The Portland daily press., 1894-08-24

Republican forces. The House sat un-
I'll long after midnight About 1.30
crossed over to the Democratic side to
consult with John Hickman, General
Qu1tman arose to speak. We did not
want them to talk. but to keep on vot-'
ing. and objected. Keitt, who was
sitting near where / was standing, broke
out:
If you are going to object, go back to
your own side of the hail. / replied
mat hall was free one, and every man
nad a right to go where he pleased.
around to the aisle in which was stand
ing. As he came up to me, be said:
want to know what you mean by
such an answer as that?' I told him l
meant just what I had said-that it
was free hall and a man had a right
to go where he pleased. Sir said
keiJt, I will let you know that you
mind said !, I shall occupy such place
in this hall as please, and no negro
driver shall crack his whip over me.
This angered Keitt and he made grab
for my throat, and I struck him. This
proved the signal for a rough and tum-
BILE fight. The Southerners who were
sitting near rushed to Keitt's assistance,
and Potter, the Wash burns and Others
came to my aid. Barksdale, of Missis-
sippi, who essayed the role of peace
maker, caught hold of me. Potter,
thinking that Barksdale meant me
harm, hit him. Barksdale did not
know who it was had hit him, but sup
posing it was Elihu Washburn, pitched
at the latter. Cadwallader
WASHBURN, SEEING THE ASSAULT
on his brother, struck out for Barksdale
and knocked off his wig. Barksdale
picked it up and put it on wrong end
foremost This made him appear SO
ridiculous that all burst out laughing
and in this way the affair ended. There
were a number of Imaginable incidents
connected with the affray. After it was
over and order had been restored, John
Covode was seen carrying back to his
seat in the rear end of the hall an inn
mense spittoor. Some one asked him
what he proposed to do with it, and he
said that when the trouble commenced
he PICKED it up. intending to spot any
fellow with it who drew a weapon. The
House continued in session until 6
O'Clock on Saturday morning, when 1t
was adjourned until Monday. Monday
afternoon Keitt arose and apologized."
MIR. Grow was elected Speaker of the
House July 4, 1861, and so ably and &C
ceptably did he discharge the duties of
the Office that at the close of his term a
unanimous vote of thanks was given
him-the first unanimous vote given to
a Speaker in many years. Previous to
his election to the Speakership he had
been chairman of the committees on In
dian Affairs and on Territories, being at
the head of the latter committee during
all the Kansas troubles.
T Aorlu he ,oJ,
that the government should not make
the public lands a source of revenue. but
that it should bestow them in
SMALL HoMESTEADs
upon those without land for actual set
Element land cultivation. My first
speech in Congress was made in support
Of bi1lem bodying this doctrine. The
leaderssof the slavocracy did not care to
see the Territories settled up by class
of small farmers who, coming from the
free States, would be naturally of anti
slavery proclivities, and their opposi-
tlon defeated the passage of the home
stead law until after the breaking out
OF the war. introduced five bills at
five different sessions Congress before
one was finally passed and became |
law, as it did while I was Speaker"
In 1862 the Pennsylvania legislature |
reapportioned the congressional districts
of the State, and Susquehanna county |
was united to Luzerne, thus making
Mr.. Crows district strongly Democratic,
and preventing his reelection. Since |
he retired from Congress on March 4,
1868, he has held no Office but his life |
has been busy and useful one. In 1868 |
he was chairman of the State Central |
Republican Committee, and did much to |!
secure the election of General Grant.
In 1879 President Hayes in the most
flattering manner rendered Mr.. Grow the |
mission to Russia, but adhering to his |
resolution never to accept an office which |
did not come by the votes of the people. |
he declined the honor. Two years later |
he was candidate for United States SEN |
ator. Since then he has been engaged |
in immense operations i'll oil, lumber
and coal, his income from the latter in |
vestment being large. Handsome, alert,
with an inherited and unimpaired Wig |
or, that shows him equal GO any duty. |
he is man of mark wherever he goes