Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-05
Anarchial Scenes i'm the House on
the Last Day of the Count.

of Mary and, Walling and Vance of Ohio, and
Lane of Oregon. Occasionally Sam Cox, who was
quietly aiding and abetting Springer, would be
drawn into the consultation. Several times during
the reading OF the journal Springer bounded up
and interrupted the Clerk by insisting that The
journal was not being read. The point of Spring
ers objections was that the various papers ano
records Of aye and nay votes, which were hserteu
in the journal, were not read in detail. 1he
Speaker, however overrued the objections and
decided no point could be raised on the journal
until the reading was completed. Springer Cd
ected to the Journal, indicating wherein 1t was not
correct When Springer paused for breath, Fer
nando Wood cut him off the floor by moving that
the rule requiring the journal to be read be sns-
pended. Springer understands sufficient psrlia-
meotsry Law 10 know when he is caught in trap.
Throw ing up his hands wildly he demanded the
yeas and nav. on Woods notion. O'Bren, Wall
ing and Poppleton echoed the demand, and the re-
suit of the call was yeas l15, nays 30, thus sus-
pending the rule by the required two-thirds MAJOR
ty. As soon as the result was announced Spring
err again thrust himself forward, and propounded
foolish inquiry touching the JOURNAL which the
Speaker decided was no point OF order, and which
a member declared in voice audible to the gal
cries. was "a point of mbecility,'
The decisions against the fbusteis initiated,
and for brief period disconcerted them. While
they were in consultation Fernando Wood sue
ceeded in getting the Speaker to declare that
nothing would be in order but the consideration
of the resolution with reference to the Vermont
objections. Finally the Speaker stated that the
paper in dispute was not in the possession OF the
iIouse and that the question involved having been
decided by the President of the Joint Convention,
he nor the House had not power to revise it. lie
took occasion, however, TO condemn the act OF tue
President of the Joint Convention in not submit
ting the paper to the two houses.
At this point a scene of disorder began, which
continued for three quarters of an hour and cul.
minated in an exhibition of rowdyism which would
have disgraced a democratic ward convention. AS
soon as the Speaker had rendered his decision
number of filibusters sprang to their feet with
questions of order. The shrl squeak of O'Brien
was heard above the din, and being directly in
front of the Speaker, he was recognized TO pro-
pound some nonsense which the Speaker mildly
pronounced speculative inquiry, and not ques-
ton of order To the numerous questions put to
him, the speaker replied that nothing now would
be in ord, except the debate on objections. Proc
tor Knott succeeded in offering substitute Tor the
pending resolution and amendment, providing that
the rejected package be opened by the Presiding
Officer Of the Senate, and that when the Senate
adopted similar resolution the House would be
prepared 10 meet in Joint Convention KNOTS
resolution further required that the paper purport-
ing TO be certificate of the Electoral vote OF Yer
mont should be referred to the Electoral Comm is
sion, with all other papers in the case.
| 1t was now ! 3O all parliamentary obstacles to
the Inauguration of the two hours debate on the
objections ad been removed. ard Mr.. Walling of
! Ohio, who presented the objections, was assigned
| the floor to open the debate. Seeing their plans
for delaying the debate were swept away, the fill
busters became desperate. They were all on their
feet ut once half of them addressing the Speaker
while the rest were holding exciting arguments
among themselves and those who were expostulat-
ing with them for their folly. The Speaker over
ruled all points of order, holding that under the
law nothing could be permitted to interfere at this
stage of the proceedings with the consideration of
l,la ~ IN ha MI of Vermont Camille Id
appealed from this decision, but the Speaker de-
| clined 10 entertain the appeal. This act of the
| Speaker seemed to set the hiibusters wild with ex
| element. The riotous demonstrations and threat
ening attitude of the flibusters caused the most
| intense excitement on the republican side and in
| the galleries The republicans arose from their
| seats, many joining the democrats in demanding
the preservation of order. Many ladies', fearing
that free fight was about to take place on the
democratic side, left the galleries. All this time
several of the flibusteTs were bowling in concert
at the Speaker about the rights Of the people
OF this number was George M. Beebe, of New
York. Beebe occupies a seat in the rear on the
democratic side, and to the right of the Speaker
He worked himself up to terrible pitch OF excite
meut and out-shouted the madmen who were
bowling all about him. The Speaker maintained
a vigorous pounding with the gaye while those
desiring order were entreating members 10 pre-
| serve the dignity of the House. Finding the
| Speaker paid no attention 10 him, Beebe mounted
his uCsk anu running over lDe OIL iOuf desks,
| in front Of him, denounced the rulings of the
Speaker as unlawful and unjust. AT the same time
| a voice called out that the Speaker was q usurper
| The noise and confusion which was caused by
| Beebes disgraceful performance exceeded any
thing ever known in Congress. The Speaker
called upon members to preserve order, while
members called back TO the Speaker to enforce
order. The flibusters clapped their hands and
cheered Beebe as he stepped over the tops of
desks. John. Young Brown called upon the
Speaker 10 enforce order. Springer and O'Brien
make some remarks to Brown, wheu that gentle
man in an excited manner stepped toward the two
filibusters and remarked in voice loud enough
to be heard in the galleries, "If | was an officer
of the House l would enforce it upon such as
you" The space in the rear Of the members seats
was crowded with outsiders who had been brought
upon the floor in violation of the rules. Walling
of Ohio, demanded that the crowd should be
cleared out. John Young Brown shouted at
Walling: at is not the crowd, but the disorder
ly members Of the House who should be cleaned
ost." The pounding of the Speakers gavel, cat
calls from the floor, Kisses from the galleries,
cheers and clapping of hands by some members
| Beebe walking over the tops of the desks like a
skilled acrobat, made scene never before equaled
| in Congress and seldom exceed in the most riot.
GUS of democratic conventions. For a few min
utes it looked as If the House would be broken up
in a free fight. The Sergeant alarms was d.
reced by the Speaker to remove every one from
the floor not members of the House, and that
officer, shouldering his mace, first walked up and
down the democratic aisles, seating the members
after which he drove the crowd into the cloak
rooms. Attention being called to this fact, the
crowd was expelled from the floor.
Order was finally restored. When Knots sub
stitute was read, Garfield showed his ability to
rank with Springer by demanding that the Speak
er should have read the sealed package, which
the Speaker had repeatedly stated was not in the
possession of the House. and generally manifested
disposition to provoke another scene of disorder,
Page, of California, asked Garfield if he intended
to occupy the floor all day 81 will, if necessary"
said Caulfeld ito preserve the rights of the Amer
lean people" The Speaker informed Caulfeld
there were others in the House who might be in.
trusted to look after the rights of the people, at
which general laugh was raised and Csulfsld
subsidized. The Speaker. at this point, fearing an
other scene of disorder, showed degree of firm
ness which would have been valuable If brought
into requisi,ion half hour earlier. Pounding the
desk with the gsvel, and in a voice trembling with
excitement, he said q The Chair is determined
to have order. In tbs he is resoute and no now
insists that officers of the House shall enforce or.
der"
Walline was again awarded the floor to debate
the objections, when questions were again started
about the rejected package.
The Senate Joined the House at 1855, and at
lbs Wisconsin, the last State to be counted had
been reached and objected TO, and the House s sep
arated.
LETTER FROM BOSTON,