Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-29
ANOTHER SPAT IN THE HOUSE.


In the House OF Representatives yes
terday during the debate on the federal
election repeal bill, Mr.. Breckenridge, of
Kentucky, and Mr.. Johnson, of lndi-
ana, became involved in personal COLI
troversy, which, at one time, promised
to become exciting, but finally lapsed
into insignificance
Mr.. Johnson stigmatized the measure
as the climax of all that was atroclous
and vicious in legislation. 1t repealed
all that was near and dear to the Amer
lean heart. 1t was the unfortunate
child of wretched conspiracy that was
conceived in total ignorance Of the fun
damental principles upon which this
government was constructed. He then
went on to ridicule the democratic
claim that these laws were unconstita-
tional. Then, having paid further re-
spects to the democrtic party, he refer
red to that party as party when
God Almighty had permitted to live,
but had never permitted to work. he
said that the pending measure was the
climax OF democratic crime; 1t was the
capstone of the lofty tower of demo
cratic infamy. A great wrong was be-
ing here inflicted. 4 blow was being
aimed at the purity of the ballot. The
people would assert themselves and
would take hold with irresistible force
of the democratic party and hurl it
from power. He then closed his speech
with somewhat sneering remark as 10
the gentleman who was to succeed him
Oh the floor, Mr.. Rreckinridse, OF Ken
lucky.
Mr.. Breckenridge began his remarks
by reference to the scant courtesy &c.
corded him by the gentleman who had
lust finished his remarks. He had a
profound pity for the heart that could
dictate such a speech as the gentleman
had made this afternoon and with this
he would dismiss the gentleman and his
speech. -,
Mr.. johnson Cinterrupting)-There
are other things the gentleman might
like to dismiss, but the people will not
dismiss them.
Mr.. Breckinridge-I did not accu-
rately hear the remark, but it shows q
want of courtesy in the gentleman to in
terrupt me without permission. There
is no interruption | am not willing to
accord to gentleman who understands
the prophecies and decencies of parlia-
mentary language But that, continued
Mr.. Breckenridge, was all that he de-
sired to say on this point. He desired
to discuss the pending question with the
solemnity which ought to be observed
by q majority which was charged with
leeislating on a great question. He then
proceeded to make constitutional argu-
nent against the federal election laws.
The laws could not fail to be offensive,
no matter what party was in power. BY
It's protective tariff the general govern
ment put its hand upon every Amerl-
can industry. He believed in shaking
of the hand of the government from
all the industries of the country. Inc
government had become the great
banker Of the country. He believed in
the democratic party taking up the Ii
nancial question and making the
Treasury the means of collecting
revenue and using that revenue
in an economical manner. bic
wanted to prevent the general govern
ment from interfering with the elections
OF the people Congress had been as
sembled under unusual and perpleXing
circumstances. The democratic party
had found an empty treasury; it had
found unwise tariff legislation it had
found unwise money legislation. 1t
had found in the statutes laws which
allowed federal interference with cleo
tons. 1t was the duty of the demo
cratic party to act on these questions.