The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-07
from his forehead, Mr. Breckenridge
nrncn nttnr,, ntinr TO control himself.

from his forehead, Mr.. Breckenridge
arose. attempting TO control himself.
Mr.. Breckenridge began his apology i'll
humble tones. mo one" he began, can
regret more than l that any personal
difficulty should occur on this floor. But
when I thought l had been taken off the
floor | went to Mr.. Heard and said to
him that he could not do business in that
way. He replied that that was an in
solent statement, that l was an impertl-
nent Scoundrel.
"He said l was a liar" interposed Mr..
Heard. =,
He called me liar" went on Mr..
Breckenridge, ignoring the interruption.
Il ought not to have resented it, Mr..
Speaker" he continued, turning to- the
chair, "but. as Il Mississippi judge once
said. the lie is an assault, an in spite of my
white hairs | could not restrain myself.
| apologize to the speaker and to the
house, to the gentleman, l will say" he
said. as he turned squarely to Mr.. Heard,
his voice raising in defiance, Il will say
that the lie cannot remain between he and
|.
AS Mr.. Breckenridge took his seat
the memoirs gasped, breathlessly await
ing the reply.
Mr.. Heard also arose. He appeared to
be calm, but he was also evidently labor
ing under great excitement. Not once in
his long congressional career, he began.
had he been embrolied in Il personal CON
troversy on the floor of the house.
Mr.. Heard then explained the situa-
ton. Today, he said, had been set apart
for District of Columbia business and
he had felt it his duty, when the oppOsi-
ton leaders of the Hawaiian resolution
had finished their statements to demand
the previous question. The gentleman
from Kentucky had then hurried over to
him and stated in q tone which he re
garded us an insult, that the house would
do no business today. He had thereupon
demanded the yea and nay, rs he deemed
it his duty to do, whereupon the gentleman
| from Kentucky, in language most often
| sive. had called him an insOlent and i'm
pertinent something.
"Ie followed" said Mr.. Heard. his tenn
per rising, that statement with practi-
cal assault on me. He called me u scoun-
drel"
eff l said that | withdraw it," inter.
rupted Mr.. Breckenridge with an earnest
ness that struck some of the members as
ludicrous and they laughed heartily.
81 did not think l said il" continued Mr.
Breckenridge.
"And 1 believe he did say it." said Mr.
Heard.
After my disclaimer the gentleman
still insists | said it," retorted Mr.. Brock
inridge, again tiaring up. Il withdraw
it, he does not reserve"
Mr.. Heard instantly denied that he in
tended to question Mr.. Breckinridge's We
racity, but stated that he meant that il
his excitement the gentleman from Ken
lucky had forgotten what he did say.
81 stated" he continued. "that the gen
tleman lied. Upon his withdrawal of hi
offensive epithet l will withdraw mine
but not before. l believe | have done
nothing which it was not my duty anC
right to do"
Mr. Heard was also applauded when HI
took his seat.
This ended the wordy combat and in thu
absence of motion which might have
been made to reprimand the principals IL
the affair, the house proceeded with thu
question before it and the eXcitemen
soon subsidized.