The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-11
Hon. \. Jasper Ta|bGFt
RAISES A RACKET IN CONGRESS.
He Repeats Secession Uterance and
Refuses e Retract Them-Berret OF Massa-
chusetts Takes Him to Task.

He Repeats Secession UHerances an,
Refuses e Retract Them-Baret OF Massa
chuseHs Takes Him to Task.
AT II o'clock on Friday, the House o
Representatives was preciptated int
the lveliest row that has been seer
and heard on the floor since the early
days OF the 5lst Congress, which ragged
for AN hour and half and was ended
by reference of the agitatiug sub,
Ject to the Committee on the Judiciary
Mr.. Talbert, Dem. of S. C.). rising
to question of privilege said "It
has been brought to my notice that |
nave been misrepresented by the press
OF the country, unintehtionally, I have
no doubt, for l cannot believe that
the press of the country desires to
misrepresent members upon this fobr.
And rising do not rise to apologize
tor or to retract what I said on that
occasion, but to re-echo and reiterate
every word and sentiment that |
uttered on that occasion. On last
"Wednesday evening, when the present
bill was under discussion, the gentle
men from North Carolinn, (Mr. Pear
SOM, saw proper, while making his
speech, to go out of his way to un-
kindly criticise the State Of South
Carolina, which 1 have the honor in
part to represent upon this floor, the
great ana grand and glorious State of
which | am proud, and State that is
as true and as loyal to the flag to-day
as any State in the United States. In
his remarks he criticised the promi-
nent part that South Carolina took in
the act of secession in 1861. In the
course of his remarks, as l understood
hn -
North Carolina had followed South
Carolina out of the Union in secession
and that North Carolina and South
Carolina too had been whipped. AS to
that have to say [ have nothing to
say. l only, in jocular way, remark.
ed to the gentleman, that he was mis-
taken that South Carolina had never
been whipped, that she wore herself
out trying to whip the other fellow.
But when he said, in substance, that
he was ashamed of such action on the
part OF his State, l rose, possibly in an
parliamentary manner, and, in the
neat OF the moment, impulsively said
That South Carolina was not ashamed
OF the part she took in it, that she was
proud OF it, and that l for one, en-
dorsed secession then, as | thought we
were right, L think so yet, and that
under tue same circumstances, sur
by the same conditions, that |
would do the same thing again. Now,
Mr.. Speaker, | repeat it
Up to this point MIR. Talbert had
been attracting apparently little atten-
tiOn, but here he was Interrupted by
Mr.: Barrett, Wep. OF Mass.) who
called him to order and demanded that
his words be taken down.
Almost instantly there was much
on the floor, and disorder
which almost prevented Mr.. Talbert
rom being heard to say:
=" am willing, Mr.. Speaker, for nv
words to be taken down, and propose |
20 stand by every word that | utter up
IN this floor"
The Speaker vigorously welding |
The gavelj elj-The gentleman will have |
20 resume his seat. While the words |
we're being transcribed, many Re- |
)ublicans endeavored to dissuade Mr.. |
Barrett from prosecuting his point OF |
'rder, but unsuccessfully. When the |
'epOrter's notes had be en- transcribed, |
speaker Reed said
Does the gentlemen from Mas
achusetts insist that the words shall |
De taken dowD?'
Mr. Barrett: 81 ask that the words
DC taken down, because as [ under
stood the remarks of the geptlemcn
rom South Carolina, his statement J
vas in direct violation of the oath that |
he took at the bar Of this House at the |
opening OF this Congress. (Applause |
IN Republican side.)
After the clerk had read the objcc-
language, the Speaker sug-
5ested to the gentleman from Mas !
'achusetts that the gentleman was re-
peating what lie said previously for
the purpose of making some moditca-
ton, as the Chair understood.
MIR. Crisp moved that the gentleman
from South Carolina be permitted to
explain. This motion precipitated a
discussion as to parliamentary proceed
ure, the excitement continuing to in
crease despite the efforts of the Speak
er to restrain the members. In its
course, Mr.. Barrett said:
81 do not object to the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Talbert) at
the proper time, being allowed to ex-
plain the statement twice made by him
with deliberation, that, under certain
circumstances, having taken the oath
OF office to support the Constitution of
the United States, he would attempt
to oven throw and humiliate it; but |
do claim that the rule does not give
any right to postpone the present con-
sideration of the resolution which |
propose to submit to the House."
The rule regarding procedure in
such cases was discussed by Mr.. Crisp
with numerous Interruptions and ques-
tiOns.
Mr.. Barrett explained the sequence
OF what had occurred. He said: son
Wednesday night was one of the few
members of this House who, Drawing
the action of the elements, were pres
ent at the meeting here for the discus
sion of the bill now, ur few moments
ago, under discussion in the House
TO my surprise, | heard the remarks
made by the gentleman from South
Carolina at that time and | supposed
tnat some member Older and more ex-
perienccd than myself, would take
proper action on the subject. But sew
eral moments having elapsed, and,
therefore, the point of order having
become properly applicable that the
attention Of the House was not prompt
ly called to the subject, | allowed it to
drop, thinking that perhaps the gen
tleman from South Carolina had, in a
moment of excitement, made state.
mcnt of treason TO the Constitution OF
the United States which sober rehec.
tion and time for consideration would
prompt him to disavow. This morn
ing. to my still greater surprise, he
arose and reiterated that assertion,
that under certain circumstances he
| having within two months taken the