The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-06
THE ALL-NIGHT AND SUNDAY SEES
SION OF ASSEMBLY.
Flbustering Talks Against Time-A Con-
test Of Endurance IN Which Factions
Minority Triumphs Leather Lungs Beat
BriUhf Rraine

LA Ap Ia blAo.
from the Statc.]
On Saturday morning during the raornine
hour Mr.. Hanger threw a bomb in the HOUSE
in the shape of a resolution to come to 4
vote on the debt question at 1890 on Satur-
day night, and limiting the speeches to tif-
teen minutes. This the Readjusters oppos-
ed might and main, and the dominant ma
jority fell into the grave error of resti-
mating their strength, and attempted to rush
the proceedings through the House. At this
stage several Funders (this word we use "for
short" to distinguish the debt-payers) Joined
the ranks Of the Readiusters, and then
ensusd some extraordinary filibustering.
All day Saturday the time was consumed
in dilatory motions, and on the reassembling
of the House in the night session it soon be-
came evident that a systematic plan was go.
ing to be pursued by the Readjusters so as
to stave off vote on the debt question for
that purpose they organized their clique and
held them perfectly under CONTROL Moffett
was the leader and the maker of the motions.
Lacy, whose knowledge Of parliamentary
law is second to no man in the House, was
the artillery; it was his brain that devised
all the manGvreing and shifting of the par
ty tactics. Frazier, OF Rockbrdge, was the
cavalry, and his duty was to keep his forces
well together and exercise general supervi-
sion. Pat. McCaull was the light-nfantry
skirmisher, and Harrison, of Sussex, and
Fauntleroy were the reserves. On the other
side Hanger, of Augusta, led the forces, with
Henry, of Richmond, and Ashton, of King
George, as his aides-de-camp. ATS o'clock,
both parties having drawn up in line of
battle, the fight commenced. Taliaferro, of
Norfolk, had the door, and he spoke about
an hour and q half on the side of the Fun
ders, and ended at half-past nne.
The Readjusters then determined to con-
sumo time, and chose for that deadly pur-
pose Harrison, of Sussex, us the longest
winded man, with the most bottom of any
member in the House, and then the gentle
man, feeling how much depended on him
rose to his feet and commenced his speech.
An hour passed by, and the solid phalanx OF
Funders sat patiently waiting for him TO
end but he surged ahead as easily as Dex-
ter would trot his fifth mile. Another hour
came and went, and then the room began to
be deserted, and the members strolIed down
to the bar-rooms, lounged in the ante-rooms,
and smoked their meditative cigar, while
| Harrison, without break or hesitating for
a word kept or. apparently as fresh as ever.
| At midnight he held up for moment to al
low motion to adjourn, it now being Sun
Gay morning. The vote was anxiously
looked for as being test, for both among
the Readjusters and Funders were some who
objected to sitting on the Sabbath day on
account OF their religious scrupies. How
many there were none could tell, and the
clerk called the roll amid breathess silence.
Ayes, As :; nays, 81.
The refusal of the House to adjourn
brought Pat. Nee auil to his feet with a mo-
ton to reconsider. This led to the calling
of The ayes and noes, and then a skirmish
ensued between Marshal Hanger and Mr..
Lacy on the subject of the rules of the
House, which was settled by the decision OF
the Speaker in favor of Mr.. Lacy. After
some further filibustering calm came over
the storm, and Mr.. Harrison continued his
argument, and at one o'clock in the morn
ing the ceasless flow Of language issued from
his lips without pause and apparently with
out effort. By this time the visitors to the
| House had nearly all left, and, except a
| few senators, there were none but legislators
and attendants on the floor, and in con-
| sequence the strict observance Of propriety
was not insisted upon. Members began to
get sleepy, and looked hollow-eyed, but the
majority showed no signs Of yielding. Sit
ting there with compressed lips, they looked
| as if they intended to stay until Judgment
day. If they had an idea that Mi. Harrison
WAS at the end of his speech their minds
were speedily dis abused of that idea, for at
half-past one in the morning a servant ap-
peared with waiter, on which was coffee
pot, sugar-bowl, and cream-jug, and cup
of coffee was soon under Mr.. Harrison's
mustache. This act showed the Funders
that Mr.. Harrison was speaking against
time, and then they let out on him motions,
points Of order, questions fairly showercd
upon him from all parts of the house. One
member asked him to allow an adjournment
for the purpose OF getting something to
drink, and another asked him to repeat the
poem
1.-THE boy stood on the burning deck"
Another wanted the House to extend his
time. 10 all these gags he replied pleasant
ly, for he never lost his temper all the time,
and kept his imperturbable composure and
perfect GOODNESS to the last. He spoke coldly,
steadily. doggedly, like a man who sets out
to accomplish a task and intends to do it,
and means business every time. Two O'Clock
came, and with it an added amo unit of sleep
and fatigue upon the members. The Speak
er's chair had been filled aud vacated half a
dozen times already and refilled by new
members. The different Speakers pro tenn.
each would have to decide upon some point
of order which would arise every half an
hour. The apple stall women and cigar.
vendors did a lively trade, and the floor was
soon covered with apple-cores, orange peels,
rnds of cheese, empty sardine boxes, and
all kinds of debris.
At half past 2 O'Clock, the gentleman from
SUSSEX, who had been speaking for five hours,
with all the regularity and unimpressiveEess
of phonograph, now ceased and took his
seat.
His retirement was the signal for another
desperate struggle, and the Funders strove
desperately to carry the House with them.
In vain; the lines that had been so tightly
drawn IN the early evening were still intact
There had been no detection from either;
the relative strength was about seventy to
fortv-not two-thrds.
After an half hours heated discussion,
Mr.. Frazier, Reatljuster, obtained the floor
couple OF hours. A relentless war, of the |
Parthian character was wagea against him,
and he was beset on all sides.
At O'Clock in the morning Mr.. Hanger |
was placed in the Speakers chair. The fight |
was very bitter and envenomed at the Pc
Rod, and had Mr.. Hanger remained in the
chair, under his rulings the whole result
might have been different; but soon as Mr..
Allen assembled the chair, it was lively
sight, at least a dozen members on their feet
at the same time, each striving to be heard,
and gesticulating frantically, the sitting
members urging on their partisans. At last
followed.
1t soon became day the dawning light
struggled family in the room, making the
tlarng gas look yellow and CHASTITY, and
casting pallor over the scene. The gale
ries were deserted with the exception of two
negro tramps, who slumbered peacefully
amid the din. AS yet both parties were
firm, confident and defiant. 1t had long ago
become evident that it was mere question
now of physical misunderstanding more
nor less-and as we looked around and cool
ly weighed the chances, it was difficult to
see to which side the scale of victory would
incline but the Readjusters had one impor-
tant thing in their favor, and that was they
were composed of younger men, and conse-
quently tougher material, than their oppo-
nents still the Flinders had shown such
will that it almost counterbal-
anced the disparity of age.
TIE dawning rays, slowly gathering in
strength and brightness, now filled the hall
with the light of day; the gas was extin-
guished, and Mr.. Harrison again took the
floor. A motion to adjourn was now tried