The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-21
Senate Debate Hill and Malone

At the conclusion Of Mr. Pendleton's remarks on
Thursday last Mr.. Dawes took the floor, and In the
course of his remarks charged that the committee
for arrangement of the Senate Committees appoint
ed by the Democratic caucus approached Senator
Mahone or that some OF them did in some way offer
Mr.. Malone to give him, any man whom he
would name, the Sergeant-at-Arms Ii he (Mr. Ma
hone) would vote with the Democrats.
Mr.. PendIeton demanded that Mr.. Dawes should
name the Democratic Senator who had been guilty
OF anything OF the kind.
Mr.. Harris said he member of the Demo-
cratic caucus committee, and demanded that Mr.
Dawes should name the Senator or Senators that
committee who had in any manner approached Mr..
Malone Mr.. Harris begged Mr.. Dawes not to deal
In innuendoes, but to name the Senator, declaring
that unless he did so he (Mr Harris) would not be-
lieve word of 1t.
When Mr.. Dawes again took the floor there was
general call from the Democratic side to ssName the
man. sName the man, Mr.. Dawes said he had
not charged any Senator with 'anything Of the
kind !" He would say that leading Democrats had
before this Senate met, approached Mr. Malone
with the proposition to give him the Sergeantat-
Arms for his vote
Mr.. Butler asked If the Senator from Virginia lis
tened to such propositions.
Mr.. Dawes interrupted.
Mr. Butler said ''Wil1 the Senator pardon me %
Mr.. Dawes Qnterrupting) 81 have not the power
to pardon YOU
Mr.. Butler ''But you have the power and dtsposi-
ton to be very pert and discourteous,' and added
that he would not go into that kind of debate.
Mr.. Pendleton said that If Mr.. Dawes had been in
formed that any prominent Democrat ever ap-
preached Mr.. Malone that the information was
Mr.. Hill entered his emphatic denial Of the charge
made by Mr.. Dawes. He was of the committee
appointed propose an organization of the commit
tees of the body, and he stated emphatically that
that committee made no proposition to the Senator
from Virginia as to what should be done for him,
to how he should vote, and any statement, init
mated, innuendoes or fns1nuat1on to the contrary
was utterly false and untrue The Senator from
Virginia had been discussed in the committee pre-
cisely other new Democratic members had been,
and he would have thought it an insult to that Sena
indicate to him that it necessary in order
to gain his vote to make proposition to him.
Mr.. Malone denied that any Senator either
side had ever approached him Improperly to the
organization Of the SENATE. He repealed the sug-
gestion that he could be approached by any person
with plan or scheme or combination to reach ends
that not legitimate. He had extract from
the discussion in the Senate last Thursday read at
the Clerks desk at point where, in respone to a
suggestion by Mr. Rollins that the Democrats had
been seeking to make an arrangement secure Mr..
Mahones vote, Mr.. Hill replied, ''But would not
have bought it,, Snow" Mr.. President, continued
Mr.. Malone, ''that language admits of one or more
interpretations, and come to ask the Senator from
Georgia, as MS language In one respect implies
that my vote had been or could be bought, whether
he Intended enc to convey any such idea?" :.
+ Mr. Hill lin his seat: go and Will answer"
Mr. Malone: II am ready for you to answer now"
Mr. HILL 81 prefer to walt till you get through"
Mr. Mahono with omphasis): 81 have nothing
more to say but to ask that simple question:
Mr., HILL snow shall make to that Senator the
answer which feel he or any other Senator ought
to make to me under like circumstances, and Tell
exactly the truth. inferred from the remark made
by the senator from New Hampshire that he was
charging that we shad sought to make arrange
ment (that was his language by which we would
control the vote of the Senator from Virginia to get
the organization of the Senate, and in response
that said that We would not have bought it.
meant simply to negative what l understood to be
the charaid that weator from New Hamshire; that
is what intended to negative. The Senator from
New Hampshire seemed to be going the assump-
ton that the other side was charged with having
bought the vote of the Senator from Virginia, ana
he seen to be implying that we had wanted to buy it
and could not do it. l denied addressing himself
directly to Mr. Mahone) that we did buy your vote.
denied that we wanted to buy your vote l denied
that we would have bought your vote. We would
not have given you fig for your VOTE That Is what
intended to deny. did not charge that the sena-
tor had sold his vote. I do not say now that the
Senator has sold his vote. would not charge, I'M
less knew it to be fact thatan Senator had sold
his VOTE II the Senator wants me to go farther and
to say what believe, that is a different questions
and wish to say to the Senator now that if he
progresses to call to account everybody in this
try who has belief on thai subject he has heavy
task on his hands. will make no charge against
any Senator, but let not any Senator invite my opn
ion, or compel my opinion by seeking to make that
a charge which is not one, because he may get that
opinion and get 1t very fully
Mr.. Malone: 81 have noJhing to do with the Sen
atOrs opinions have risen ask the senator from
Georgia plain, direct question. He says will
have everybody to call to account This is not the
question. The Senator from Georgia has used Ian
guage which has been read. He knows whether he
intended to convey the impression that sold my
vote, or that my vote had been bought. He knows
that with emphasis), and respectfully ask Wheth
er he had so Intended; that is ALL
Mr.. Hill: Il answered you fully. 1t will be on
record
Mr.. Malone: Gas the Senator fails here to an
sWer directly direct question I will give him
problem to solve. He shall have a conrndrum I
say TO him that II he did mean to imply that my
vote had been or could be bought he states or an
dertakes to convey what he knows untruthful and
mat no man less than coward would make it.
Now, L say to him that he can solve in his own
mind whether he so intended it or not. address
Ing himself directly to Mr.. Hill in menacing man
ner): You can solve that sir, If you choose. That
is all that have to say to you now
Mr. Hill rose to reply, but Mr.. Malone continuing
MS remarks, said You can solve that question for
yourself whether you intended to convey that
meaning or not. La good deal of applause in the
galleries, which the presiding officer, Mr.. kellogg,
endeavored TO repress.
Mr. Hill (stud1ously emphasizing every point and
express1on): "Mr. President 1 have too much re
spect for the Senate, too much respect for myself
too much respect for the people, to handy epithes
with the Senator from Virginia any other Sena-
TOR here have never sought to receive, give,
or TO resent an insult in this chamber would not
insult Senator in this chamber. The Senator can
not insult me. He is powerless to insult anybody
The Senator (Mr Mahone) asked me a question. |
answered 1t explicitly. That answer is ON record.
1t Will remain there. 1t truthful answer |
answered precisely as thought and felt at the time
l used the words Any Senator can read those
words. II The Senator Mr. Mahone) thinks that he |
emphasizing the pronoun) can suppress gentlemen
in discussion In this Senate by assuming to play
the bully he has maze mistake
Th1S ended the discussion for the day. which was |
followed with interest by the large audience in the
galleries.