The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-07
ANECDOTES OF PUBLIC MEN.
An Exciting Scene in the House of Repre-
sentatives Incidents in the Lives of
Well-Known Characters,

OF life we make the following excerpts:
Among the most interesting and exciting
incidents in the life of Robert c, schenck
was the folloHriing
On one occasion, on the floor of the House
Joshua r. Giddings, of Ohio, was assailed in
the bltterest fashion by a number of the
friends of slavery, and charged with stealing
negroes and sending them away from the
District of Columbia-then, of course, with.
i'll the slave dominion. After abuse of this
sort had been heaped upon him for some
days, he at last rose to a personal explana-
ton, and demanded the floor. AT once from
the Southern members there came cries of:
Don't hear himl don't hear him! We OBJ
ject! we object''
A scene of almost riotous confusion fol-
lowed, and in the midst of it Schenck, broad
snouldered square-headed and powerful,
rose in his place, commanding silence bv the
intensity of his manner and the yehemence
with which he said.
II have no personal interest in this matter,
Mr.. Speaker, nor knowledge of the matters
alleged, but when the honorable gentleman,
my colleague, who has been so violently and
gravely assailed, desires to make personal
explanation, surely he should be permitted
to do so. Under such circumstances sir no
gentleman would object"
Again, however there came from different
parts of the chamber cries of Il object' II
object" and again Schenck, with renewed
emphasis, said:
II repeat, Mr.. Speaker, that under the cir
cumstances, no gentleman would object"
AS result OF this courage and pertinacity
Mr.. Giddings was allowed to make his ex-
PLANTATION. When the scene was over there
was much discussion as to who Schenck re-
ferred to when he said that no gentleman
would object; and Jacob Thompson, of Mis-
sissippi, who was afterward Secretary of the
Interior, communicated to him the i'm
pression-which was general in the House
that he meant Slidell, of Louisiana.
That is mistake" replied Mr.. Schenck;
Il did not even know that he was in the
House."
Are you willing to make that explanation
public?' asked Thompson.
Certainly" was the reply. II will do so
with pleasure"
The next day, on the floor, Mr.. Slidell, in
accordance with this arrangement, rose and
asked if the gentleman from Ohio referred to
him when he said that no gentleman would
object to Mr.. Giddlings's explanation,
No, certainly not, sir" replied Schenck;
i dld not even know that the gentleman from
Louisiana was IN the House,
Still Slidell questioned him, saying, 'If the
gentleman from Ohio knew that the member
from louisiana was in the House. would he
have made that remark?'
That" replied Schenck, sis hypothetical
question, and will not be questioned in that
fashion,"
Still the Southern member went on to in
terrogate him; and at last, entirely out of
patience, Schenck took the floor, notwith-
standing the almost violent efforts which his
friend Governor Vance, of Ohio, made to re-
strain him. and said:
ut is evident that what the member from
Louisiana desires to know is TO whom l re-
ferred when l said yesterday that no gentle
man would object to the explanation of my
colleague. Lest there be any further doubt
upon this subject, l will say here and now
that meant and referred to the drunken
member from Alabama, Felix G. Mcconnell"
AS may well be imagined, this declaration
created the widest excitement in the House.
Mcconnell, one of the most violent Demo-
Gratis and pro-slavery men then in Washing
ton, rushed down the aisle shaking his fist
at Schenck, and for moment it was
believed that a personal encounter
could not be avoided. With great difficulty
order was at last restored and the ordinary
business of the House for time resumed.
Just before adjournment, however, Carrot
Davis came over TO where Mr.. Schenck was
quietly seated, and said:
Have you pistol Schenck?'
NO" replied the latter; II never carried
one in my life"
well, you had better carry one to-day"
SdlQ OdNlS, LOT mcdonnell Is swearing he
will shoot you on sight"
Still l haven't pistol and don't know
where to get one" replied Schenck.
Take mine-take mine" said Davis, at
the same time quietly handing his friend a
pistol. For some days after this Mr.. Schenck
went armed. Three days later he met Nc
Council as he was walking down the eastern
steps of the Capitol The Albanian was
standing quietly on tine portico, but made
no demonstration as Schenck passed him,
and so the affair ended. II
OF Frederick Douglass, the following Incl
dent of his early life is related:
1t was in this new home that Frederick
Douglass learned to read so laying the foun-
dation for that better education which in the
years afterward made him marked man, not
only among his own people, but among all
the people of this country
He first acquired desire to learn to read
by hearing his mistress reading the Bible.
One day, knowing nothing of the fact that he
was making what was then regarded in the
slave States as an unlawful request he went
to the lady and said to her frankly,
PLEASE missy, will you teach me to
read?"
To which simple and pathetic appeal the
kind woman at once gave an affirmative re-
Spouse. By her aid and by diligent study he
soon made himself master of the alphabet,
anu Suortly WAS aDle 10 spell words or three
or four letters. The lady of the house was so
proud of her pupil that one evening she in
formed her husband of the lessons she was
giving him, and exultingly exclaimed:
HE is getting on so rapidly that I soon
expect to have him reading the Bible!"
What" cried her husband, almost in con-
sternaton, you are teaching that niger to
read?"
Yes" she said, amazed at his tone, as l
tell you, and he is getting along nj cely"
He must get along no farther" was the
peremptory response of the master of the
house; and then he continued by explaining
to his wife that it was not only unsafe and
impolitic to teach slaves to read, but that it
was actually unlawful to do so. In conclu-
sion he said-and his words sank deep into
the heart of the little black boy who heard
them-"If you give niggar an inch he will
take an ell. Learning would spoil the best