The National tribune., 1891-11-05

man or any other person had called my atten-
ton to the words reported, ] should certainly
have made full explanation. have always re-
GREETED the occurrence, and il Mr.. Sherman has
no more feeling about 1t now than have, II Is
Of but little Importance. 1t was q mutual mis-
take. Looking back through the years since
these things happened. and which have the
effect of impairing the dignity Of our Congress.
much allowance should DO made by just and
impartial men for the actions Of the men OF
that day, in the midst Of the most exciting
period of our history, when the Nation was
standing on the verge Of the most gigantic
civil war which ever befell our country and
perhaps any other Occurrences Of this char
acter of more or less importance were con-
stantly happening"
did you witness the difficulty between
Congressman Preston 8. Brooks, of South Caro-
lima, and Senator Charles Sumner, of Massa-
chusetts?"
"No, did not. / saw Mr. Brooks on the
evening before the occurrence in the Senate
Chamber. He had been unwell for some days,
and together with Barksdale, of Mississippi, and
some other friend, we visited him at his room.
lie inquired Of me particularly as 10 the words
used by Nr. Sumner toward Senator Butler. Of
South Carolina, who was a relation Of Brooks.
told him what i knew about it, but thought
he seemed very mad; so much so, that when
We left the room i expressed the belief that
there would be trouble.
Brooks was q very proud and impetuous
man. He sent challenge to Arson Burlin-
game. Of Massachusetts, which the latter ae-
cepted, naming the place as Canada and the
weapons rifles. OF course there was no fight,
tho friends of both claiming victory. And so
in the challenge by Roger A. Pryor, Of Viz
ginia, 10 Potter. Potter promptly accepted the
challenge, weapons to be bOWe-knives. Ac-
cording TO what was called the code 10 that
day this was not allowable, but both sides
claimed the victory"
what became Of Col. Avery7"
" He went into the war, was captured at Is
. land No. 10, on the Mississippi River, aud was
drowned few years ago. All of the four are
gone except myself Indeed there are but few
remaining Of the members of the 3ith Congress,
and they are diminishing yearly. Gen. Banks,
OF Massachusetts,; Senators Morrill, Of Vermont;
Pugh, of Alabama; Reagan, of Texas; Vance,
of North CorOlina, and Sherman, of Ohio,
are still In public life. Elk Representatives
Grow, Of Pennsylvania; Yandever, Of CslifOr-
mia; Denver, of Ohio; Savage and Atkins, of
Tennessee, are living. and others whose names
i cannot now recall"
What do you remember about the election
Of Gen. Banks TO the Speakership2"
I" i suppose the history Of that event Is well
known to the country. A single feature of it,
which do not remember TO have heard spoken
Of, occurs to me, as it impressed me at the time.
A resolution was passed calling on all the min
listers Of tho city Of Washington to open alter
nately the proceedings of the House each day
with prayer. The contest lasted through De-
cember and January, and into February. All
denominations had been represented, until on
one morning Jewish Rabbi II had never seen
one before) appeared in full costume Of his
profession. offered q fervent prayer and asking
the God OF Abraham, Isaac and Jacob % bring
the Unhappy struggle to a speedy close. Gen.
Banks was elected Speaker, / think on that day
How much the Rabbits prayer had to do with
1t, or how little his predecessors prayers were
availing, / do not pretend TO say.
" The difficulty in efeeting the election Of a
Speaker was that no one of three candidates
could command the required number of votes
Banks was getting enough 10 bring about his
election if the plurality rule, as it was called
could be adopted. Mr.. Frederick p. Stanton,
Of Tennessee, wished me to offer resolution
adopting the rule, but refused and finally it
was offered by Samuel A. Smith, Of Tennessee
and adopted, and under its operation Banks
was elected. He made good Speaker"
what have you been doing, Judge, since
the WARP"
"Soon after the war undertook TO plant,
but soon abandoned 10 and returned to the
practice OF my profession, which / have fol-
lowed up except when on the bench as a Judge.
III AC2p Nao uOluAuhtcu DJ my party as q
candidate for Governor. Tho great issue in
the canvass was the settlement Of the bonded
debt of the State. My party, in its platform,
announced the principle Of fair settlement of
the debt.
THE Republican party, with Judge Haw-
kins as their candidate, took similar position
With but two candidates my election would
have been assured, but a portion of the Demo
Gratis proposed 10 repudiate that portion Of
the State debt which was created for the pur-
pose Of building our railroads. This faction
nominated man named Wilson, and although
i carried with me large majority of the
Democrats, Mr.. Wilson received enough votes
to give Judge Hawkins the plurality. During
his administration as Governor, q temporary
vacancy having occurred on the Supreme Bench
of the State Gov. Hawkins commissioned me
TO fill the vacancy. / was engaged for n con-
siderable time as Commissioner Of the United
States to treat with various bands of Indians
in the Northwestern Minnesota, Dakota,
Idaho, Montana, and Washington. The result
of these treaties was the acquisition by the
United States of millions Of acres of land. I
am now law officer in the General Land Of
fee"