hav-
ing distinguished itself during the session
by its exemplary conduct The bearing Ct
Republican members had i'll all respects
been so uniformly decorous as to challenge