Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-07
The Spat in the House.


An account of the spat in the House of
Representatives between Messrs. Robson
and Whltthorne was given in the GAzErrE's
Washington correspondence yesterday. The
following is IL report of the proceedings:
Mt. Robeson passed on to Il consideration
of the circumstances surrounding an invcS-
tlgatlon carried on by the democratic ma
Iorlty of the Forty-iourth Congress- Con-
grcSSlonal committees he said were rife, and
neither reputation nor family was spared.
IN his case, his fathers grave had been dis
honored, his mothers dowy questioned, his
wllc's portion examined. The details of his
household had been inspected r-,dcr this
practice, which he had not words TO charac-
| tcriZe as it deserved. This had been done
with the sanction, or at least with the ac-
quicsccncc of the American Congress-. and
IN the sight of the American people. The
whole House had been yielded to the con.
troll OF those men who riotcd and reycled
III that sort Of thing. Ifthere was u mem
Der OF Congress whose character and daily
life were such that he had received among
his associates cognomen which told OF
weakness and dcbauchcry, he was n man
who aspircd to lead in such thing, If
there was man who in his own State had
been accused of stealing the school funds.
| true Or false
Mr.. Robson was not permitted to finish
his sentence, for Mr.. Whitthornc, of Ten
nessee, who was sitting at front desk on
the democratic side started up, and. pale
| with excitement, faced Mr. Robcson, ey-
| claiming: That isa lie whoever tells it or
repeats it, For an instant Mr.. Robson
hladc no reply, and number of members
cohsregated around the two gentlemen, and
good deal of excitement prevailed. Then
Mr. hopeson repeated his statement, ar
there was man who had been accused.
true or false, of having stolen the school
iund OF his State" Here he WAS amain
interrupted by republican member, Who
demanded that Mr.. Whitthornc's words
should be taken down.
Mr.. hobcson (drprccalinylyl oh. no.
Mr.. House, of Tennessee, suggested that
MIR. Robcson's poior remarks should he lakeL
down.
MIR. Robeson-l have alluded to no man
by name. If any man recognizes the de-
scrlpllon let him step forward and deny it.
Applause on the Republican side.
At this point Mr.. Whitthornc turned and
smilingly resumed his seat.
Mr.. RobcsOn continuing. said If any
man were so ,lch;lscd in his habits. 50 foul in
his practices, that he considers it Il personal
insult when the police make Il raid ON the
lowest brothel in the city, and iuvokes the
machinery Ola Congressional investigation
Tor the purpose OF asserting Il Congressional
privilege, such man rs that would come at
once to the front. If there was Il man who
brought his brother from the inmost recesses
OF an lnshOrc Stat e TO be Il contractor I'M
der the District government. which he de-
nounced us fraudulent, such man was fit
instrument to decoy contractors. If there
was man who had obtained ut the head of
a Depaltmcnt q provision for L member of
his family, such Il man would be qualified,
by that malevolcncc which turks in mean
men, to strike at the reputation of his bcnc-
factor | name nobody. ask none of nv
friends to name any one, ask the gentle
man on the other side to state whom | have
characterized.
MIR. WhltthOrnc then rose to reply to Mr..
Robson, and said: '''The member from
New Jersey felt himself privileged TO 90 out
of his way to make Il Hypothetical assault
upon somebody. lie alluded to the school
fund of State, and had no question in nv
own mind that WAS the person referred to
in connection with it. for the reason that
prior to the discussion on this bill had in
formation that that member following the
instincts which governed him when Sccrc-
tary OF the Navy was getting up informa-
ton personal to myself III regard to the
school fund Of the State of Tennessee, |
Either emissarics or friends were engaged
III that work. Hence Immediately on refer
ence being made to il, made Il personal ap- |
pllcation, and now very coully and very
quietly state TO the House and to the country |
that with the school fund of TENNESSEE !
never mad any connection directly or indi-
rectly. Now, pass to another matter. |
the gentleman to say tina, on nv
advice brother of mine came to Washing
ton and obtained a contract from an nd
which | had officially de-
That is not the truth. The truth
Is that | advised him against coming here,
understood an inimatiOn to he made that
had legislated q son of mine into Il govern
ment position. That is not the truth 1t
was SAID that had melted IN investigation
OF the police force of the District of Column
Ela, III an affair i'll which my personal con-
luct anu habits were involved. did not
nclte that investigation. | stand here to
repeat IN the face Of the country, and in the
lace OF that member, that when charged by
The rules of the House and by my duty to
my country to investigate the condition of
he Navy Department, / undertook that
work and labor without fear, favor, or allec-
ion. He then stated that while employed
II that investigation he had been logged ;
md followed by detectives, by whom en-
'ioyed he did not know. But there appear
"a before that committee, he continued. the
member from New Jersey, and upon his )
'ath he said that he had communicated this
act to Mr. Hale, of Maine, in order that
lr. Hale might communicate it to friend I
If mine, but that he knew nothing about
t. Here in the face of the respons-
bility that belongs to me, / believe i
hat when that member swore to that |
e told lie and committed perjury.
believe that; do not know it. If + did L
now ii | would have had another recourse: q
hat is to say, would have consulted the il
entleman personally. The gentleman saws S
i beg pardon, the member says-that in
hat Investigation his private affairs were v
renched upon, and his mothers dowry and q
is wites portion asked for I.tell him that {