Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-06-26
A SPAT IN THE SENATE.

A serious difficulty, and one that is person
al and may result in something very serious,
occurred in the Senate at twenty minutes past
IL o'clock last Thursday, between Conkling
aud Lamar. Conkliug, in wild, insulting
manner, spoke for an hour in denunciation of
the Democrats as sneaks and frauds, and said
that Mr.. Lamar, in getting up his Mississippi
levee bill and then voting against adjourn
ment, had been guilty of bad faith. Mr..
Lamar very calmly took the floor, and said
that had he had any idea that his billimplied
an intention to prolong the time for consider
alton of the bill beyond the time named by
the Senator in charge of it, he would never
have voted against adjournment, but would
have moved to adjourn himself. He said
further, that "if the Senator from New York
charged him (LanIar) with bad faith, or i'm
piled bad faith against him, say to the Sen
ator from New York (turning towards Conk.
ling) that he is guilty Of falsehood and l
repel it with all the contempt l feel for its
author"
This so astonished the Senate that not a
word was uttered. Mr. Lamar sat down and
Conkling arose and called "Mr President"
several times The chair (Mr. CockrelD re-
piled, "The chair has recognized the Senator
from New York twice."
Conkling was too much excited to know
what happened, and in trembling voice he
said, "Mr. President, I didn't hear what the
member from Mississippi said in the begin.
ming, but if l understand him Alright, he
charged me with Intentional misstatement, or
implied it. What did the member from Mis-
sissippi say?
Mr.. Lamar arose and addressed the Chair.
The Chair-Does the Senator from New
York yield to the Senator from Mississippi?
Conkling made no answer, and twice Mr..
Lamar asked if he yielded. Conkling turned
his back and said he would not hold further
communication with the member from Missis-
sippi. Conkling understood the member from
Mississippi to say in plain, unparliamentary
language that what he said was falsehood.
81 have only to say (this not being the place
to measure with any member the capacity to
violate the rules of the Senate)-I have only
to add that if the Senator, the member from
Mississippi, imputed to me, or intended to i'm
pute to me, falsehood, nothing except the
fact that this is the Senate would prevent me
from denouncing him as blackguard and
coward. [AppIause.] Let me be more spe.
ci6c: Should the senator from Mississippi in
the presence of the Senate, charge me by in.
timation with telling a falsehood, would de.
nounce him as blackguard, coward and a
liar (This created a decided sensation, and
Mr.. Conkling continuing, said.) But as I
understand it, the rules Of propriety of the
Senate are the only restraints upon me. v
Conkling sat down Mr.. Lamar waited half
a moment and deliberately said: II have
only to say to the Senator from New York
that he understood me correctly. said pre-.
cisely the words he understood me tosay. My
language was harsh and parliamentary, and
beg pardon of the Senate for it, but my Ian
guage was such as no good man would deserve,
and no brave man would wear"
This was applauded. When Mr.. Lamar
sat down, the chair waited apparently for Mr.
Conkling to reply, but the latter, after mo
ment's waiting, simply asked what is tht
question before the Senate, and the fllibuster
ing proceedings were resumed.