The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-20

SENATOR wOLCOTT occur in the or
SPEAKING. binary day ses-
sions. During the exciting struggle over
the force bill 21s years ago I remember see
Ing number of senators asleep in their
chairs in full view of the senate and the oc-
cupants of the galleries. | remember see
Ing one senator led from the floor by
friend who had forced himself past the
doorkeepers, and who escorted the maud
I'm statesman 10 secure retreat. | remem-
Der witnessing painful scene in the mar
Bile room, when fearful wife endeavored
to induce her rccrcant lord to enter car
riage which she had waiting near BY, her
hope being to save his reputation from
damage during the small hours of the
morning, when he was indulgiug in alto
gether too many small bottles for his own
good.
A Historical Night.
Some of the night sessions of the senate
and house have been history making occa-
sions. 1t was Il night session which dem
onstrated to the Republican majority of
the senate their inability to pass the SO
called force BILL and when their quorum
failed and they could make no progress
against the obstruction on the other side of
the chamber they concluded finally TO give
up the battle.
Efforts 10 pass laws concerning federal
management OF elections have before this
resulted in critical moments and bitter
struggles in congress. The late Samuel j.
randall made The beginning of his great
reputation many years ago in Gibustcring
against what is now known as the force
bill-a measure which proposed to place
troops at the polls in the south The ma
Jorlty OF the house favored the bill On
posed to them We're the Democrats under
the lead OF Randall and a few Republicans.
rxt-I1
who atterward attained great celebrity.
These We're Garfield, Blainc aud Charles
Foster
The friends of the bill were under the
leadership of General Benjamin +. Butler.
1t was indeed climax in which Greek was
pittcd against Greek. and The fighting b,-
came fast and furious. Mr.. Randall was
the acknowledged leader of the opposition.
For three days and three nights he sat in
the house, ing his forces and PERSIST
emily breaking the quorum There were
many exciting scenes, and Mr.. Randall. al
that time comparatively IA new man in con
gress, displayed those qualities of leader
snip which aftcrward made him famous.
AT the end of the go hour session General
Butler for the first time in his life retired
from the battlefield wornout, bailled and
beaten. In this struggle Mr. Blaine, though
occupying the chair as speaker, gave Mr..
Randall much assistance and earned for
himself the friendship and admiration OF
many southern people, which continued
till the day of his death.
a Night of Passion.
MI randall was the chief actor In one
oil the most critical episodes in the history
OF congress. 1t was on the morning of Fri
day, March 9, 1877. The house was in
deadlock because Democrats were iilibus-
terns and trying to defeat the counting in
OF Hayes as president, in pursuance of the
uecisioh of the electoral commission The
deadlock was finally broken at 4 o'clock in
the morning, after Il night of i,a-sion.
storm and danger unexamplcd in the his
tory OF congress. 1t was broken hy the
courage OF Speaker Randall, who absolute
~ declined to entertain any further diln-
tory motions and instructed the clerk TO
inform the senate that the house was ready
to proceed with the count
II was well for the peace OF the country
that a man Of Mr.. Randall's nerve and dc.
termination occupied the chair at that crit.
fcal moment. Only As hours reniail / of
President Grants term. Mr. Hayes was in
Ohio, and many Democrats had determined
10 prevent the formalties of counting the
vote which should declare Hayes to be
elected. Mr. Randall finally cut the Gordian
knot by refusing to recognize II member
VINO nad risen Tor the purpose OF making Il
iilibustering motion. The member asked
an appeal, but Speaker Randall decided
that recognition WAS matter entirely with
In the Jurisdiction of the chair and was not
appealable. This decision broke the back
bone of the deadlock and within an hour
Hayes was declared TO have received ma
Jority of the electoral votes cast.
\ Memorable Night.
There were some exciting night sessions
during the close of the Forty-sixth congress
The contention was over an item in "a mill
tary appropriation bill providing for troops
mt the polls, and the opposition was led by
Mr.. Springer of Illinois. Five or six DAYS
and parts OF nights were consumed in fiji
clustering, and the fight was kept up till the
hands of the clock in the house showed that
the hour of l2, March 4, had arrived. The
clerk was then in the middle of a roll call.
and the congress expired while the filibns.