Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-05-14
EVERY MAN IN HIS SEAT.
Ex-senator Dawes Recalls a Notable
Incident In the House.

lnCiueul IN the tfOuSe.
Ex-senator Henry l.. Dawes con-
tributed the following interesting
"reminiscences to The Springfield
Mass Republican:
"A few days ago you called atten.
ton to the impressive scene in the
Senate when OH vote on the Cnban
resolutions every Senator was in his
seat and voted, except only Mr.. Wal
thall, then on his deathbed. 1t was,
indeed, an impressive scene. do not
recall another like it in our history,
when public interest was SO intense
as to insure every Senator in his seat
ready to answer the roll call on a
question fraught with such conse-
quences.
II do remember. however, another
such scene in the House of Represen-
tatives no less impressive and on
which hung consequences no one then
foresaw, and no one since has been
able to measure have thought that
its recall at this time would not be
without interest. That scene occurred
forty years ago this very mouth,
when the English bill, so called,
that last wicked attempt to doom
Kansas to slavery by statute, was un-
der consideration. On that occasion
every member entitled to vote, asa in
all, was in his seat and answered to
his name. 1t takes two roll calls
usually to gather in the inattentive or
those out of their seats when their
names are called. But on this occas-
ion, such was the intensity Of purpose
in every breast that the first roll call
ofevery name brought back response
as emphatic as il the fate of the meas
ure hung on that vote. The records
of the House furnish no parallel to
this. The result, as it was announced
at the Speakers desk, was accom-
panied by a simultaneous salvo Of
cannon from Capitol hill.
While there were some things in
the deliberations of the last week CAL
culated to recall that event, still the
contrasts are so sharp and striking
that perhaps it would be of service to
those If any there are, who are doubt
ing whether the world moves to point
out some Of them. While that vote,
like the one of last week, filled the
seats and galleries with wild and un-
restrained manifestations of JOY and
exultation, it was quite otherwise out
side. 1t filled one half the nation with
the gloom Of an eclipse. On this &C.
casion, on the contrary, every part of
the whole country is rivaling every
other part in the unbounded satisfac-
ton it feels and in the high resolve it
inspires. That vote declared. with a
proclamation of cannon from the hill
tops that Kansas should not deter
mine for itself whether it would be a
State of bondsmen or OF free men.
This vote solemnly declares that Cuba
is, and of right ought to be, free and
independent, and shall determine her
own future. That vote was an at
tempt to forge letters, this to break
them. That was an entering wedge
in an attempt to shatter this Union.
This, on the contrary, is the largest
contribution since the lwar, to paci-
fication, to the obliterationsof section
al lines and prejudices, and to the
uni6cation OF this great people in one
mind, heart, and purpose.
Can any one be at loss to know
whether this republic moves or not,
and in what direction?
II. l.. DAWES.
"Pittsfeld, April %, 1893"
a. y