New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-18
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
A DECIDEDLY PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
A BATTLE OF WORDS BETWEEN MR. HEWITT, or
NEW YORK, AND Mr.. robson. Or NRw-JrRsEY
Irz


time by Abram S. Hewitt and Mr.. Robson. MIR.
Hewitt felt aggreyed because Mr.. Robeson, in his
speech on the Navy bill, had characterized Mr.. d
Hewitt's presentation Of the subject "specious.
though it pretended to be candid, and as false.
though il claimed to be frank" This language, Nr.
Hewitt declared. was not uttered by Mr. Robson
in the House, though IL was found IN his printed
speech, and he demanded that 1t should be stricken
from the record.
Mr.. Robson replied that he did not remember
whether he used the language or not. lie certainly
meant to do so, and thought it entirely parliamen
tary applied to Mr.. Hewitts presentation of tho
case. If it would sut any better, he willing TO
substitute the word fallacious " for the word
"false" He then called attention to the fact that
in part of Mr.. Hewitts speech, which was not de-
livered in the House but which printed In The
Record, was found the following language: 1t iss
strain the charitable side of nature TO refrain
from charging criminal incapaciiy to any ono
who advised OF directed that this vessel
should be repaired" From this point
Mr.. Robeson warmed up; and. after declaring
that Mr. Hewitt had sought to attack HIM over the
shoulders of dead man, said he might have re-
tored in kind but he would not because he did not
+" admire the courage or the character, nor desire
to initiate the conduct of the animal that shrinks
from the face of living man TO howl its detestatiop
over his grave"
Mr. Hewitt had become considerably excited by
the time Mr.. Robson sat down, and he was mp in
stantly declaring that the gentleman from New
Jersey had evaded the point at issue and lacked
" the courage or the manliness" to utter language
which he covertly and deliberately inserted in The
Record, supposng that 1t might escape notice. He
says now he is wiling TO substitute some other word
for the word false"
81 take that back, after the remarks of the gen.
tleman," interrupted Mr.. Robeson.
This made Mr. Hewitt more angry than before.
and he shouted: "Then the gentleman charges, as
understand it, a falseheod against me. Now let
me say one word. When "a man has been charged
upon the floor of this House by gentleman resDon-
sible for what he says with being thief, liar aud
perjurer and takes occasion TO have L stricken
from the record and does not seek to hold the
thor of that language TO any account then 1t seems
to me that anything he say, after that in tho
face of gentlemen and in the face of the country.
is simply matter of utter and absolute contempt"
There was applause from three or four members
on the Democratic side at this sally and Mr.. Hewitt
continued with much heat. winding up with tho
declaration that Mr.. Robson had concocted and
perpetrated ga foul libel upon o fellow-nember
when. he had no opportunity to make answer
to it,
By this time Mr.. Robson was thoroughly aroused;
and as he rose to reply, members clustered about
him and in the nearest aisles, anxious lest they
should lose word. He said: Now the gentle
man from New York has specIous reputation In tho
country, which he earnestly cultivates through the
columns of the newspapers and by the expenditure
of his private MEANS which avais him alike for adj
vertisement of himself and for depreciation Of
Others. l know something of his history.
shall not here recite it, but / do know
ofI tJ,otb ba boa aaap all hat
he hopes to be- he to the charity of an old man
whom heard him seek to depreciate on this floor.
heard him say in substance on this hoor that no
objected to being called T" the sonin-law OF Mr.
Cooper" and he hoped the time would come when
Mr.. Cooper's title of distinction would be that he
was the father-in-law of Mr.. Hewitt aughterl.
Now Mr. Speaker wherever liberal science aids.
the mechanic arts wherever well applied charity
builds up and eevates the labor of American work.
ingmen, there Mr.. Peter COOpers pane VIII be
known long after that of his aspiring son-in-law IS
lost and forgotten-sunk TO the grave, covered with
the obloquy which he seeks to pile upon Others.
Now, let me say that c0nd answer the gem
teman if chose in trains as abusive as MS own
| lie knows and | know. what was the faDlliaf
epithet by which his romancing youth was character
| zed IN the State IN which weboth lived. Now then,
do not know that ought to allude further 70 tne
gentleman after his remark but tins small say 20
point his attack to ne: think that the forgery OF
| that document which was known as the Morey Let
| ter was "a crime Of the deepest dyc aud while 40
not charge the gentleman with having written IL,
| consider that the man who stood by the Telegraph
window and telegraphed to California too late fcr
| denial and after the dead President had denied It
| crcumstantally. that 1T was ascertalnsd 10 os
| true"-
| Mr.. RoOeson-COmmitted % crime
| Mr.. Hewitt-WhO telegraphed thatI
| Mr. Robeson-CommIted "A cr1me--
| Mr.. HewItt-Who did it 7 Who telegraphed thatt
Mr.: Robeson-lhe man who stood at the e. tee-
| graph window and signed the name OF the Chair
| man of tho Democratic committee.
| Mr. Hewtt-Who did it
| MIR. Kobeson-And teegraphed 10 California, 700
late for denial, that the statements OF the letter
| were ascertalned 10 be true. Whoever dld tnat
committed crime, not AS punishable, but as de-
Mr. Hewitt did not do it.
| Mr.. RobesOn-As was the forgery Of the original
letter do not know that il can be proved accord
ing to the strict letter of the law, since do not
| know how case can De made but if the gentleman
will ask for Congressional investigation
| Mr.. Hewitt do not ask IL.
Mr.. Robeson-I will aid him with all my might to
| obtain it, and see If it was true lApplausel lwil
contribute toward fair investigation OF the mat
| ter all that have of influence, and then the gen.
| tleman may clear himself OF what is believed
| against him in this cOuntry--the maintenance,
truth OF that forgery aud it cannot be denied that
''sqs'HS Mr. BTowne@i p demand the regular order
| Mr.. kobeson-That standing before court OK
General Browne insisted on the regular order;
Hewitt said he did not desire to pursue
| the subject further and only asked
| that the Objectionable paragraph be striken
| from The Record. This not done, however, and
1t is dIicult to what Mr.. Hewitt gained by his
personal explanation, for it was generally con,
| coded on ali sides that Mr. Robeson came out OK
the battle of words quite good form as dd Me-
| Hewitt
| THE TAX ON WHISKEY AND TOBACCO.
| lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUsE.l
| WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE consideration OF tho
/ Revenne hill in the Senate was resumed at O'CLOCK