Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09

Run on the same occasion.
GLOW long did it take you to get there?"
inquired one of his auditors.
"Oh, about three days.
"And how long were you in getting back
to Washington"
1.-TWO hours and half, and there were q
good many who got there before did,
Shanks was probably one of the number.
During the recess of Congress he did staff
duty under Fremont in Missouri for a
time, and organized one of the Indiana
regiments, of which he was given the COM
mand, and won in the service the rank of q
Major General by brevet.
BE was certainly never elected to Con-
gress on account of his personal beauty. He
was rough specimen of natures handiwork;
tall, angular, straight as an arrow, rough
featured, with luxuriant
GROWTH OF VERY YELLOW HAIR
crowning his tall figure, and which the
courtesy of his fellow members was wont to
style ambrosiaL Except for the color of
his hair he was not unlike Lincoln in ap-
pearance and possessed some of Lincoln's
traits of mind and character, though lacking
the latter's dispassioned judgment.
He won his first nomination for Congress,
as he told me, by rather peculiar method.
There were, as usual, number of aspirants
for the honor, and, to test their respective
fitness, it was determined to have ego as
you please" discussion in the convention by
the several candidates, so that the delegates
might make an intelligent choice. Shanks
carried off the palm and received the nom
ination, and so far justified the selection
that he was subsequently elected for four
additional terms. AT the expiration of his
service he was appointed an Indian agent
an appointment which would seem to in
r,.lr = 81, 4-,l q
the willy savage for well covered scalp
still survives.
A GOOD FELLOW FOR DULL TIMES.
Shanks was ready debater and possessed
of an unusual fuency of speech for one of
his limited education, and was always able
to command at least respectful attention.
His most remarkable achievement while in
Congress was in connection with the civil
rights bill which became law in 1875.
During the deadlock which occurred in the
attempt to pass it through the House, and
which held the House in continuous session
for 48 hours, he relieved the almost insufer-
able tedium and kept the House in a roar of
laughter by constantly reiterated inquiry
of the Speaker at every lull in the proceed
ings, "Whether it would now be in order to
read the first resolution of the Democratic
National Platform of 1872"
The appositeness of this resolution to the
subject matter under consideration appears
from recital of the resolution. It is in
these words: "We recognize the equality of
all men before the law, and hold that it is
the duty of the Government in its dealings
with the people to mete out equal and ex-
act justice to all, of whatever nativity, race,
color or persuasion, religious or political"
HOW HE CREATED LAUGHTER.
irta 81 - l.
effect to this declaration. It is unfortun-
ately impossible to give any adequate idea
of the exceeding grotesqueness of the scene,
as after the tedious monotony of three roll
calls, occupying about an hour and half,
and the House had settled into comparative
quiet, and q good many of the members
asleep, the tall form of the gentleman
from Indiana" would be seen lengthening
itself out, and the members would be
up by q sonorous voice saying:
"Mr. Speaker, rise to parliamentary In
'The gentleman from Indiana rises to q
parliamentary inquiry, and will state it."
my inquiry is sir, whether 1t would now
be in order to read the first resolution Of the
Democratic national platform of 1872"
'1t requires unanimous consent. Does
the Chair hear any objection?"
81 object" comes from Randall and a |
score Of other Democrats, and Shanks is
obliged to subside till another opportunity
occurs to repeat the performance.
TAKING FALL OUT OF CESSNA
During the second night of the protracted |
struggle Blaine had become wearied and |
had retired for rest and refreshment, after
calling Cessna, ofPennsylvania, temporarily |
to the chair. During Cessna's occupancy Of
it Shanks again arose with his parliamentary
inquiry, and, in response to it Cessna cried
out, in his impulsive manner: 1.-THE gentle
man from Indiana can't read ANYTHING"
Then Shanks rose in an apparently tower
ing rage to question of personal privilege
and said that he had been grossly insulted
by the Pro Tenn. Speaker of the House;
that the Speaker had declared in the pres
ence of the House and of the whole coun-
try that he couldn't reap anything, and
wanted to know why his father had wasted
so much money on his education without
even teaching him to read; and then in
sisted on reading the resolution of the DEM
ocratic platform to show the House that he
could read something. But he got even
with them at last. "Perseverentia omn1a
vincit, and Shanks' perseverance was at
last rewarded with more abundant success
than he had probably anticipated; for when
the final vote was reached in the House he
got the floor and moved an amendment to
the preamble of the bill, striking it out and ,
in lieu of it the Democratic
resolution.
WOULD NOT BE CRIED DOWN.
he was met with clamors of order on the