Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-12
A SCENE
In the House OF Representatives that
Was aOt Set b0wn in Prfesy's
Bill.
An Act frem the bloody Tragedy of the
civil War which Failed Of
Hts object.

WASHINGTON, December 9.-One of the
most exciting scenes that has occurred Tor
years in the House, took place On Friday
afternoon last. The bill TO grant the officers
and crew Of the United States men-of-war
Monitor, which engaged the Confederate
ironclsd Merrimac, in Hampton Roads, Va,
in May, 1862, 5000, 900 prise money was up.
sceues orsuss5 lrber Mr.. 4ksHttf, of E-r
York, took the Hoor in support Of the bill.
Mr.. Hewitt is Que Of the leading Demo-
cratic members of the House. and, while he
often takes the floor, is not known 10 be par
tjcplarly eloquent. He began by reciling
the m amer 10 which the rebel Merrimac
swept the rivers in the South, and was pro-
ceeding toward New York and Boston. Be-
fore she had reached the vicinity where she
encountered the Monitor, President Lincoln
sent him (Hewitt) telegram that was also
sent many other citizens of New York,
81 latiDg that the "wa:er terror" the rebel
Merrimac, was sweeping everything that ap-
peared before her and was m sking her way
toward New York, that the city would be
stormed and captured unless something was
done 10 prevent her entering the hsrbor, and
that the citizens had better take immediate
steps 10 receive her. Mr.. Hewitt, with sew
eral of the leading citizens of New York,
met the mayor in conference of war, snd it
was decided 10 sink vessels and obstruct the
passage OF the Merrimac into New York har-
Dor. For several days the citizens Of New
York lived in horrible dread. Their lives
were nightmare. The people breathed
heavily as they prepared 10 meet the awful
fate that seemed but a short distance ahead
What terrible agony these people suffered in
that suspense! Finally the wires flashed
the news TO the gasping populace that the
course OF the rebel ironclad Merrimac had
been cut off; that she had been intercepted
in Hampton Roads by the Federal Monitor
and battered down and sunk. Everybod
in New York breathed easier instantly and
said that ii was the Monitor that saved them.
As Mr.. Hewitt recounted the thrilling
scenes during those days in the great Ameri-
can metropolis, he walked the aisles on the
Democratic side of the House, while his
vivid words flowed forth in the most elo-
quent manner. As he waxed warm in his
speech, the members, pages and others who
have access 10 the floor of the House, hJcked
about him and filed the passages. TIE
people in the galleries stretched tneir necks
and leaned forth from their seats. Not o
word was spoken save by Mr.. Hewitt. All
was quiet as death in the House. The
Speaker was so awed that he sat spell
bound and unable to call back those who
crowded around the orator. This exciting
interest was manifested for half an hour or
more, when Mr.. Hewitt related those per
sonal scenes which have not been told, and
when. finally he sat down it was believed the
sympathy of almost the entire House was
with him. He said the Monitor had pre-
vented the Merrimsc from entering the New
York harbor, had cut short a war which
might have lasted century, and the heroes
who manned her should be awarded the
prizemoney the bill granted.
Gen. Phil Cook, member from Georgia,
and one of the most distinguished officers on
the side of the Confederacy during the re-
bellion, arose and fred hand grenade into
Mr.. Hewitt, by saying that he stood upon
the bank of the river at Hampton Roads aud
saw the Merrimac go down; hat she sank
from the explosion of shells placed in her
and fred by her own crew to prevent her
falling into the hands of the Monitor and
other Federal crews that hovered about. He
said, further, that 1t was not the work of 4
Federal navy or soldiery that vanquished
the Merrimac, and that the bill had no merit.
This statement, coming from an eyewitness,
acted like wet blanket upon the hot blood
that Mr.. Hewitt had fired, and ultimately
it killed the bill. Mr.. HewitPs rhetoric was
only effective for display