Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-03-04


~, but there was h minority bordering
on 20 in number, and inspiltd by de
termination absolutely heroic, deteImin
cd to resiet 10 the death, il need be, ant
If could be, tie revolutionary efior
made TO press tie measure 10 its passage
without The scrutiny Of debate.
Sunday came on aud Fauntleroy arose
with all his dignified elaboration and
terseuess of expression, saying, "Mr'
| Speaker arise to the point Of order that
this Is the Sacred Sabbath, which under
the law of both, God and man, we are
bound TO respect; l solemnly and rever-
entiallv demand sir, the Adjournment of
tlSs House" The determined gavel of
Speaker Allen came down and he de-
clared the Legislative day knew no Sun
day. The speaker resumed, Mr.. Harri-
son, Of Sussex, was then on the floor,
and for two hours he had debated the
Fowler amendment, to submit the bill
TO vote Of the people, and to postpone
Its action until the next Legislature
could speak. On went the debate
Points of order were made and ruled
down. Confusion stalked abroad in the
hall, and the heavy hours wore on.---
Ashton made the point Of order that
Harrison was not debating the amend
mcnt. The chair sustained and declar-
ed the SPEAKER had forfeited the floor.
Then there was bedlam. Fowler appeal
cd from the decision Of the chair, and
debate thereon become wild. AT last
Speaker Allen resumed the chair and
permitted the speaker to proceed. For
over six long hours Harrison held the
floor, and during the long time he spoke
with both clearness and force. 1t was
declared no such effort had been made in
the legislation Of the State. At last at
n. IN. on Sunday, after the morning pa
pers had been printed and distributed
among the members, he closed his re-
marks amid the congratulations of his
40 odd friends. He was the lion of the
hour. Then came scene of filebustcr-
ing indescrible. AT the hour Of dawn Il
vote was reached on the Fowler amend
ment and it was defeated 40 to So, a
number, being temporarily absent
The Mofiett amendment to save mil
lion dollars, had been ridden down by u
vote of So to 50. Sixteen Of our men
were away. The enemy all present.
AT 8 a. NJ. came up the HARRISON
amendment, and again that gentleman
got the floor and held 1t for over two
hours. Breakfast was served on trays
and In all other sorts of ways. Some
members ran ont and lunched, and some
tasted to degree more than heroic
Another scene of filibustering ensued--
until the floor was accorded to Farr, Of
Fairfax. The hour Of noon came. For
10 continuous hours the House has been
In session. For over 20 hours 1t had
been in session for the Legislative day.
The church bells had ceased to ring and
the d DIS of the city were in their pull
pits. AT last the enemy yielded and ac-
knowledged defeat. The Bill was lost.
Time there could not be for its passage
and Bocock arose and announced they
had yielded and the House adjourned
The long session was over. The Allen
amendment had been attached to the
bill by its friends, but all to no use. 1t
was beaten and the gag was broken
This Allen amendment is, in my opin-
ion, perhaps the worst feature of the
bill. Certainly that alone ought to be
enough to render It odious. It's friends
had refused TO allow the people to pass
on il.
An extra session is said to be the next
move, but of this more anon SEE.