Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-24
A SILLY STORY
or Coneocted UsurpatiOn Of the Sneak.
er's Powers by the Democratic Mi.
nOrity Of the 47th Congress.
How the Deed Was to be Done and Who
Was to Lead-What Heifer Pro.
posed to Do About 1t.

posed TO DO ABOUT Ii.
: CINCINNATI, November 20.-The Ensv,,>,
publishes the following story "a a specisl
from Washington:
One Of the best-kept secrets of the Isst sss.
sion Of Congress was the story of startlinp
episode of the fight over the sontested ,ests
: in the House.
THE STORY,
as related to me with much impressivsn...
and sincerity, is 10 the effect following: Az
bitrary rules had been adopted placino .,
trsordiDary power in the hands of the
Speaker, and it was krown that that Officer
would firmly exercise the power vested in
him; and that The result would be the mn.
seating OF the bemocraic members whose
seats were contested, unless something
equally extraordinary should se done n,
| the Democratic eide, At Democratic
J caucrs-how many Democratic membars
/ wers.engaged in which I am unable Al tb;s
1 writing 10 say, but il seems that sufficient
number must have been cognizant of the
1 arrangement to carry out the scheme had il
\ not been prematurely conveyed 10 he enemv
it was resolved that, on the presentation
| in the House next day of a certain report
which would finally bring up the contested |
election cases and be a signal for the tivid
ar oliostion Of the arbitrary rules which had
been adopted, a Democratic member shopld |
make motion
CALCULATED TO ovERTURN THINGS
have not yet been able to ascertain the
form of this motion, but il was of snch a |
character that, should it prevail, 1t ronld |
defeat the Republican programme, and give |
the Democrats whose seats we're contested |
chau6s for their official lives. 1t was abso- |
lutely certain that Speaker Keifer. under
The new rules, would not entertain the mo. |
tion, and the next question was how 10 get il
before the Houss. A bold stroke WAS resolved
upon. 1t was arranged that the Hon. John
E Kenna, Democratic member of Congress
from the Third District of West Virginia.
should, Immediately upon hearing the mo.
ton above alluded TO, rush to The Speakers
desk and put the motion to the House. be-
fore Gen. Heifer or any other Of the Repub.
lican members could have time to compre.
bend the nature of the proceedings. MIR.
Kenna was selected for the work because he
was a dashing, fearless man, with the ag-
gressive qualities of leadership necessary 10
such an undertaking. The moment the
motion was made, he was to
RUSH TO THE SPEAKERS DESK,
put it to the House, and promptly receive
the affirmative votes of the Democrats in the
scheme, who were TO vote with emphasis SO
as 10 give Their dInTmatlVe WelgAt. Then
the negative vote was TO be called for: but il
was agreed that the Republicans would
naturally be momentarily dased by the pro.
ceedings, that there would be no response. |
and that before. they could recover from their
astouishment Kenna could declare the mo-
ton carried.
The plan was communicated to Speaker
keifer. by some means which will never be
known, Inc night before it was 10 be carried
out. He was thoroughly loyal to his trust,
had clear comprehension OF results, and
had the personal courage to do whatever
might be done TO avert what be regarded as
revolution. His 6rst resolution was to
prevent the carrying out of the scheme by
Kenna at all hazards, and TO be fully
equipped for the most extreme situation.
Those who know keifer well and who are
acquainted with the circumstances of this
remarkable episode say that Keifer's life
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORTH A BAUBLE
had it stood in the way OF the Speakers dis
charge of the duties Of his Office, ali other
means of preventing the revolution" having
been exhausted. sez.s-zzzs
With the means OF giving Mr.. Kenna very
hot reception should be make well-defned
movement toward carrying out the alleged
Democratic programme, and fully deter
mined to give battle if the worst came, and
10 make a scene in the House without par
sllel 10 the history of American politics,
next set about seeking some method of pre-
venting such dire necessity. The next i'm
portant step in the s'ory is The alleged ap-
pearance of the Hon. j, s. C. Black
burn at Speaker Keifer's apartments
The Speaker being on very friend
ly terms with the Kentucky
congressma asked Blackburn if the
report which had come to his ears was true;
if the plan 10 put forward Kenua had been
roaOl vad in Tanncratia |
Blackburn answered substantially that he
had no right TO communicate to him or
any other man the proceedings of any Demo-
cratic caucus; the Speaker must fully ap-
precate his position as a strict Democrat
and man OF honor. The personal relations
between the two gentlemen were of such a
character, and the danger of collision WAS so
great, that the Speaker felt at liberty TO press
the point, and did press it. He told the
Kentuckian what his plans were-substan-
italy that the man who might be put for
ward as the Democratic leader in the attack
on the authority OF the chair would
CARRY HIS LIFE IN HIS HAND,
and that he (Keifer) was fully prepared for
the worst; that without farther advices he
would regard the report he had heard as
true, and act accordingly. 1t is not known
that Mr.. Blackburn was participant in the
caucus which resolved upon the programme
given; but it is understood be
was at least advised OF what had been done,
and that before the conclusion of his inter-
view with the Speaker the latter was con-
vinced OF the truth of the story which had
SO disturbed him. Keller and Black
burn had both been soldiers, and each
admired the other for his soldierly gu sliiies; |
and the Speaker sent for Blackburn on ac-
count of this bond OF union between them,
and because, Blackburn being representa-
tive man, an understanding could be directly
arrived at. The result was shat Blackburn
called a meeting OF leading Democratic
members of the House, told them that their
resolution had been communicated 20 the
Speaker, and thatif an attempt was made
to carry it out there would probably be
BLooDsHED ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
AS for himself, he would wash his hands of II
any scheme which would lead to such a
result.
OF course this overthrew the whole ar
rangement. There was no Democrat in the
House who had even remotely looked for a
CORY outcome OF the business in hand; aud, |
while there was no lack of courage on the |
Democratic side, there was lack of dispo-
sition to precipiiate revolution. The expo |
sure of the plan, of course, defeated it. !
There was nothing 10 do but 10 drop it, and I
it was dropped OF course, if war had been
neither side would have h sd all
The lighting. There would have been scene I
without parallel in American legislation.
Kenua was . man fully equal to the work be ;
had undertaken, if any was; and Keller | !
was fully equal to The course he had deter
mined on as q last resort. There would
have been
DEAD eoNGREssMEN ON THE FLOOR, s
and an upheaval of the affairs of the nation
without parallel or a precedent. Ia
/ have given this story circumspectly, forl
ts value, as It was given TO me by veracious ]
persons having direct means of information.
The proof is so respectable that the news- !
,atherer is justified in presenting the story /
10 the public. g
Utterly without Foundation
LOUISVILLE, November 49, Congressman I
Blsckburu saws, in reference 10 the alleged :
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