Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-16
Drunken Virginian i'm the House.


HUNtLIATING SPECTACLE DURING DEBATE-DoUG-
LAS, OF VIRGINIA, IN STATE OF ISToxIcA-
TON DEFYING THE CHAIRMAN, THE SERGEANT
ALARMS, AND THE WHOLE HOUSE.
Especial to the New York Times.
WAsHIxGroN, March l3.-Wbile the House
was considering the Consular and Diplomatic bill
TO dav. in Committee of the Whole, Beverly
Douglas. Representative of the First Virginia
District. succeeded in creating excitement both
novel and disgrsceful. Mr.. Douglas is in the hsb-
it of INDUCING 100 freely in the flowing bowl.
To day be was in his normal condition, and being
moved by the spirits to defne his position, under
took to answer some arguments made against
Southern claims by injecting questions into speech
with which Mr. Couger va entertaining the dem
ocratic side of the House. Mr.. Cox, OF New
York was in the chair and fearing that Mr. Doug
las would get ahead Of him in the exhibition bus
mess, uterfered to protect Mr. Conger and TO pre-
vent Mr. Douglas from giving the Official report
ers an excuse for interlardiug the published re-
port of the DAYS proceeding with daughter and
''uproarious laughter" The Chairman vigorous
w pounded his de,k " It'll his gavel, and called the
gentleman from Virginia to order, but The gentle
man from Virginia was oblivious to the gavel and
everything else, and persisted in talking at Mr.
Conger, who stood quietly in his place, waiting
for the fun on the democratic side to pass over.
Finding he could not make himself heard above
the terrible din of the gavel, Mr.. Douglas turned
to the chairman and exclaimed "Oh, you needn't
rap. I'm not going to be knocked down before
ask my question" This sally, delivered with
facial expression that Mr. Cox himself IN his most
funny vein could not surpass, added 10 the gen
ora hllarity, and in order to prevent the House
from going INTO cOnyulsions, the Chairman re-
uuested the geant-at Arms to assist him in pre-
wing proper decolum. In times of great ex-
citement in the House, the Sergeant-at Arms will
his mace OF office and overawe disoIderly
persons. But this symbol of authority cannot be
used while the House Is in Committee of the
Whole, aud the Sergesnt-st- Arms, therefore, care
fully approached MI. Douglas, who was still stand
ing in his place addressing MIR. Conger, and lay
ing his hand upon his shoulder, requisite him t.
be seated. This irritated Doug las, and he could
he heard deiylng the Sergeant at Arms, and in
sistng upon hi. right to be heard. WEAVING a
J. asst with the bull doing Of the Chairman, who
continued to ply his gavel. and the opportunities
of the Sergeant alarms, Douglas struck at that
officer several times, but fortunately did not reach
him, by reason of the 'nterpostion of members in
he immediate vicinity of the melee. Some of the
more dignihed members on both sides thinking
element and dj'order 10y screaming Vt the Chair
man in chorus, IL Use 10 point of Order" eacn
insisting upon recognition. But the Chairman
was so intently interested in Mr. Douglas that h.
had eyes and ears for else. la the mean
time, Messrs. iuntoon, Tucker, Springer, and
others, surrounded Douglas.
The Seigesnt-st-Arms was induced to retire
without having pc formed the dutIes of his office,
tbe irse Nmginian was Modified, and compa alive
order was restored. Mr.. Conger was pc rnltted 10
continue his interesting remarks upon Southern
CLAIMS until Mr. Luttrell of California, fearing
doubtless, that Mr.. Douglas might again become
ipquisitorily inclined, raised the point OF order
that it was not proper to discu,s Southern claims
pending the consideration OF the diplomatic appro-
pIiatlon, which point was sustained by the Chair
man, and Conger was retired about the same time
that MIR Douglas was led of in triumph to small
room used as n library, where he was closely
guarded for couple OF hours. When he finally
emerged from tue library MIR. Douglas directed
ais unsteady steps 10 the sergeant at-Arm TO de
mand satisfaction. aud was only quoted when
friend assured hun that he would foi ce Mr. Thomp-
son To fight or spolog ze for the ndignlty offered
to a Virginia gentleman. 1t was, perhaps, FORUM
ate that this disgraceful proceeding occurred ~
Committee of the Whole, where the Sergeant-at-
Arms has not power TO act. Mr.. Douglas, it l.
said, always carries deadly weapons, and had the
Sergeant-a- Arms attempted 10 IOIclbly eject him,
there would have been "A serious time. Before the
exhibition the door above described, Mr..
Douglas made visit to he reporters gallery In
search vi a correspondent who had described hi,
usnai condition ia one of the dispatches, and
whom he threatened to kill. Fortunately the Of
tending CORE pendent not in the gallery.