Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-04-10
Mr.. Digs on Mr. Riddlebergsr.

1
doah county, as Senator coming up us UNI
finished business,
Mr.. Diggs said:
do not wish to make any apology to the
Senator from Shenandoah Mr. Riddleberger)
or his party for offering the resolution which
he says is in conflict with the Constitution,
for the leader of the caucus has time and
again determined to reverse their decision.
That would be Il sufficient answer for the
stump. desire to take higher ground. II
''this resolution was born of maliSnity and
ignorance" how surprising must be the az
gregation Of that ignorance when the leader
in the other branch Mr.. Frazier has of.
fered a similar resolution.
The Senator from Shenandoah charges
that this resolution is a bulldozing expert
ment. lfi were SO | would make no apol-
ogy to that Senator or the party he repre-
sents for my action. The Senator who has
practiccd more bulldoZng tactics on this
floor than all others combined has no right
to object TO others playing the same game
He has consistently adopted the policy of
threats and bulldozing from the beginning
even unto now
Four asserted their independence here,
that Senator threatened to resign his posi-
ton on committees When the Funders
ESQ callcd) refused to do what he desired
he threatened, on behalf Of his party, to
repeal and alter the charter Of every city
in this Commonwealth, and threatened the
destruction of their vested rights. When
the Funders on another occasion acted out
their convictions and refused to be domi-
mated, rs chairman of the Finance Commit
tee he threatened to strike from the appro-
priatlon bill every item of allowance con-
tracted by the State government under what
he styled Funder rule. Though admitting
then, and now, the binding obligation Of
those debts, he threatened TO strike out the
last dollar Of appropriation to pay them
and humiliate the State he claims to have in
charge, unless senators here would surren-
der to his domination.
For one | serve notice on that Senator
the champion bulldozer of the Scnate--aye
and tell thee to thy beard, that despite thy
ralor, thy line new fortune, and thy victor
sword the pi9my of the mountain will never
lower his crest to the plumed knight of the
valley.
When the street-walking courtezan is add
mittcd a missionary of virtue to convent,
then is it time for the Senator, who lives in
daily and open violation Of the Constitution
of his commonwealth, to prate of constitu-
tional law.
When the plundering Arab of the desert
tricked out with the spoil OF his bow and
spear, is installed in Westminster Hall to
adjutlicate the rights of property, then let
the Senator, who has swindled the creditors
of his native State TO pension his partisans,
boast himself ofhis respect for the rights Of
others.
When the unbelieving blasphemer, Rob
ert lngersoll entrcats the grand SanheChim
Of the Church militant to acknowledge the
power and reality of the eternal and unori"-
mated God, then let the leading spirit of a
notification caucus preach submission to the
decisions Of courts and the authority of the
promulgated law.
When the swarthy deniZen from the iunsles
OF India HES him away to the Universities of
Oxford and Cambridge TO deliver lectures on
polite literature, then let the Senator who
refuses to yield to corrections of misstate-
mentS from his colleagues here who refuses
to yield to points Of order who makes sport
of the hOary head Of his brother Senator
MIR. Lybrook and who he denounces rs Il
criminal from his seat, surrounded by the
privileges of his position here, before the
verdict of the jury, L gentleman Mr.. Mas
sey) whose hands were tied and whose
mouth was closed, set himself up as the
shining cxemp!ar Of senatorial courtesy.
When the mother of States and statesmen
beholds one OF her accredited delegates to
the national capital bartcring her voice in
those halls for the crumbs that fall from the
lestal board, deserving his post of duty to con-
troll the stormy counsels of midnight caucus
tosave his party from the blindering leader
npt l,nlt farm
laslcn upon his native State Il hungry tribe
OF hirclIng skipacks, then let the senator
elect from that stricken State, himself the
hero of two double-daily bloodless duels,
proclaim himselfthe first apostle TO usher i'm
the era Of small things and smaller men.
Mr.. Walker opposed the resolution as USE
less. The matter in question had been de-
cldcd by every Legislature for years past.
he recited the history of the Chesterfield
case when Mr.. Attkisson was Il member of
the House for Chesterfield, and Common
wc;!lth's attorney for Manchester
MI. DlSgs interrupted Mr.. Walker to say
that the Court did not SO decide Mr.. Walker
said no matter what circumlocution it went
through, Mr. Atkinson was allowed to hold
both places. Mr.. Wilcox said he would
soon be able to furnish the gentleman with
authority; Judge Ward had gone TO his Office
'O'i>'
the Office of Commonwealth attorney is NOT
a salaried office, when Mr.. Berry took up the
Code and showed that the commemorative
attorney is :: salaried officer
MIR. Walker: Well, [ have nothing to do
with the law. Great laughter; pause
What have TO do is to construe the law.
Mr.. Riddleberger said that he would make
4 suggestion which would end this matter:
''1f the gentleman from Lynchburg will only
get his party together and pass three or four
bills, will so home"
Mr.. Thurman: Have you the power to
adjourn this Legislature?
Mr.. Riddleberger: said I would 60
home.
Mr.. Thurman: Oh.
Mr.. Powell, Commonwealth's Attorney of
Spotsylvania, next spoke against the resolu
ton, and when he yielded the floor Mr..
Thurman moved to adjourn, which was
agreed to.