The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-17

chairman. Mr.. Gibson, Of Culpeper, SUBJ
mitted the following report:
| 10 the Honorable the House Of Delegates OF
Virginia:
| The undersigned, appointed a special
committee by your honorable body "to In
uuire into the origin and character of the
disturbance which occurred in the rotunda
and bali of the House OF Delegates between
Messrs. William w. Archer, Carter n. Har-
rjson. and Hon. james A. Frazier on the 9th
OF February" respectfully report that upon
the evidence adduced before your commit
tee il appears that on the 9th instant John
Hampden Chamberlayne, member from
Richmond city, rose upon the floor OF the
House upon question OF privilege and
made personal explanation. He read the
following extract from letter written by
the said James A. Frazier. signed "X," and
published In the ROctbridge Enterprise OF
the date OF February the 9th:
lam not little surprised that Mr.. g. should OBJ
ject to any report however Just or false TO his
| many lengthy remsrSs, since he quietly sits here
day by day an eyewitness 10 the trossest lstate-
mants and Misrepresentation ol every word NJ.
tered on this floor. This evil has grown TO such
proportions that his reports are taken to be abso-
hneIy false uLless proven true. This Is fortunate
or else many gentlemen would ere this have ssf-
fered from wre'ehed Misrepresentation"
AS SOON AS Mr.. CHAMBERLAYNE
had finished reading this extract Hon.
James \. Frazier rose in his scat, and stated
that he had not meant to refer to the men,
Der from Richmond city, but to the report
er OF the House proceedings to the State,
and that the printer had mistaken his re-
ference, and he dsclaimed any intention OF
being offensive TO Mr.. Chamberlayne. Al
ter this disclaimer, remarks were made
upon the floor concerning this matter by
both gentlemen; but, as these two members
OF the House differ rs to the exact purport
Of these subsequent remarks, and as they
were made in the hearing OF the House this
committee deems its unnecessary to make
any other or further allusiOn to them.
WILLIAM W. ARCHER, A REPORTER
for the State newspaper, was that morning
occupying privileged seat upon the floor
Of the House rs reporter. and very soon
after these two members had ceased their
discussion he left the hall OF the House and
went into the rotunda. He there met Carter
n. Harrison, reporter OF The common
uedtM newspaper and as such allowed q
priyjleged seat on che floor OF the House.
Mr. Archer told Mr.. Harrison he intended
TO call the Hon. James A. Frazier to ac-
count for the alIusion made TO him,
and asked him TO go into the House
and invite the Hon. James A. Frazier out,
and TO witness the difficulty he expected tC
have with Frazier. Mr.. Harrison went into
the House and invited the Hon. James a.
Frazier out and accompanied him TO the
presence OF Mr.. Archer, who was then III
the rotunda. Mr.. Archer asked Mr.. Fra
e zier il be meant TO charge him (Archer
4, with making misrepresentation and mis-,
I statements. Hon. James A. Frazier replied
| that he did mean 10 say that his reports
| about him were false. Archer thereupon
STRUCK THE HON. JAMES A. FRAZIER.
Frazier struck back, and several blows
nassed between them. Mr. Han risOn ther
= seized Mr.. Frazier for the purpose, as h(
alleges, Of separating the combatants. Mr.
: Frazier states that the consequence OF hl'
! being seized by Mr.. Harrison was TO leave
= him at the mercy OF Mr.. Archers blows
=, Mr.. Archer was seized by Mr.. w. l.. Royal
and several others, and the parties were
i separated.
;, Mr.. Arc6er was taken by his friends t
y his office, and the Hon. James A. FIazie
- - back into the House by Acting Sergeant-at
% Arms Southwark
There is a conflict OF evidence as t.
, whether Mr.. Harrison struck Mr. Frazier
>, but there is no doubt that the conduct o
-; Mr.. Harrison seriously impeded the abil
ity OF Mr.. Frazier for offensive and defen
v sive operations.
!! While this difficulty was going on in th
= . rotunda the Speaker Of the House ordere
" Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Southwark TO al
:, rest and bring before the bar OF the Hous
70 ! the parties creating the disturbance. MI
:; Harrison was brought in by the Sergear
= soon after the termination OF
y THE DIFFICULTY IN THE RoTuNDA,
10 mt under arrest. and given seat before th
e bar of the House, and near the one occuple
e. by Mr.. Frazier.
ID MIR. Frazier, in describing the difficult
AZ to some Of his fellowmembers, alluded |
Or Mr.. Harrison in an offensive manner, an
thereupon Mr.. Harrison called MIR. Frazle
n id liar. Each party immediatel
I'd sprang TO their feet and made for the othel
IS. Colonel John B. Lady, member from Roct
bridge, and the Sergeant-at-Arms steppe
between the parties and prevented the
ot getting together, and they were both con
te pelled by the Sergeant to retake their seal
4 as Drisoners under arrest. Soon after IN
al Mr.. Archer was brought before the bar
rs the House by the Sergeant, put under arres
a and ordered 10 report to the committee
n. investigation appointed by the House. I'll
n. parties were all bailed for their appearanc
he MIR. Frazier, being a member Of the Hous
an was put upon his own recognizance.
YOUR COMMITTEE FURTHER REPORT
that they have taken dispositions OF nur
- ber Of witnesses under oath, and return q
er evidence taken in the case as part Of tn
he report. And they respectfully recommer
Is, and suggest that the House take the folloN
bit ing action In the premises: That as 10
n, w. Archer. your committee are OF oplnl'
he that the House ought to eXpel him fro
lis his seat as q reporter OF the proceedings
Ia the House, and that be be debarred FRO
M this House during its further sessions. Al
they are OF opinion that 4 like action oug
at TO be taken as TO Carter n. Harrison.
er. AS TO THE HON. JAMES A. FRAZIER,
>. they feel constrained to say that he show
~ bad taste In undertaking to criticise IN
Cd public newspaper, in parliamentary u
~ guage, q fellow-meynber OF the House; |
AZ that the consequences OF such crlticis
= . have sufficiently impressed him OF the
,v propriety OF bis course, and they are
:" opinion that no punishment whate
in should be ip ficted upon him tFrazierl Q
1 a that he be released from arrest ana resto
Of TO all fo,.mer privileges as an honora
member Of this House; and they, thereto
y. recon. mend the adoption OF the follow
10 reso' '.utioDs.
>. That w. w. Archer be expelled ir
r. TIE floor OF the House as a reporter dur
d. - the further sessions Of this House.
.. That Carter N. Harrison be expe
from the floor Of the House as repoi
dav during the further sessions OF this Hous
ton 8. That the Hon. James A. Frazier be
| t.nsal fran, arreef anI raatornd tn all