Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-11

IO1mcO
covered with iron grey hair, and from beneath
an ample forehead and prominent prcws looked
out pair OF dark gray eyes. full of meaning,
WIZ WHICH nghtea up lace the invariaole express
and benevolent character.
STRUGGLE FOR THE sPEAKKRsH1P OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The months Of December, 1855, and January,
1856, will ever be memorable In the history OF
Congress, in consequence of the protracted
struggle for the Speakership OF the House. For
nearly nine weeks that body remained unor-
gained, the southern members and their north.
ern allies being determined to place Ia the
Speakers chair representative OF the popular
majority OF the northern members were equally
determined that none but representative OF
the popular sentiment Of the north should
occupy that exalted position. This vexed Ques-
ton was finally settled by the
ELECTION OF NATHANIEL p. BANKS, OF MAssA-
CHUsBTTs.
py plurality Of three votes, on the 1880 ballot.
The election was decided during the morning
session OF the House, but the oath OF Office was
not administered to the Speaker-elect until the
evening at which time the hall was brilliantly
lighted. An excited multitude thronged the
corridors and galleries. and the proceedings
were watched with absorbing interest. One Of
the committee appointed to conduct Mr.. Banks
TO the chair was the Hon. VIM. Aiken, of South
Carolina. who had been candidate OF the oDpo-
sition for the Speakership. while the honor Of
administering the oath Of Office devolved upon
the venerable Joshua r. Giddings, of Ohio, he
being the Oldest consecutive member OF the
House. Mr.. Gidalngs was not remarkable for
the elegance OF his ATTIRE and 1t is hardly
probable that he would have been admitted at
reception OF any foreign potentate IN the cos
fdent was he that the contest for the ONCE Of
Speaker would result In the election OF the man
to the best advantage at the ceremony of inau-
gurat1On, that be ordered full suit OF fine
black broadcl0th to wear on that important
occasion: AS Mr.. Banks assembled the steps
leading to the chair, q storm OF Kisses broke
forth from the ladies' gallery; but this EXPIRES
sion OF disapprobation was checked by an out
burst OF cheers which literally shook the hall.
Order having been restored. Mr.. Glddings ad-
vanced to the area, and. standing near the
Clerks desk. and addressing Mr.. Banks, re-
peated the words of the oath OF office, which
which were heard In every part Of the spacious
hall After brief address from the Speaker
the House adjourned, and the vast audience
slowly and quietly dispersed.
REMARKABLE SERMON.
While the election OF Speaker OF the House
OF Representatives was pending, this city was
thrown into state OF unusual excitement by
sermon from Moncure D. Conway, the youth
ful pastor OF the Unitarian church, the sermon
being OF the most radical anti slavery charac-
Ter, having Deen suggested by the dead lock"
at the Capitol This remarkable sermon was
delivered on the morning of the last Sunday In
January, 1856. Tho day was very cold and the
snow fell la clouds. The audience was, there
fore, q small one, yet 1t Included several men OF
note from various sections OF the country,
among them being Charles Sumner Of Massa.
ehusetts, and In the pew directly behind the
one %Re n N M Tnr occupied sat Horace
famous white felt hat.
Soon after Mr.. Conway had begun his sermon
Greeley fell asleep. Mr.. Sumner quickly noticed
his unconscious condition, and, as the preacher
denounced the Institution Of slavery In terms
Of glowing eloQuence, called the attention OF
iIlend who sat with him to the sleeper In the
aoloinlng pew and In q whisper, which was
loud enough to be heard by the occupants of
the peWs In the neIghborhood entreated him to
wake Greeley up" The slumbers OF the tired
editor were accordingly disturbed, and he was
seen to listen to the words OF the ELOQUENT
speaker for few minutes, when drowslness
again oveIcame him. At each brilliant and
anxiety to have Greeley aroused to q sense OF
what he was losing would manifest itself In an
earnest request to the friend by his side to
wake him up but IL was soon found tmposs..
Die to keep him awake and at the same time
listen to the sermon, and the ATTEMPT was
therefore, abandoned.
This sermon. remarkable alike for its holiness
and Tor Its power OF expression, produced an
tXcltement hardly paralleied in the ecclesiasti-
cal history OF Washington. On the Sunday
o oo W It's delivery Livery the parish held meet
ing Mr.. Conway for his ''iNprudence" were
passed by small majority, after spicy and a
.eDgthy oeoate, In which several earnest women
The opposition TO Mr.. Conway, growing out
OF this eloquent discourse, soon became too
sreat TOT MIN to withstand, and he was. there
ere, oDlig ed TO abandon mis- pulpit in Washing
on and enter upon more attractive and prom
5 ng field OF labor elsewhere.
BLOODLESS ROW IN CONGRESS,
1t was in the month OF February, 1859, that
N amusing row occurred in the House OF Rep
resentatives during a night session. For
many hours the House had been engaged Ia
buchanan, concerning what was called "rhe
Lecompton Constitution" for the government
u kansas. Soon after midnight Galusha A.
crow, OF Pennsylvania. afterwards Speaker of
The House, was walking On the democratic side
~ the hall when he was accosted by Lawrence
NJ. Keitt, OF South Carolina who told him in a
OF the hall. Grow replied, "This is a free nall
and man has right to go where he pleases."
Wnereupon Keitt seized him by the throat and
at me same time called him "a Id black re-
leering member from South Carolina q violent
GLOW. which caused him to measure his full
length upon the floor: This was the signal for
all parts OF the hall and a grand rough and
tumble fight Immediately ensued. The scene,
as witnessed from the galleries, was ludlcrous
!a aug and applause from the specta-
DHtdutS On Cne republican Side was
John F. Potter, OF Wisconsin, who made
an effort to reacn the 1nstigator OF the squab-
Ole, and who was In such high state OF eX-
element that friends as well as foes were in
CANCER OF injury from his ponderou5 fists. The
kew owen LoveJoy, muscular Christian from
Illinois. encountered Barksdale, OF MisslssopI
and the twain fought valiantly, like Christian
and Appolyon In the Valley of Humiliation,
until jostled aside by the advance OF the con-
tending forces. During the tussel Barksdale
was 80 unfortunate as TO lose his wig, which
was ultimately recovered and placed upon his
bald head, but In such haste that his eyes were
covered With the graceful curlS intended for the
adornmsnt OF his neck. This ludlcrous mishap
was The cause OF unbOunded merrlment. Both
lead and wig were subsequently lost at the
battle OF Gettysburg.
While the battle was raging the f1ercest,
Benton Craig, Representative from North
Carolina, and the tallest man In the House,
was ous1ly engaged in random use of his
lists. sometimes hitting defenceless head, but
Lorthern state. who Was noted for his diminu-
tive size and stature rushed at him head fore
most, like Gathering ram, and dealt him
Violent blow in that portion OF his body known
III vulgar parlance as the "bread-baSket,n
which compelled him to beat haSty retreat,
This was considered one OF the most daring and
brilliant exploits OF the battle. The merrimenC
II created had the effect or restoring harmony
and good feeling, and as day was breaking the
House adjourned for breakfast.
Both Grow and Keitt afterwards apologizad
TO the House for their violation OF the rules OF
order and decorum, and the blOodlesS battle OF
which they were the cause.
EXPLOSIVE WRATH OF EDWIN N. STANTON OVER