The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-07-13
s.LIAR AND PERJURER.'
WhitthOrne's Scathing Denun-
citation of Robson in
the House.

actions during the eight years he
was at the head of the navy depart
ment, in which he alleged that ey-
cry one of the United States war
vessels now afoat has been built,
rebuilt, or substantially repaired
during his administration. He
then considered the circumstances
of the investigation carried on by
the forty-fourth congress. He
said congressional committees were
rife and neither reputation nor fam
lily was spared. In his case his
fathers grave had been dishonored,
his mothers dowry questioned, his
wife's portion examined. The de-
tails of his household had been in
spected. This had been done with
sanction or at least with the acqui-
escence of the American people.
The whole house had been yielded
to the control of men who rioted
and revealed in that sort of thing.
Ii there was member of congress
whose character and daily life were
such that he had received among his
associates a cognomen which told
of weakness and debauchery he was
a man who aspired to lead in such
thing. If there was a man who in
his own state had been accused of
stealing the school fund, true or
false
At these words Mr.. Whitthorne
Tenn. who was sitting at a front
desk on the democratic side, started
up and faced Mr.. Robson, ex-
claiming:
THAT is lie, whoever tells or re
peats it..
For an instant Mr.. Robson did
not reply, and number of mem
bers congregated around the two
gentlemen and much excitement
prevailed. Then Mr.. Robson re.
peated his statement: eff there
was man who had been accused,
true or false, of having stolen the
school fund of his state"--
Here he was again interrupted
by republican member, who de
manded that Mr.. Whitthorne's
words should be taken down.
Mr.. House (Tenn. suggested
that Mr.. Robeson's prior remarks
should be taken down.
MI. Robeson-I have alluded to
no man by name. If any man rec
ognizes the description let him step
forward and denV it.
At this point Mr.. Whitthorne re-
sumed his seat.
Mr.. Robeson-If any man were
so debased in his habits, so foul in
practices, that he considers it a
personal insult when the police
make raid on the lowest brothel
in the city, and invokes the ma
chinery of congressional investi-
CATION for the purpose of asserting
a congressional privilege, such a
man as that would come at once to
the front. If there was a man who
brought his brother from the in
most recesses of an inshore state to
be a contractor under the district
government which he denounced as
such a man was fit in
,trument to decoy contractors. If
here was a man who had obtained
1T the head of department a pro-
vision for a member of his family,
such a man would be qualified by
hat malevolence which turks in
mean men to strike at the reputa-
ion of his benefactor. 1 name no
body. 1 ask none of my friends to
name any one. 1 ask the gentle
men on the other side tostate whom
[ have characterized.
The bill was then passed-yeas,
10; nays, rs.
Mr.. Whitthorne then replied to
Mr.. Robson and said: ''The mem
)er from New Jersey felt himself
to go out of his way to
make a hypothetical assault upon
omebody. He alluded to the
chool fund of a state, and 1 have
10 question in my own mind that 1
vas the person referred to in connec-
ion with it, for the reason that pri-
r to the discussion on this bill /
lad information that that member
following the instincts which gov
rned him when secretary of the
avy) was getting up information
ersonal to myself in regard to the
chool fund of the state of Tennes-
ee. Either emissaries or friends
-ere engaged in that work. Hence,
ON reference being
lade to it, l made a personal APP
LEGATION and l now very coolly and
cry quietly state to the house and
} the country that with the school
ind of Tennessee never had any
onnection, directly or indirectly.
ow pass to another matter. L
nderstood the gentleman to say
lat on my advice a brother of
inc came to Washington and OBJ
inc d contract from an admins
alton which 1 had officially de-
)unced. That is not the truth.
he truth is that l advised him /!
yainst coming here. understood
! intimation to be made that he
I'd legislated a son of mine into a
,vernment position. This is not
10 truth. 1t was said l had in
ted an investigation of the police
the District of Columbia in an ::
fair in which my personal conduct
i'd habits were involved. / did !.
It incite that investigation. J
and here to repeat in the face of
c country and in the face of that q
ember that when charged by the Il
les of the house and by my duty y
my country to investigate the con- l
ton of the navy department, | I'M =
rtook that work and labor without =
lr, favor or affection" Mr.. Whit II
orne then said that while en- =
Dyed in that investigation he had II
en- logged and followed by de u
,tives, by whom employed he did %
t know. But there appeared be p
e that committee, he continued, ~
e member from New jersey, and ~
on his oath he said that he had q
this fact to Mr.. Hale, p
Maine, in order that Mr.. Hale Is
ght communicate it to n friend of W W
ne, but that he knew nothing -
out it. Here, in the face of re- "
that belongs to me, 40
III