The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1883-02-15
Diplomatic relations have been at
last resumed between Spain and Chill.

last resumed between Spain and Chill.
A Washington correspondent of
the Courier Journal, signing himself
"Old Fogy" gives a vivid history of
the great contested election case in
which S. S. Prentiss and our esteem
ed fellow citizen Gen. S. j. Gholson,
figured, from which we make the
following extract:
A contested election case produced
much excitement in Washington and
great interest throughout the country.
No similar case had occurred since
the establishment of the Constitution.
Mr.. Prentiss, on behalf of himself and
colleague, made an elaborate argu-
ment before the House. An intelli-
gent eyewitness thus describes his
audiences:
"The galleries We're crowded to
suffocation, chiefly by ladies ; the
lobbies and every vacant spot on the
floor of the hall were thronged by
Senators, ex-members of Congress,
officers Of the army and navy, mem
bers of State Legislatures on a visit
to the Capital, eminent jurists and
Judges. distinguished private citizens
and Foreign Ministers. At one time,
as your eye glanced around and sur
veyed the scene, it was arrested at
every turn by the presence of some
illustrious man. Directly in front OF
the chair sat John Quincy Adams, the
Nestor of the House just outside OF
the bar ION the opposite side of the
halD his tall figure towering above
its fellows, stood Henry Clay, the
generalissimo of the Wing forces,
watching with delight his young
friends manful defense near him
were Judge White, of Tennessee, a
white-haired patriarch Of his party ;
Preston, the eloquent Southern Sen
ator, and Crittenden, the no less elo-
quent Kentuckian. Close by rose
the massive form of Daniel Webster
whose countenance, grave, unmoved
and almost sombre in its aspect, beto
kened the most profound attention.
1t was, indeed, a splendid assembly
illuminated by galaxy of genius,
worth, craftsmanship, beauty and
station, such as meet together but
rarely in a generation-such as Ed
mund Burke, Charles Fox or George
Canning might have been honored il
addressing. A breathless silence
reigned from beginning to end, ex.
cept as some fine passage, ever anC
anon, occasioned suppressed applause
from the galleries. The speaker him
self was evidently surprised to OBJ
serve the magical power he wa
welding"
At the close of this memorable
speech, more than a week was con
sumed by Democratic members in as
serting the claims of Messrs. Clair
borne and Gholson, and in answering
the argument of Mr.. Prentiss.
The first vote was taken on a reso
luton declaring that Clairborne anc
Gholson were entitled to their seat
for that entire Congress. This reso
luton was defeated, the vote being
112 in the affirmative and 119 in tn,
negative. 1t seems to eat this lat
day, that if these gentlemen were no
the legally elected members, Prentis
and Word were. But it was not 81
declared. The next vote was on th
following resolution: "Resolved
That S. S. Prentiss and Thomas }
Word are not entitled to seats in tn
Twenty fifth Congress-" Breathles
silence reigned throughout the hall
Not a voice, scarcely whisper, wa
heard through the immense crowd
filling every nook and corner. A
last the result was announced--ll
to LII. There was a moments pause
and the Speaker said: "The Chai
votes in the Affirmative ; the resolu
ton is adopted" Thus was the lon
agony of three weeks ended, and tn
parties returned to Mississippi fc
another contest.
Millard Fillmore afterward Pres
} dent of the United States, was
member of the House at the time.
} knew him well, and can say he wi
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