Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-19

On the night Of the 10th Of July, 1873,
in q discussion with Mr.. S. c. Ncale, in
the city of Alexandria. | stated in sub
stance that the Hon. William NJ. Springer
made 4 motion Cooking to the defeat Of
the assessment enforcing bill) at the i'll
stance Of Columbus Alexander and others.
While at my home in Warrenton. [ was
surprised to find the following card from
this man Alexander in the Alexandria
Gazette Of the 18th instant:
WASHINGTON, d. c., July II, 1878.
To the Editor Of he Alexandria Gdzette !:
I find in the Baltimore Sun, the Wash
ineton Star, and several other papers, a
report of q speech made by Hon. Eppa
Hunton last Tuesday night, at AleXan-
dria, in which he asserts that the intam-
Gus assessment enforcing bill, passed by
the House on the morning of the 18th of
June last, upon motion OF MIR. Hendee,
and for which he (Nlr. Hunton) voted,
"had been brought 10 him endorsed by Com.
missioner Bryan, Jau7Ge WY'ic and CoT"m-
bus 1leutndcr.
Now in all due respect to the gentle
man, J. hereby dcnouncc that statement,
not merely as entirely untrue, but in view
of the recorded facts, which | shall state
hereafter, rs even ridiculous, Nay, [ so
further, and openly express it as my hon
est opinion that the honorable gentleman
himself must have known at the time,
10 Ia flat .fnio roanf IN at If
not true.
That bill, now universally recognized as
one of the worst and most unjust ring
measures, passed the Senate on the 18th
Of June in the absence of that true friend
Of our people, Senator Bayard, and upon
the motion Of that great ring advocate,
Senator Sargent, Of California, as sub
stitute to quite different bill, Of which
latter the title only was retained. Five
days later Senator Bayard made. an at
tempt to recall that bill from the House,
but it was then too late under the rules of
the Senate.
On the morning OF the 18th June the
substituted bill was called up in the House
by the ring advocate. Hendee, from Yer
mont, and it passed the House whilst not
half q quorum was present. In the after
noon of the same day | and few other
citizens, feeling greatly chagrincd at the
passage of this outrageous bill, succeeded
in inducing Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois, to
make 4 motion to prevent the bill from
becoming . law. But | will now quote
rerbatins from the Congressional Record
Of June 10, page 80:
"Mr. Springer. When the House met
this morning. tho"n were but few members
present, and motion was ,neln nt once,
| believe by gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania Mr.. Clymcr that the House should
adjourn but it was stated that there were
some matters Of local Importance that
might be transacted, and that this could
be done if there was no objection thereto !;
and thereupon the House proceeded to
consider whatever measures might be
brought mp by members, against which it
was understood no objections were to be
urged.
''The gentleman from Vermont Mr..
Hendcc7 among others called up q bill en-
titled bill to provide for the revision and
correction of assessments for special in
in the District Of Columbia,
and for other purposes. That title is per-
fectly fair and harmless upon It's face, and
attracted no attention ON the part Of mem
hers Of the House. Objection WAS made
by the gentleman from Tennessee Mr..
Atkins to the bill, Tor the reason that he
did not understand il IL ."~-~ 'i'r" "7-
s,.,ru mat the bill had received the unan.
imous appreciation Of the Committee for
the District Of Columbia Of this House,
and he then withdrew his objection, and
tIercupon the bill was passed. There
was not & quorum present.
''Shortly altcrward L met some promi-
nent citizens Of the city Of Washington
who are interested in these matters--I am
not, for own no property here at all
who informed me that the bill which had
passed this morning was one that the peo-
pie Of this District had been resisting for
many months that it was one Of great
outrage and oppression to them; that
they did not believe that this House Of
would impose measure
of that kind upon the people Of the Dis
trict Intentionally and knowingly. | stated
that l was utterly ignorant Of the pro-
visions of the bill, but if wrong had
been done
"Mr. Huuton. Who erere these friends Of
yoors that called upon y""?
"Mr. Springer. / will state them: Co.
lumbus AIcnnder was one Of them laugh.
ter Hon. Mr.. Ingcrsoll, formerly mem
Der of this House, was another: Mr..
Schade, Of this city, was another. [ was
also shown letter written by Mr.. Bryan,
one Of the present Commissioners Of the
District. in reference to these assessments,
and now ask that the letter be read by
the clerk.
':Mr. Uendee. Is the five minutes out
yet 2
Thus it will be seen that Mr.. Hunton
must have known that he stated 4 false
hood last Tuesday night at the Alexan-
dcia meeting when he maintained that /