Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-06-22
CONKLTNG AND LAMAR.
The Nest Extraordinary Scenes Since
the Days of Slavery.


the Days of Slavery.
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, June -.
The exciting scene in the Senate
continues. There has not been such
an exhibition OF fiibusleFIng Ia the
Senate since the old kansas-N ebraska
struggle, when it was several time 3
kept up all night.
were then, in the majority, but the
Republican minority were the best
| parliameDtaTiaus, and thus they se-
! CursG their right TO be heard, as they
have succeeded in doing tonight.
At this hour COnkling is making
one of his extraordinary speeches.
He commenced by sketchIng the
tyEannical course of the Democrats in
the Senate to-day. He showed how
the entire day, cave twenty
two minutes consumed by
Blaine, had been occupied by
the Democrats, while in defiance of
courtesy, in violation OF plighted
faith, tDey had refused the Republi-
cans right to speak, and he concluded
with the declaration that while he re-
manned in the Senate no minority
should be gagged, throttled, or in
suited. This was preliminary to the
most extraordinary scene that has
ever occurred ia the Senate chamber,
certainly since the Old slavery days.
Referring incidentally to the course
of the Democrats on the apprOpria-
ton bills, Mr.. COnkling said that the
time has come when the majority
dare not adjourn and leave the Coy
eminent TO stGrve, or the army to
languisb. The devil is subtle, but he
weaves a coarse web. The web is this
cO-called army bill, Mr. COnkling
said, is very coarse. 1t is 8 trick, q
j1ggle, and he then imputed bad faith
10 the Democrats.
Mr.. Lamar, inferring that the i'm
putation Of bad faith was made, among
others, to him, said: ~ pronounce
the statement a falsehoOd, and | repel
it with the contempt | feel for the au-
thor of it,"
Senator COnkling had been in the
rear eff the Chamber, and had not
heard the whole of Lamar's remarks,
but he returned in time to hear the
sentence quoted. Raising himself to
his greatest height, with superb pride,
contempt and scOrn, waving aside an
attempted interruption by Lamar, Mr..
Conkling said, II will proceed in my
own time, and for the time 1 do not
intend to hold any communication
with him (Lamar). [ understood the
Senator 10 say in plain nparliamenta-
ry language that a statement of mine
is falsehood. If caught his words
Alright l have nothing to say
this not being the place |
to measure with any man |
a capacity to defy decency, to violate |
the rules of the Senate, or to commit |
any Of the improprieties Of life. 1 |
have nothing to say, but if the mem.
Der from Mississippi intended to im-
pute to me falsehOod, nothing except |
the fact that this is the Senate would |
prevent me from denouncipg him as a
blackguard and coward. Let me be
more explicit, Mr.. President. If The
member from Mississippi, except in
the presence of the Senate, charged
me by imputatiOn, or otherwise, with
I would denounce him as q
blGckguard, a coward and liar,
and understanding what he
said as l do, the rules and prophecies
Of the Senate are the only restraint
upon me-"
The extraordinary character of these
startled the Senate. There
was breathless silence in the chamber
when Lamar arose and said: 81 have
only to say that the Senator from New
York understood me correctly. beg
pardon of the Senate for the uuparlis-
nentary language. It was very harsh
and severe. 1t was such as no good
man would deserve and no brave man
would wear"
The silence which followed was
broken by sharp clap of the hands ,
rom Vance, of North Carolina, who
had seated himself near Lamar, and
vas noticed to make suggestions TO
linn. The excitement overcame the 1
temporary presiding officer, Cockrell,
# Missouri, who seemed to try to re.
,ain his equanimity by raps of the
avel. This ended at ! o'clock a. m.