Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-01
LAMAR AND CONKLlNG
"REMINISCENCES OF THEIR "a
NOUS ENCOUNTER
When Liar" and "BIackguardD We're Used in
The United siales Senate Lamars
Courageous Stand.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Nevcr. PERHAPS.
has there been a stOrmier scene ina M
United states senate than that i'm which
Mr. Lamar and Mr. COnkliur were Tho
central figures. II occurred during tho
night Of the 18th of June. 1919. when
the army bill was under discussion. and
the Democrats were attempting to force
the passage of a clause preventing me
appropriation for the support Of the
army IN the event that any of the troops
were used ~ the polls On this memora-
Die night the senate sat thrOught until
within nine minutes of the hour for as
sembling the following day During the
debate Mr.. Conking charged the Demo
Gratis with bad faith In breaking ain
agreement. 10 which Mr.. Lamar. with
illc0ncealed passion, replied az follows.
Mr.. President with reference to the
charge of bad faith that the senator
from New York has intimated towards
those OF us who have been engaged Ia
opposing these motions to adjourn. /
have only 10 say that " I am not
superior To such attacks from such a
source. J have lived I'm vain. II Is not
my habit 10 indulge IN personalities. but
! desire TO say here to the senator that
tntim0ting anything Inconsistent. az he
has done, with perfect good faith. ! pro-
nOunce his statements a falsehOod. which
j p'pcl with oll the unmitigatpd con-
tempt that ] feel for the author Of &c."
A colloquy eusucd In which Mr. Couk-
ling declined 10 yield to Mr. Lamar aud.
addressing the president, he said In re-
ply: II understand the senator from
Mississippi To state IN plain and un-
parliamentary language, That the state
mcnt Of mine 10 which he referred. was
q falsehOOd. VI | catch the words arirht.
Mr.. President. this not being the place
10 measure with any man the capacity
TO violate dcccnry, to Violate the rules
~ the senate or 20 commit any Of the
improprieties Of life. | have only to say
that II the senator. the member from
Mississippi, did impute or intended 10
impute 10 rue fulsohoOd. nothing cN-
cept the fact that this Is the senate
would prevent my dcnOunciug him as a
blnrkguarl and n coward
This remark was received with cheers
In the galleries and after order had been
restored Mr.. Conkling continued. Let
me be more spciic. Mr.. President
should the member from Mississippi. eX.
cept In the presence Of the senate
charge me by intimidation or otherwise
with falschood. would dcuouuce him
as n BLACKBOARD. MS a coward and liar
and. understanding whit he said Os
have. the rules and the proprieties of
the senate are the only restraints upon
me-
Jumping TO his feet Mr.. Lamar re
tOrted: Mr. President. | have only tr
say that the senator from New York tu'
dcrstOOd me correctly ] did mc1u g,
say just precisely the words and an that
they implied | beg pardon of the sem
ate for the unparlinmentgty Language
H. was very harsh; 10 was very severe
il was such MS no good man would de-
serve and no brave man would wear
This parting shot at Mr.. Conkling was
received with cheers both on the iioOI
and I'M the galleries Nothing further
came of the incident The language az
here quoted Is TO be found In the record
Of that session.
Mr. Lamar was q man who had the
courage Of his convictions and did not
hesitate TO give uttorances TO them al
MI times Once. In the house, he as
tonishcd his friends ana his enemies by
the stand hc took when the discussion
was going on relative TO negro Outrag,
at Hamburg. IL was on the lSuh o.
July. 1874, and the debate had de
generated into bitter airaignment OF
the part Of the Republicans Of the South
ern so-callcd shotgun policy of the Demo
Gratis. Mr. Lamar repudinted the state
meut that IL was political massacre
and inserted that there was n l0wles'
class I'm the North just as there was il
the South. Stating the facts that ho,
been presented. he said: "a body Of
WNlip men illu NlllNll NhAl'iAAta FNN ~
death q number of black men, who haC
been taken prisoners; ] mean who IN,
been captured and deprived of thci
| liberty. but who were not prisoners ir
| the legal sense Of the term, inasmuch as
those capturing them had no right un
| der the law deprive them of their per.
Now. sir" said Mr. Lamar dr0wiul
| himself to his full height and detyni
ulr Republicans who had assaulted th'
Sontb. 81 wish TO say here In my plO"
and what | say here just rs u drop
| from my lips and falls upon the re-
portcrs' notes Is ut once sent through
| ont the entire South. and every constitu
cnt of mine in every home and hamle
! will read what | say, aud even II were
| base or ignoble enough 10 utter herr
| what | would swcrye from there, ms h0i
| been falsely charged against the South
| arn men. the record would always con
| yict me-in my place here. and with tLt
| RESPONSIBILITIES surrounding me. asser
! that ON excuse or palintion can possibly
| be found for these Outrnges ana TIM
barharism" II is needless 10 say tha
| tbis speech made with all the fervor o
which the distinguished Southerner wni
ENABLE. created profound sensation
mud awakened among the men of th'
| North the conviction that Mr. Lamnr
whatever his political affiliations miEh
| be. or whatever his attitude during th'
war had been. was an honest man o,n'
! not afraid 10 stand for what he be
Iieved to be right and true.