Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1882-04-22
LIVELY SHOTS At RIDDLEBERGEI
4 Scene In the Vfrgfnia Senate.


body at the beginning of the session, anu
has championed the extreme measures so tar
forced through the Senate under whip and
spur. including the bill 10 readjust the state
debt. and bills amending the charters of the
principal cities and towns of the State, so as
TO give the control of their municipal gov
ernments to the rcadjustcr-republican com
5ination. To int,rp0.c an objection b any
pet scheme was TO Immediately excite the
wrath and threats Of Mr.. Riddlebergcr y
few davs ago. in tie Houseof Delegates, the
iudiciarv committee of that body presented
a resolution declaring vacant the seat OF X.
r. Farr. the readuster delegate from Fair
fax county, tha. gentleman having been e.
lected superintend.nt OF public education
and entered upon 1t, du:ies. This report
has not been acted upon, but Is an Offset Mr..
Frazier, the rcatJns;cr leader IN the House,
offered resolution inquiring into the eligi-
bility Of Mr. Pollard, democrat, OF King AID
Queen county, to seat in the House, IS he
was Commonwealth attorney of his coun-
ty. This drew out similar resolution III
the Senate Friday last, offered by ir. Diggs,
democrat. Senator from Campbell! county,
inquiring into the eligibility OF hr. Riddle
berger who IS also Commonwcaith's attor-
Dev for Shenandoah county. Mr. Riddle
berger at once took the hoor and roughly
commented upon "the ignorance Of the Sen
ator who would introduce such resolution.
Mr.. Digs Vas unable 10 ct the, floor TO re-
ply, but on Saturday he spoke, AID is thus
quoted by the Richmond STATE:
81 do not wish TO make any apology to
him or his party Cor offering the resolution
which he says is in conflict with the constl-
tuition. for the leader Of the caucus has time
and again determined to reverse their deci-
sion Tia: would be 4 sufficient answer FOR
the stump. / desire 10 take higher ground.
If this resolution vas born OF malignlty
and ignorapce," how surprising must be the
aggregation of that atignoranccwhent the lead
er in the other branch has offered similar
resolution.
The Senator from Shenandoah charges
that this resolution is a bull-dozng expert
ment. If il were so would make no apol-
ogy 10 that Senator or the party lie repre-
sents for my action. The Senator, who Las
practiced more buldozing 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 bull-dozng from. the beginning
even unto now. When the Senators known
as the big four asserted their Independence
here. that Senator threatened to resign his
position on committees When the iundcrS
$50 called refused 10 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 de-
truction of their vested rights. When the
funders on another occasion acted out ti.cii
convictions and refused 70 be dominated, rs
chairman Of tie finance committee he
threatened to strike from the APPROPRIATION
bill every item or allowance contracted by
the State government under what he styled
funder rule. Though admitting then and
now the binding obligations 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, un-
less Senators here would surrender 10 hi
domination. For one / serve notice on that
Senator-the champion bull-dozer of the
Senate-aye and tell thee TO thy beard, that
despite thy valor thy fine new fortune, and
thy victor sword, the pigmy of the noun
tain will never lower his crest 10 the plumed
knight of the valley.
"When TIE strect-walking courtezan is
admitted missionary of virtue to con-
vent of nuns, then it is time for the Senator
who lives in daily and open violation Of the
constitution of his Commonwealth to prate
of constitutional law.
"When the plundcring Arab of the dcs-
crt. tricked out with the spoil of his bow and
spear. is Installed in Westminster Hall to
Ldludcate the rights of property, then let
the Senator. who has swindled the creditors
of his native State to pension his partisans,
boast himself of his respect for the rights
of others.
"When the unbelieying blasphemer, Rob
crt ingcgsoll, entreats the grand Sanhedrm
of the church militant to acknowledge the
power and reality of the eternal and unor-
iginated God then let the leading spirit OF
a notification caucl's prc6ch submission to
the decisions of courts, and tic authority Of
the promulgated law.
"When the swarthy denizen from the jun
giles of India HE. him away to the Uniyer-
sites Of Oxford and Cambridge TO deliver
lectures on polite literature, then let the
, Senator. who refuses to yield to corrections
/ of misstatements from his colleagues here
who refuses to yield 10 points OF order, who
makes sport Of the hoary head his brother
Senator and who dopounces as criminal
from his scat, surrounded by the privilege,
of his position here, before the verdict Of the
Jury. gentleman whose hands were tied and
whose mouth was closed, set himself up a'
the shining exemplar of senatorial courtesy
I "When the mother Of States and states
men behOlds one Of her accredited delegates
to the national capital bartering her voice ir
b those halls for the crumbs that fall from th,
e festal board, deserting his post Of duty t'
r control the stormy counscls Of midnigh
b cancus, to save bis party from the blunder
ing leadership of an incompetent subeltern
and to iasten upon his native State, hun
cry tribe OF hireling skiPiacks, then let tho
= Senator-elect from that stricken State, him
= self the hero Of two doubledaily bloodlcs:
= dueis. proclaim himself the first apostle t.
: usher in the era Of small things and smalle
r men"
. Mr.. Riddlebe7ger also put himself in an
= other unfortunate position during Saturday
, proceedings Senator Hale, one of the re
D adjuster Senators, who refused tofollow Mr
: Riddleberger in his extreme measures, ask
= ed the Senate to suspend the rules to ALLOW
a him 10 get on the calendar bill authorizing
/ the supervisorsOf Patrick county TO raise s.,
= 600 to buy corn for the starving people o
J. that county, whose all mas swept away b.
the terrible drought lasi year. The Chai
{ said; Those who are in favor Of suspend
: ing the rules for the purpose indicated vii
?, rise" Senators rose and voted for the reso
luton 10 give this relief to the hundreds 0
suffering farmers, but Mr.. Riddleberger di
!. not rise.