The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-09
A SCENE IN THE SENATE.
Trouble Between Senators Fishburne and
Smythe.
cbnde,,ed Jiym Tie Ncu. aud C0mier.

ZOtn uIt,, uuIOItuuatc uIhSiSuCCo aIOoC 1
between Senator Fishburne, OF Colleton,
and Senator Smythe Of Charleston. The |
measure under consideration was bill |
giving the Eutaw Phosphate Company |
the right 20 build lramway from their |
works across and along certain public |
road TO connect with the South Carolina |
and Northeastern Railroads. This bill
originated in the Senate, was passed and |
went to the House. The House amended
by striking out the words "and along"
and returned the bill to the Senate for
concurrence. Mr.. Smythe moved that
the Senate refuse to concur in this
amendment of the House, and upon this
motion there was some debate. Mr.
Fishburne opposed the motion and made
a speech against the policy Of giving to
private corporations the rish. to Build
railroads along the public highways,
upon the ground that it was taking away
the rights Of the people for the benefit of
corporations who were able to buy the
right of way for the construction Of their
railroads or tramways without other con-
sidcrati0n than the convenience and
profit Of wealthy monopolies.
While Mr.. Fishburne was speaking
Mr. Smythe INTERRUPTED him and asked
il he knew where the works Of the Eutaw
Phosphate Company were situated. Dir.
Fishburne sad that he did not know the
exact location, lie believed they were
somewhere on the Cooper River; but he
opposed the provisions Of the bill upon
the broad principle that it WAS wrong to
vote away public rights for private gain,
and that the General Assembly could
not grant the authority asked for in the
bill without doing an injury to the people
Of the section through which the road in
question passed
Mr.. Smythe, in replying to the remarks
Of Mr. Fishburne, said: "Thc Senator
from Colleton has acknowledged, Mr.
President, that he does not know what
ho is talking about" whereupon Mr..
Fishburnc rose from his seat and ex-
citcdly exclaimed, II acknowledge no
such thing. That is false"
Senator Smythe, after pause, said
that in 80 far "a the remark Of the Sena-
tor from Colleton was an affront to the
Senate, he left it in the hands of the
Senate. But in so far as it might be held
an afTront TO himself he had only to say
that nothing could insult him that came
from the Senator from Colleton. Mr.
Smythc then went on to explain his mo.
| tion.
Mr.. Fishburne then rose to his feet,
| and after a fcH remarks upon the matter
under discussion, said: with reference
TO the personal remark of the Senator
from Charleston have only this to say,
that will just consider the source"
The motion of Mr.. Smythe was then
passed, and committee Of conference
was appointed to adjust the differences
between the two houses.
| Mr. Fishburne consulted with several
of his friends in the Senate, but nothing
further transpired during the day in
reference to the difficulty between the
two Senators. Rumors about n threat
cncd collision could bo heard on all sides
OH Saturday, and, as is invariably the
case, the stories of the transaction were
much distorted and exaggerated. Moth.
ing, however, occurred on Saturday, aud
on Saturday night Mr. Smythe went
down 10 Charleston to spend the day
with his family. Dir. Smythe returned
to Columbia on Monday morning and
took his seat IN the Senate Chamber at
the usual hour. Senator Firhburne was
also present, but gave no further intima.
t!on that he intended TO take any further
action in the matter. Indeed, as was
afterwards learned from friends of Mr..
Fishburne, he had given them every rea-
further personally, but would sabmit to
having tho matter settled by the arbitra-
tion Of friends. During the session of
tho Senate Mr.. Fishburne went out and
! returned very often, but said nothing &c
give warning of what was coming. Just
AZ the Senate adjourned and about two
| Ia irHa nf l.,
the chamber, Senator Fishburne walked
slowly across the room and stood up at
the side of Senator Smythes desk. Mr..
Smythe was at the time sitting down, ap.
parently hunting over pile of papers
for missing document. His desk is the
| first 10 the left Of the entrance, and SEN
ator Fishburne's position consequently
placed him between Senator Smythe and
the door. After looking intently at SEN
ator Smythe for nearly minute, Mr..
Fishburne said, in very loud voice,
which could be distinctly heard all over
the Chamber: Senator Smythc, / have
como here in the presence Of these gen.
tlemen to demand that you retract the
words you used in the Senate the other
day, in which you said that the Senator
from COlleton did not know what he was
talking about"
Senator Smythe thereupon rose, but
continued to look over his papers. Re-
plying in a tone which could hardly be
heard, he said: "The words I used were
in reply to language used by yourself,
and | have nothing TO withdraw"
| Senator Fishburne advanced to within
two feet of Mr.. Smythe, and while he
cxcitedly ges.iculnted he again said !:
Senator Smythe demand from you, sir,
an pc'.wer. Do you or do you not with
dr.v the remark you made in the Senate
on Friday in which you said that the
Senator from Colleton did not know what
he was talking about2"
Senator Smythe still continued to look
over his papers and made the same reply :
| "My remark was called forth by language
from you, and l have nothing to with.
draw"
Senator Fishburne grow still more ex-
cited, and placing himself directly in
front Of Senator Smythe he said: "That
| won't dc, Senator Smythe. i demand q
| categorical answer. Do you withdraw
what you said?"
Senator Smythe laid down his papers
and, pushing back his broad brimmed
black hat, he looked Senator Fishburne
in the face and repeated what he had
already said twice.
BY this time, of course, every one in
the Senate had been attracted by the
angry words of Senator Fishburne. and
stood in little groups of three and four in
| different parts of tho chamber. Senator
Izlar retained his seat Immediately be.
hind Mr.. Smythe, Senators Benbow and
Muller stood few feet off near the Ser.
geant. Arms, and Senator Siegling
| stood at the side OF Mr.. Farrow, the