The daily gazette., 1883-03-02
pailuaIA Gazette
More Congressional Blaekguard ism.

More Congressional Blaekguardtsm.
Since the November election, which put q
complete quietus upon his Congressional
career, and relegated him to private life at
the end of the present session, Butterworth
of Ohio, the chief blackguard of the House
of Representatives, has been con-
spicuous by his silence, and has
carefully Tefrained from those ebul-
itions OF blackguardism that gained
for him such an unenviable notoriety last
spring. But while Butterworth has been so
plainly purified by chastisemeut, there are
other departing statesmen. who do not DIS
play his latent good sense, and the recent
proceedings of the House have been
marked by a number of disgracefnl
scenes which would have dis
credited the lowest brothel in the
country. The elimination was reached last
night, during the consideration of the River
and Harbor bill, when Van Voorhis, re-
tiring Republican statesman from New
York, paid his respects TO jobber Page Of
California iu the most approved blackguard
fashion The scene is thus reported in the
morning papers
lnC DlAl Hdu bpCh pN5cCA AuA
Mr. Page, of the Commerce Committee,
called up the River and Harbor bill. The
consideration had scarcely begun when Mr..
Van yoorhis, of New York, advanced up
the main aisle until directly on line with
Page and commenced TO discuss a clause
which had just been read. His opening
began with a denuneation of the trainers
of the bill. Said he: "The thing is so out
rageous, so damnable, that nobody but a
and e1tf throat VOnl6 have
thought of such thing as that to put to
such bill as this"
There was great sensation throughout
the hall Immediately, and when members
had so far recovered from their astonish-
ment as to realize the full brutality of the
remark at least 50 voices exclaimed "Let
his words be taken down ~
Mr.. McLane moved resolution immedi-
ately that Mr.. Van Noorhis be expelled
from the House Mr.. Hiseock made con-
ciliatory speech, evidently intent on paving
the way for an apology. Unless such
apology was made he (Hiscock) would will
ingly vote for expulsion. Robinson of
Massachusetts,, followed, together with
McCook and others, in the same strain.
They wanted an example made of somebody
and denounced the attack of Van Noorhis
as unwarrantable and un provoked, as II
was.
McIane tried TO make a speech on his
resolution here, but the confusion was toe
great for him to be heard.
Mr.. McLane then began to show the ehor
nifty of the outrage and to comment on his
general conduct in the House, when he
MeLane, used some strong expressions auC
loud cries of 'Take down his words" filled
the Republican side of the hall This wal
not insisted upon, however, and wa'
drowned in shouts and yells for Van Voor
his. While this was going on Mills, o
Texas, got into an alteration witt
those in his vicinity, and this
smaller mob was shaking fists a
each other and poundi desks AM
shouting their words in way that put al
the rest of the House in the shade Tn
Speaker raped with his gavel in vain and 1
desperation called loudly for the Sergeant
alarms to do his duty. This was enough
and comparative quiet was again restored
Mr.. Van Voorhis then stepped down an
made a rambling, disconnected apology
which left the impression on those wf
heard it that he was either drunk or Graz
and was not responsible for what he mgl
say or do.
He wound up by saying that he regrette
that any exception had been taken aud th,
he was under any necessity for the witt
drawal of his words. This set the House in
roar of merriment and it took fully two mil
utes 10 reduce the galleries to silence. Hel
Dert OF Alabama moved 10 amend Tue eApu
sion resolution by one which gave the Speak
power TO publicly reprimand the offende
After half an hours wrangle aud bickern
and another apology from Van Voorhi
prompted by his friends, MeLane withdre
his resolution and Herberts was vote
down.
It is a grateful relief to know that aft
Sunday next such distinguished blackguar(
as Van Yoorhis will permanently retire fro
the floor of Congress.