St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-04


not want them to talk. but to
keep on voting. and objected. Keitt
who was sitting near where was stand
ing: broke ont: If you are going to Oh
ject. 20 back to your own side of the
hail. I replied that the hall Was free
one. and every man had a right to go
where he pleased. Keitt then arose from
his seat and came around to the aisle In
which was standing. AS he came up
to me, he said: i want to know what
you mean by such an answer as thatp
told him 1 meant inst what had said
that it was free hall and a man had
a right to be where he pleased. Sir
said Keitt, L will let you know that you
are black Republican puppy Never
mind said l, L shall occupy such
place In this hall as l please, and
no negro driver shall crack his whip
over me- This angered Keitt, and he
made grab for my throat and struck
him. This proved the signal for a
rough and tumble fight. The South
erners who were sitting near rushed to
Keitt's assistance, and Potter, the
Washburns, and others came to my aid.
Barksdale, of Mississippi, who essayed
the role OF a peacemaker, caught hold
of me. Potter, thinking that Barksdale
meant me harm, nit him. Barksdale
did not know who it was had hit him.
but supposing it was Elihu Washburne.
pitched at the latter. Cadwallader
Washburnc. seeing the assault on his
brother, struck out for Barksdae and
knocked off his wig. BarkSdale picked
it up and put it OH wrong end fore
most. This made him appear SO
ridiculous that all burst out laugh
ing, and in tins way the affair ende d
There were number of laughable i'll
cidents connected with the affray.
After it was over and order had been
restored, John Covode was seen carry
ing back to his seat in the rear end of
the hall an immense SpittoOn. Some
one asked him what he proposed to do
with it, and he said that when the trou
BILE commenced he picked Ii up, intend
ing 10 SPOT any fellow with it who drew
weapon The house continued in
session until g o'clock on Saturday
morning, when it was adjourned until
Monday. Monday afternoon Keitt
arose and apologiZed."
Congressman Branch, of North Car
oina?"
"Yes, but it never went any further
than talk. replied with some spirit to
speech he al made, and as result
he challenged me 20 duel. sent him
reply that was opposed to dueling,
and that it was prohibited and declared
crime by the laws enacted by that
body of which we were members. How
ever my personal rights and the free
dom Of debate assured by the constitu-
ton | should defend whenever and
wherever they were assailed. There
the matter ended.
Joshua r. Giddings was already we'll
known when l took my seat. Persistent
and unfaltering in his devotion to duty,
he was the Cato OF the anti-slayery
agitation. Gerritt Smith was also In
the house in the early fifties. A man
of noble figure, slri.ingly handsome
and a splendid speaker, he did good
service. Naturally open-handed, Mr..
Smiths great wealth enabled him to be
of incalculable benefit to the early
anti-slavery apostles. He was for
years their chief financial supporter.
Owen LovejoY, the brother of Elijah.
was member OF the house from
Illinois. He was born agitatOr, and his
John Hickman was one of my col
leagues from Pennsylvania. brainy,
courageous and worthy man. Thomas
Corwin. who bad previously been in the
senate, became member OF the lower
house in 1858. The year following
number of the Republican members
desired me to be candidate for speak
er. L had been the Republican candI-
date when Orr, of South Carolina, was
elected. but the majority of the party
supported John Sherman. The speak,
ersiip contest lasted eight weeks. and
finally ended in the election of Pen
nington.
Seen. Banks. from Massachusetts,
was the first Republican speaker. He
was elected in 1856, after what was
probably the most exciting contest in
cur history, it being drawn out for
many weeks. The house finally de-
clared by resolution that after three
more ballots without choice, the candi-
date who received the highest number
of ballots in the next vote should be de-
clared elected, regardless CT the absence
of a majority OF the whole vote. On the
next three ballots Banks received l02
votes: Aiken, the Democratic candi-
date, %, and the other candidates 20.
On the next ballot Banks received 103
votes; Aiken. 100, and the others IT.
Banks was accordingly declared elect
ed"
Mr.. Grow was elected speaker of the
house july 4, 1861, and so ably and ac-
ceptably did he discharge the duties of
the office that at the close of his term
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
nl,air Of hn M
Indian affairs and on territories, being
at the head of the latter committee
during all the Kansas troubles.
II early came" said he, ito believe
that the government should not make
the public lands source of revenue,
but that it should bestow them in small
homesteadS upon those without land
for actual settlement and cultivation.
My first speech i'll congress was made
| in support Of bill embodying this
doctrine. The leaders of slavocracy did
not care to see the territories settled
upon by class of small farmers, who,
coming from the free states. would be
naturally of anti-slavery proclivities,
and their opposition defeated the pass
age of the Homestead law until after
the breaking out of the war. l intro
duced five bills at five different sessions
of congress before one was finally
passed and became a law, as it did
while | was speaker
In 1862 the Pennsylvania legislature
reapportioned the congressional dis
tricts of the state, and SnSquehanna
county was united to Luzerne, thus
making Mr.. Grows district strongly
Democratic and preventing his re-elec-
ton. 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 Gen.
Grant.
In 1879 President Hayes. In the most
f1attering 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 senator. Since then he
l,o haar anromad irnrnanca 0,>aro-