Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07
The Whisky Bill.

A desperate effort was made during the
closing hours Of congress TO take up the
bonded whiskey bill. Repeatedly the at
tempt was renewed, but the vigilance and
determination Of its opponents were equal
TO the occasion. A contested election case
In which the contestant was colored man,
preceded it on the calendar. Early Sunday
morning the friends Of the bill claimed that
IL should have consideration. White Of
Kentucky vehemently declared that the
whiskey bill should never be considered on
Sunday. Such q proposition was unworthy
Of the democratic party, and much less
worthy member Of the republican party.
The report of the proceedings presents some
picturesque scenes and some bits Of con-
gressional humor After the above attempt
to reach the whiskey bill, another unsuccess-
full roll cali on the election case was had,
when the members settled down to fun.
Sleeping members became targets for paper
balls and copies of old bills, which were
hurled at them from all directions, and many
nap was unceremoniously disturbed. As
the morning approached, however, sleep de-
parted, and members appeared as bright as
in the early hours Of the evening. Shortly
before dawn Young of Ohio suggested as a
compromise that at eleven o'clock the house
should vote upon the whiskey bill and the
election case Randall Of Pennsylvania
objected. "Do you PROPOSE" asked White
Of Kentucky, "to swap off q colored repre-
sentative for whiskey7" "I do" replied
Young, with frankness which was relished
by the house and greeted with roars of
laughter; "but am unwilling to swap off
a colored representative for crank. Does
the gentleman know what crank is p
Before the trade is closed" shouted Bragg
Of Wisconsin, I" / want to know how much
whiskey has been drunk" "Whiskey will
come up, perhaps, when this case is over, "
retorted White, "but not now" Shortly at.
ter six Robson of New Jersey rose and
called attention to the hour. This congress
was making a record before the country and
a record in history. He thought that every
body would agree with him that too much
whiskey had been taken out of bond already.
Peals of laughter. 1t was in the interest
of good order and good government that the
house take recess for three hours, in order
to avoid any difficulty Of personal contro-
versy, and in order to avoid any false atti-
tude before the country. Let members
come back in three hours and try to do their
duty according to their convictions. He
asked unanimous consent for recess of
three hours. A recess till half-past nine
o'clock was finally agreed upon. In the
course of the forenoon Knott Of Kentucky,
stating that his congressional career would
in an hour and half close forever, appealed
to the courtesy and magnanimity Of men,
bers to let him have the poor privilege Of a
vote on bill in which the people of his
own congressional district and state were
profoundly interested. "What bill is it 2"
asked his colleague, Mr.. White. at is bill
$685." Mr.. Knott replied. "What" ex-
claimed Mr.. White, in tone of surprise
and horror, " the whiskey bill and on Sum-
day Never Never call for the regular
order" And so the whiskey bill failed in the
forty-seventh congress-to appear again, no
one doubts, in the forty-eighth.