New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-14

were not indicted or imprisoned for any offence
committed at the election General Shelley denied
that Mr. Haralson's attorney was indicted or driven
from the State account of his connection with
the election contest, he indicted at all un-
I'll after the taking of testimony had been COM
pleted. He also denied that Mr. HARRISON himself
had been threatened driven from the State for
that or any other reason He said that Mr.. HARRISON
remained in the State for more than a month after
the election unmOlested. On this latter point Mr.
HARRISON says that on his return to Selma from
Montgomery, whittier he had gone TO procure
copies of election returns, he twas met on the tram
by band of white men, all of whom were armed
who were the political friends of General Shelley
the sitting member, who repeatedly threatened to
mob him." and that in consequence fthese threats
he left the train, spent the night in farm house.
and as soon as possible left the State But General
Shelley produced the affidavit of man who said
that he did not know nor did he believe, that Mr..
HARRISON had been threatened with violence OF
compelled by such threats to leave the state
which really proves nothing.
General Shelley denies the charge of bribery, and
characterized it as false and lbellous and said that
this publication was evidently intended to infiu-
the House to extend the time for taking testi-
mOny in this case, and thus give Mr.. HARRISON an
advantage he would not otherwise have possessed.
General Hawley called attention to the fact that
Mr.. Shelley had not trayersed all the charges made
IN the paragraph that had been read. and called his
attention to the quotation from the Alabama news
paper which invited the assassination of Mr. Haral-
son during the canvass. General Hawley asked MI
Shelley if this were true.
He replied that as he had no connection with the
paper he knew nothing about it. This reply may be
true, but the fact remains that the paper in ques
ton, The Selma Times, is published at General
Shcley's own home, is the. only daily newspaper
there, and the quotation Is from leading cdltCral
IN the issue of July 80, 1873.
On the whole General Shelleys explanation
amounted to plea of not guilty and leaves the
matter in most respects in about the situation
in which TIE TRIBUNE paragraph placed it. The
explanation was read from manuscript, was tenn
peratey expressed, and was listened to with careful
attention by the House.
Mr.. Russell, of North Carolina, followed General
Shelley. His speech was general denial of accu-
satons made against him by Mr. Kitchen and an
attack upon the validity of the atters election. 1t
contained some plain language, but did not trans
| gTess the rules of parliamentary decOTum.
! Mr.. Kitchen then obtained the unanimous con-
sent of the House to reply, saying that he should
speak about half an hour. Walking down into the
area IN front of the Speakers desk he began most
| grossly supplementary attack upon Mr.. Russell
repeatedly using expressions that would not be toll
/ Grated in any delberative body in the world. He
declared that there was not decent or respectable
| Republican in the whole South, and denounced the
! carpet baggers and scaawags in terms more
! forcbe than polite. Immediately afterward
! he could with difficulty find words to express his
! admiration for Republican carpet-bag Judge who
| had decided case in his favor
| Mr.. Kitchens remarks were so outrageously I'M
! parliamentary that the Democrats, knowing that
such an exhibition by one of their number would
bring great dscredit upon the whole party, called
| him 10 order. One after another objected TO his
! going on. The Speaker ordered him TO leave the
area in front of the desk and speak from his own
sat FINALLY finding that he could not 20 on, Mr..
! Kitchen undertook TO crush ms Republican col
league with one final question. Brandlshlng book
wildly In his hand he asked Mr.. Russell If it was not
| true that he had been court-martialled and dis
! missed from the Confederate service The Demo
Gratis began to enjoy this but Mr. Russell did not
| wait a second to make his reply. Yes" said he,
was court-martialled anddismissed from the Con-
federate service for whipping a conscrlpt officer,
and was restored to that service by order Of nfter
| son DavisD This answer was received with great
applause by the Republicans. and some OF the DEM
| ocrats even could not help joining in it,.
In the midst of the confusion Mr.. Kitchen was
wildly gesticulating, and several other Democrats
were ON their feet on points of order demanding
| the previous question: The Speaker then put stop
to the whole proceeding, leaving MIR. Kitchen with
| out the opportunity to make reply. lie was about
! the worst /" used up" man who has engaged IN a
personal controversy OH the floor OF the House for
| many long day.