The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-05-18
FILIBUSTERING IN 177e

Thomas Burke, of North Caro-
lima, Adjourned Himself When
House Refused-His Defiant
Retort to a Summons to At
tend-Action Taken on His
Recalcitrancy.
Washington Correspondence New York
Evening Post.
The same thing happens over
and over again in Congress. To-
day John Sharp Williams is con-
Quoting a fiibuster. Thomas
Burke, of North Carolina, con-
Quoted another one hundred and
thirty years ago. For a time he
had one follower, Edward Lang
worthy, of Georgia.
At about 10 o'clock on the eve
ming of April 10th, 1778, the
Continental Congress took into
consideration the draft of a letter
in answer to General Washing
toms letter of the 4th, and some
progress being made therein.
"A motion was made to ad-
journ, it being 10 o'clock.
While the roll Of the States was
being called, Mr.. Burke declared,
after voting for adjournment,
that the others might vote as
they pleased; he would upon his
honor adjourn himself; and
thereupon he Immediately with
drew, by which means Con-
gress could not proceed to busi-
ness" Mr.. Langworthy, the
delegate representing Georgia,
also withdrew. Whereupon a
messenger was ordered to find
the absent members, and de-
sire them to attend Congress. "
Presently the messenger re-
turned and reported, That he
had delivered the message of
Congress to the members. That
Mr.. Langworthy replied that he
would return presently. That
Mr.. Burke replied, Devil take
him if he would come; it was toe
late and too unreasonable. , " Ir
a few minutes Mr.. LangWorthy
hustled into the chamber, anC
declared that when he withdrew
he thought Congress was ad
journed, and under that opinion
he withdrew. The gentleman
! from Georgia here disappear
from the chronicle. Not so the
fiery Mr.. Burke.
When the delegates of the Con
tinental Congress assembled OF
the following day the journal wa
read and approved, and it wa
ordered that Mr.. Burke be fur
nished with copy Of the minut
relative to the manner in Whicl
Congress was last evening pre-
. vented from preceding on busi
ness; and that he be allowed un
: til Monday next to answer.
Whereupon the belligerent dele
gate from North Carolina too
the floor and declared, That h
will not submit to a tyranny of
majority of this Congress, whic
would keep him here at unree
sonable hours; that he wished
70 know the power of Congress owe
their members; that he will a
tend at times he thinks reason
able, but will not attend at time
he thinks unreasonable, unles
by force on his person. "
He admitted the answer n
ported by the messenger; bu
that, on his absence last evening
. the members ceased to be a Doc
! and therefore he was guilty of 7
rudeness to Congress, and if
was guilty Of an affront, it W;
to individual members, and r
quired another kind Of an apol
T., gy; that he was not convince
that he had done any wrong; w;
not disposed to make any XIII
of apology; and if he had BET
guilty of improper behavior,
will answer to his State. TIL
IS. he was yesterday evening u
we'll, and not able to after
without prejudice to his healt
Later in the afternoon Of Il
: same day Mr.. Burke, still smartil
under his injuries, again took t
floor and said: Il do believe tn
the gentleman from New Yo
(William Deur), and others, a
in a combination against me
this business. " He was SHARP
called to order for this outbrea
y Mr.. Burke then made a spec
setting forth his rights and OF
C. cations. These words being te
w. en- down, and read by the Pre-
dent, the member from Nol
Carolina acknowledged they We
Oh truly taken down:
That it is Criminal in me
e. berS OF Congress to within
their attendance when the pu
J. lie safety requires it, but Il
III they are to be judged and p1
ished by the Laws of the St
they represent, and no OF
" power.
~ 'These sentiments howe
expressed, | avoW, and as to
language, | know no obligatic
am under to use a courtly ST
=. My expressions are usually W
first occur and in this insta
were not intended to offend.
. Il shall only add that | m
\ not by anything | have here {