Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-10-06
A REMINISCENCE.
The Exciting Declaration Made by Rob-
ert c. Schenck. =
[philaCelnhia Tin,aG

Philadelphia Times.
/ On one occasion on the floor of the House
Joshua r. Giddings of Ohio was assailed in
the bitterest fashion by number of the
friends of slavery, and charged with stealing
negroes and sending them away from the
District of Columbia, then, of course, within
the slave dominion. After abuse of this
sort had been heaped upon him for some
days, he at last rose to a personal explana-
ton and demanded the floor. At once from
the Southern members there came cries OF
| Don't hear him Don't hear him. We OBJ
ject! We objectw A scene of almost riotous
confusion followed, and in the midst of il
Schenck, broad-shouldered, square-headed
and powerful, rose in his seat and command
ed silence by the intensity of his manner
and the vehemence with which he said:
Il have no personal interest in the matter,
Mr. Speaker, nor knowledge of tue matters
alleged; but when the honorable gentleman
my colleague who has been so violently and
gravely assailed, desires to make personal
explanation, he should be permitted to do So
Under the circumstances, sir. no gentleman
would object"
Again, however, there came from different
parts of the chamber cries of Il object
Object and again Schenck, with renewed
emphasis, said:
Il repeat, Mr.. Speaker, that under the cir
cumstances no gentleman would object"
AS result of Mr.. Schencks courage and
pertinacity Mr.. Giddings was allowed to
make his explanation. When the scene was
over there was much discussion as to who
Schenck referred to when he said that no
gentleman would object, and Jacob Thomp-
son Of Mississippi, who was afterward Secre-
tary of the Interior, communicated to him
the impression, which was general i'll the
House, that he meant Slidell of Louisiana.
THAT is a mistake" replied Mr.. Schenck !;
Il did not even know that he was in the
House."
Are you willing to make that explanation
public?' asked Thompson.
Certainly" was the reply; Il will do so
with pleasure"
The next day on the floor Mr.. Slidell, in
accordance with the arrangement, rose and
asked if the gentleman from Ohio referred to
him when he said that no gentleman would
object to Mr.. Giddings' explanation.
NO, certainly not, sir" replied Schenck !;
Il did not even know that the gentleman
from Louisiana was in the House,
Still Slidell questioned him, saying: If
the gentleman from Ohio L. o.srs, Jl,lt the
member from Louisiana was irf the House
would he have made that remark?"
That replied Schenck, lis hypothetical
question, and I will not be questioned in that
fashion,
Still the Southern member went ON to in
terrogate him, and at last, entirely out OF all
patience, Schenck took the floor, against the
almost violent efforts which his friend, Gov
ernor Vance of Ohio made to restrain him,
and said a,. -....-...-.
1T is evident that what the member from
Louisiana desires to know is to whom | re-
ferred when [ said yesterday that no gentle
man would object to the explanation OF my
colleague. Lest there be any further doubt
upon this subject, | will say here and now
that | meant and referred to the drunken
member from Alabama, Felix e. Mcconnell"
AS may well be imagined, this declaration
created the widest excitement in the House.
one of the most violent of the
Democrats and pro-slavery men then in
Washington. rushed down the aisle shaking
his fist at Schenck, and for moment it was
believed that a personal encounter could not
be avoided With great difficulty order was
at last restored, and the ordinary business OF
the House for a time resumed. Just before
however, Garret Davis came
came over where Mr.: Schenck was quietly
seated and said . -.fv-. r.fl5t&.a II
Have you a pistol, Schenck 2" -.--.., I
No" replied the latter, Il never carried
one in my life. ". ti'o !'tti, s'5 .]'''s II.
gIt,Well, you had better carry one to-day"
said Davis for Mcconnell is. swearing. he
will shoot you on sight" n
"still haven't got a pistol and don't
know where to get one" replied Schenck.
Take mine, take mine," said Davis quiet I
", at the same time handing his friend /
pistol. For some days after this Mr. Schenck /.
went armed. Three days later he met Nc
JonneH as he was walking down the eastern !
steps, of the Capitol. The Alabamian was +
standing quietly on the portico, but made /
10 demonstration as Schenck passed him,
md SO the affair ended. .'.4.,.ft.- -stE