Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-14
A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION.
MIR. SCHENCK AND THE MEMBER
FROM ALABAMA.
GARRETT DAvISS DISLIKg FoR HANNIBAL
HANLIN.

number Of the friends of slavery, and
charged with stealing negroes and send
ing them away from the district of Col
umbia-then, of course within the slave
dominion. After abuse of this sort had
been heaped upon him for some days, he
at last rose to personal explanation and
demanded the floor. A: once from the
Southern members there came cries Of
Don't hear him don't hear him
We object We object
A scene of almost riotous confusion
followed and in the midst of it Schenck,
broad-shouldered, square-headed, and
powerful. rose in his place, commanding
silence by the intensity Of his manner,
and the vehemence with which he said /:
II have no personal interest in this
matter, Mr.. Speaker, nor knowledge Of
the matters alleged, but when the honor
able gentleman my colleague, who has
been so gravely assailed, desires to make
q personal explanation, surely he should
be permitted 10 do so. Under such cir
cumstances sir, no gentleman would OBJ
ject."
Again. however, there came from dh-
ferent parts of the Chamber, cries Of 81
object, object :" and again Schenck,
with renewed emphasis, said
Il repeat Mr.. Speaker, that, under the
circumstances no Gentleman would OBJ
ject."
As result of this courage and pertin-
acity Mr.. Giddings was allowed to make
his explanation. When the scene was
over there was much discussion as to who
schenck referred to when he said that no
gentleman would; and Jacob Thompson
of Mississippi, who was afterwards Sec
rotary Of the Interior, communicated to
him the.impression-which was general
in the House-that he meant Slideu Of
Louisiana.
"ThA. is a mistake" replied Mr..
Schenck: Il did no, even know that
he was in the House"
"Are you willing to make that explain
alton public" asked Thompson.
Certainly" was the reply. IL will
DO SO with pleasure
The mex, day. on the door, Mr. slidel,
II accordance With he arrangement, rose
sad asked Il the gentleman from Ohio re-
fsred to him whel he said tia, no gen.
,lsman would obisc, to Mr. Giddingss
explanation
"No, certainly not, ST. replied
sshsnek. II did net even knnw that the
gentleman from Louisiana was ia the
House"
Still sl;dell Questioned aim, aging,
elf the gentleman from Ohio knew that
the gentleman from Louisiana vas in the
House, would he have made that re-
mark =
THAT" replied schenok, 'is hypo.
ths,ical question. and ! vii not be cues
toned in tina, fashion"
Still the Southern member wen: on to
ln.errogste him and 1t last, entirely out
Of patience Sohenck took the floor. not
wi,hs,anding the almost widen. efforts
which his friend, Goysrnor Vance Of Ohio,
made to restrain hin, and said;
''It is evident that what tie member
from Louisiana desires 10 know IS TO
whom referred when said yesterday
tha, no gentleman would object to the
explanation Of my colleague. Lest there
be any farther doubt upon this subject,
will say here and now that meant
and referred to the drunken member from
Alabama, Felix G. Mcconnell"
AS may well be imagined. this declar-
alton created the widest excitement in
the House. Mcconnell, one Of the most
violent Democrats and prO-slaverY men
then in Washington, rushed down the
aisle shaking his fist at Schepck, and for
moment it was believed that person.
81 encounter could not be avoided. With
great difficulty order was q, last restored
and the ordinary business of the House
for q time resumed. Just before sd-
ionrnment, however, Garret Davis came
over to where Mr.. Schenek was quietly
seated, and said
"Have you pistol, schsnsk p
"No," replied the latter III never car.
ried one in my life"
Well, you had better carry one to-
day. said Davis, "for Mcconnell is
swearing he will shoot you on sight"
"Still, haven't pistol, and don't
know where to ge, one, !" replied Schenck.
Take mine-take mine" said Davis,
at the same time quietly handing his
friend pistol. For some days after this
Mr.. Schenck went armed. Three days
later helmet Mcconnell as he was walking
down the eastern steps of the Capitol.