Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-31
A BREEZE IN THE SENATE THuns.

ton was adopted appointing commit.
tee of three to relieve w. M. Elliott,
the President pro tenn. of the RESPONSE.
bility of appointing the special commit.
tee provided for in the resolution adopt.
Wednesday to investigate into the truth
of alleged reports that certain officers OF
the Senate, whose names are not given.
had by corrupt means attempted to in
fuence the votes of members of that
body.
This action brought on sharp discus
sion, in which Senator Riddleberger.
the mover of the resolution of investiga-
ton. attempted to have the matter re-
considered, believing, as he did, that
the adoption of the resolution of to. day
was an attempt to debar him from the
craftsmanship of the proposed select
COMMITTEES, and an act of discourtesy
which was without precedent and could
not be allowed to pass unnoticed. AT.
ter full explanation the matter was f.
nal1y brought to conclusion by the
withdrawal of all motions to reconsider
In the beginning. of the debate Gen
Elliott, president pro tenn, had vacated
the chair, and at it's close arose to a
question of personal privilege. He then,
in the most feeling terms, spoke OF the
pleasure and pride he had felt With the
Senate had chosen him as its presiding
officer, but that now, when it was evi
dent from the tenor Of the resolution
just adopted that the Senate had LOST
confidence in him, he felt bound, in
honor to himself, to return the trust
placed In his hands, and he would there
fore tender his resignation as president
pro tenn. This unexpected turn Of af-
fairs created quite q sensation and
brought many Senators successfully to
their feet, some indorsing Mr.. Elliott's
action, but all joining in opposing the
acceptance of his resignation.
The discussion was closed by the Pres
ident pro tenn, who, after acknowledg
ing the many kind expressions from all
sides, said his sense ofself.respect would
not permit him to change the course he
had taken. A resolution was adopted
that no discourtesy whatever was in.
tended to the President pro tenn. Of the
Senate by the adoption Of the resolution
which had caused all the trouble, the
vote being almost unanimous.
The Senate then decided to gointo the
election of President pro tenn and
Gen. Wyatt NJ Elliott was placed in
nomination for reelection. The roll
call showed that he had received the
votes of all the Senators present, only
one being absent.
Gen. Elliott again addressed the Sem
ate. stating that Notwithstanding this
complimentary and kind action he could
not reach conclusion that he should
change his position, and he, therefore,
declined to accept the Office which he
had to- day resigned.
AT $40 the Senate adjourned.
----->-&-~
SMALLPOX IN SHENANDOAH CoUN-
TY.-We learn from che Shenandoah
Herald that ''Mr. William Larkins, the
man who brought the smallpox to
Shenandoah county. died at his resi-
dence on Stony Creek last Tuesday. and
was buried by his nurse.
Mrs. Larkins. wife of the deceased
has contracted the disease. Her case
we are informed. is severe, and being il
a delicate situation at the time of con
tracing the disease. her friends have
little hope of her recovery. s
A child of Mr.. Abraham Myers has
| varioloid.
Mr.. Day who was at the house of Mr.
Larkins, and who, it is reported, wore
an overcoat or some other clothing be
longing to Larkins. before it was known
that he had smallpox, also has the dis
ease.
With the precautions enforced by thu
authorities it is now thought that tier,
is little danger of the disease spread
ing"
"In 1879 the Constitutional amend
ments, voted on in that year, were put
lished in every Democratic paper in the
State, it mattered not how Insignificant
by direction of the Secretary of State
The only paper that T7as not authorized
to publish them was the Valley Virgin
ian, which had the largest circulation
of any weekly paper published in Vir
GINA. The sole reason for this PRO
scription" was that it was Republican
paper Valley Virgiaaan.
4 The only trouble about the above
charge of party prescription is tina
it lacks the element of truth. If tn
Nrginiam bad looked to page 400 of th'
i Acts of Assembly 1916, it would hav'
seen that the amendments to the Con
stitutipn in 1875, were ordered to b.
printed "in some newspaper published
in Richmond for three months previ
1 Gus to the election" and were not au
thorized to be published in every demo
cratic paper in the State. We know thu
fact that they were not published in tn
SPECTATOR as an advertisement.
"a NOhOnGD hOoAISN n LEV
The Charleston (West Va.) Eveninl
Call says that, on Saturday week. "Rev
Mr.. Wilson, colored preacher ant
school teacher, who resides on Camp
BELLS Greek, made eli effort to get OF
one of the engines, of Dana Bros, Whil'
in motion, but unfortunately for him
\ he missed his footing and fell, resulting
in having his right leg cut off JUST below
the knee, by the engine. DR.. Comstock
of Charleston, dressed the wound"
/ LOCAL OPTION IN THE LEGIsLA-
TURE In the House of Delegates OF
Saturday, Mr.. Rivercomb introduced $
bill to provide for local option liquo
law in the county of Highland. which
was referred to committee.
| Petitions from the counties of Rock
bridge, Rockingham, Culpeper, Angus
ia, and Highland in relation to local
option were presented and appropira te
ly referred.
! A WHITE MAN PUBLICLY WHIPPED
AT PETERsBURG.-Gregory Sternoni
l - eh,,r