The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-04-26

icised and lnmpooncd, as we'll aa car
TONED, in n manner more excessive and
relentless than political leaders have
ever been subjected to before But, in
the midst of il all, whilc many charges
of n serious nature have boon preferred.
it is @ significant fact that nobody has
nrraigned the Eifty-third congress for
1icentiousness or moral depravity.
IL is indicative of tho elevated moral
tone OF the entire country that better
and purcr men arc constantly being
selected and cent 10 tho senate and
house OF representatives in the national
capital. 1t would be practically iInpos-
sibie for any community in this period
OF orr history to Send professional
prize fighter to congress, solely on the
ground OF his reputation as Il slugGcr
and brutal beatcr Of other mon It
would also be practically impossible FOR
my community TO send a professional
gambler to congress; but if such n
thing wcTo done the gambler would GER
1ainly be expelled from tho house of
representatives il he undertook to es-
tablish gambling house in Washing
ton and run that kind of q business
during his term Of membership in the
house. And yet, thirty years ego, John
!Mcrrissey, q professional prize fighter.
rSas a,IncInber OF the house of repre-
sentatives, kept n gambling house. on
Pennsylvauia avenue, and was-at tho
aame time regarded as popular repro.
sentative by large class of people in
Washington city. Within 4 single
generation the moral tone Of the entire
country has been SO elevated that such
a man could notnoW live such alife and
prosper in the glare of public opinion.
The members OF the house OF repre-
eentahves, one year ago, were inclined
to take Official notice of the trial of Il
certain member Of congress-, hut, upon
reflection, concluded to leave, and did
Ieave. Col breckenridge to the judg.
ment Of the people OF the Ashland dis
trict. The verdict OF that people was
against immortality and with the close
OF tho Fifty-third congress on March 4,
the public career of Col. Breckenridge
also closed.
During the Fifty-frst congress- there
were many stormy seencs and ct least
one personal encounter between repre-
sentatives; but no gambling nor cxces-
sive drinking was noted. In the very
early days Of the republic our states
men INDUCED in swearing, fighting,
drinking, gambling md carouaing. In
17o8 there was u dreadful scene IN the
house Representative. Roger Girls
void, OF Connecticut, md Matthew
Lyon, of Vermont, came to blows.
After hot war OF words, Lyon
shouted to Griswold: "I have mind 10
'co1ue back there and teach you good
mannsrsp
IF you come, Lyon" cried Griswold,
don't forget to bring your wooden
sword" ulluding to tho fact that the
Nermonter was .drummed out Of tho
army during the revolution Lyon,
without a word, but in frenzy of
rage, CROSSED tho room and deliberate
1yrYpat-in GrisIpold's face. Thc,c was
motion to ezpel him, and during its
pendency the offender IraAo o sneeoh
81 aelf-drfcnso which wan so obscene
that, the newspapers of even that free
ana-easy tina could not fully Indicate
ats purport. Tho motion to expel was
defeated, whcreupon Griswold ran over
to Lyop's seat, jsrlsed him out OF it,
throw bin down and beat him on tho
floor Of tho house, Lyon escaped TO
the fireplace and defended himself
with The tongs, but was beaten again
Friends of the parties at lest intcrfercd
and tho battle came to an endi but
lonly afteF conaiderable damage had
tbsan demo 6ueh a -hcano would. ha