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CONGRESS.-
fijijUF RlPRBSENTJkTiy Hj)
. tcoruxrj 6. . .
IN committet of the whole, Mr Dent ia the chair
on, the fiibjcft of the contention between, Mr.
Crifwoldahd Mr.l.yon., i; K . .
, Mr. HqfnerVyidcncet ,. During the balloting
the Speaker left his chsir tnd took a feat by me. I
hw4 ft ftopverfation carried on with conlidcrable
' wartfith between MeflW. Dana and' Lyon. The
Speaker checked them and they feparared. Soon
after a copverjation begao between Mr. Lyon and
the Speaker, It commenced, as well as I recoi
led; onthe fubjeit of the damp act : all that was
faid I do pot recollftt ; but Mr. Ljon laid he had
been through part of Coque&kut and be found
that the fentinurnts of the people of that date dif
fered from thofepf tlwir R.eprelentatiei. here.
Some general converfation then took place of Utile
copfequence and which has left but little imprcllion
on my iind. Mr..Ljon iowever addrelfing the
Speaker, remarked, that the Connecticut mem
that Uey were not guided by the opinions ot their
conflitueati ; that he believed nine tentlis of the
peaple of that' (late differed inicntinent from the
repreftntatifo on their floor, that die Keprefenta
tivei from Conpeftkut were influenced by a dcfire
to obtain offices, and that it waa immaterial how
little lucrative tltofe offices were at they would be
iqfluenced by a falary of 4000 dollar, as well a
one of 9000 ; that the Keprefcntativci blinded
the eyei of their conftituents, and that it was on
ly ncceflary for the people to be iuformed of it to
induce them to oppofe them ; that if he were to
remove into Connecticut and fet up a preGt he bad
no doubt but that he would bring about a revolu
tion in the fentimenta of tlic people ; that l.e wa
well acquainted with the people of Connecticut as
be had (pent the firft nrt of hi: life in thli country
in that ilate that fevcral pcrfoua from Connccii
tut bad been In the date ot Vermont to vifit thair
friend ; that be had attacked them in that quarter
and had couviaced them, that their opinion! e re
erroneeos.- At cbUtimc Mr. U. waa fitting in the
feat usually occupied by Mr. Harper, and id
JrriTrre himfrlf to Mr. L. alked whether he made
, ..ufef hla wooieif ordo" thatoenfton. !t'r. Lyon
apjvared ,tppay no attention to thik remark, und
" ltbught at the tirned'd uotbearit. Immeiltatrly
after ttila Mr. G. quitted Ini feat and went behind
the bar t I left mine and dk) not fee the infult
which i faid to have Keen oiTerri. 1 waa prtftnt
tily at the beginning of the difjHite. I aiteuurtl
particularly to the trillion of the Speaker ) tiler
jay and found I could afire inbta relation of the
(ircuniQancel, only he baibcenableto relate ihem
more partkulaHy at thedifcourfc waa addreiTcdto
Lim.
Mr. Vitrrravri. IJurmi trip converimon and
before Mr. Ljon fixk on ibe fubjtlt of Cour.ca
titut t did you bear aoy tiling faid difrefjeiftful to
Mr. I.yaa.
A. No, I did io.
Mr. Nicholas. Did the cooverfit'ton refptct
lag CnnedUttt come ia Conoc6in frain Mr,
Lyon.
A. Tbecoaretfatloa wn din.oanrdrd and inter
f per fed with queries and remarks by the Spokrr
rhapa tbeCr emarka had a tendency to dm
raore from him than he orhioilly inirnJtrl.
Mr.Goodrkh'l teftiitotiy. The only trnimotiy
I have to give la alio a torn option of Mr. Lyon
rtlitive Ufcllhavifit been cadiierrd m the army
I rM t th'aUeina HfrtiV. by Mr.t harpp
)m, anmUc fraAMaltthuietta (Mr. Otis) aod
lr. Lyon. Wi were the ly petfcms In iTrf fllgt
for a cooMerahW rrt of the way. I ha J fe
little txrtcEul atqaaioume h Mr. l.m'Ufir
this time. ,Kr. Lyon oa the way freiMd u hdif
tmfrd fo tie to ut the hi.liry of tn fife. It wi
hlled ito nsay Crruhr and MUroa ptntUtti.
TV ladkroo saxrdotr be told of himfrlf la a
rlsyfal reioncT lotltt from iWf fo were with
h'.fnaViadof Hajfalfttf if fmelbinf ar
toward Mr. Ly. IMattMi tkrfe drcumfli&trt
t Uu(Lk projMtly tbt account be gsv mute
KUWin ea(WrrJ. ifowH wssintraJtKed. wh.
ihrr trtily Kb part ot todverd by tV re
wttiaaaa y (am vf cpmpaay, Idatwurrr
iedly retIlrfl. I tkifk, aowtttr, that fotnetliag
w (aU shat Mr. Ljaa'a hu Wea t the at
any, I tau t bery niiialhtavtU t,ive.
I rto!lG Via (pi that that allvjin t bit U
iegcafkimd hd Wfn mi the fVTk ppet that
U waa a mutt of Wp erti&otM4 ta hh 1 that
ittoaid ewtbeu tattar a Uj flat tlrui
hen be was younir. Be aid that he waa a fobal
tern officer of a corps fittidued oa the frontier at
a grcat- oitiancp iron? laevnain mripy jia wjiftojui.
fupport ; that the officer r3 the pien,were.un.ea;
and difconteutedr with thew Atuation i tbry con
lidered tliemfelvt. as being too cxpofed' j tljat he,
at a certam tim waa out with a party of thenciy
that when he re'tnrned he found a corp'i. of men
either had abandoned or were .abAndoijing Uieir
pod : that they Went to foine diftance, "when they
ade & halt ; that he endeatoured to perfuade
tbemto return ; they refufed.. . 1 he ofjjcers inlilt-
ed, that he fliould go t the head-quarters and
inaKe a rt'preientaiiou ot uietr muanoii. us weni,
Upon being introduced to general bates nedamo:
ed him for a coward, and rdered tijat he Hionld ,
go into the cultody of a guard ;, that he,;Mr. Ly
on, infidel on hw right as ah effictr'Siot to be put i
nnder guard ; that an aid 'of general Gates faid
fometliing on tlie fubject and Mr. Lyon waS gnalJy.
rt 1 . 1 i t ft A a . it l '
arrcuca ; tneq wutr iiictciu orpine omccrs py a
court tnarlial, fentenced to be cailiiered from the
army. He faid the cluirge Waa, .that .the oificcrs,
as they themfelvea could not abandon tbe.poft
uuu cs.ilcu 111c men to rwo ay. rreiurrner uia,
as it rufpcclrd himfrlf, the charge in nuediou waa
unjud. i think Mr. Chaniplin, one ofthe gentle
men, perhaps Mr. Otil, alked him if he had worn
a.woodcn fword. He Mid not. Mr. C hamplin, it
I am riot iiiiduken, made this remark : that if he
faw itin poetry that li had worn a wooi'n fword
he ftiould only conlider jt as being fijurarke for
being couriered for cowardice. Mr. Ljui told
him lit hud wiped utftais ibin ; that he had held
an office in ihe army-ot a pay mailer, l-f.hink
he mentioned, that he did not continue long as
pay matter owing to fontc other having hecnap-
poiuicu wiui wnomnenaoa 11 route noouru t mat
in thatdiipnte, while in the anny', the circniudance
tuents. 1 beliere I flxewed a-deieree of irritation.
but on the iatimation from the Speaker J tetoliefl
ed where I wasaud f arted front thffyennoat foeto
bcr. Kcflection old me to have no i taorft conter
fation with htra, Vod to 'thia day I.bave oat Jbad
any; ' ':-:.-:! ',n .; : '
took no parttn the after converfation ' AVhen -I
paffid by the member frotri Vermont, afterward
he waa leaning ; on the bar, and I heard faim fay
that the Reprefehtatiyes from Connatet .tared
nothing about their conditueats, and then he fpoke
about the miffioti he had defigned for one of the
mcmbert from Connedlieur. i do not remember,
the reply. Before Mr. Grifwold received; the, in
dignity I was walking outfide" the bar the? Spea '
iter occupied my leat. v I did notheardifbnclJy th'
renlv 1
i5t-aa i .a . . 1 .
urjiwoia waa mat ne couki not eten it ,ne wars to
go into Connecticut with hh'wooden fword, iBdJ
-two whet wef da were here jtfed which irela-'
ted to another dorv.', ' 'i';.t r-?V-; 'f'l;';
" : Mr. Dana aaprelTcd tomentmntbetwo'wbTdaf
They we'rr and catide; ' With hia' Wdodcti fwori -and
candle; ' ' , ! ' ,.
Thefe words I did not hear diftinclly, and fliould
have fome doubts whether tbefe two worde had
been added, if 1 bad not been informed by any col
jesgue fince that he did ofe them.' In judice to
the member from Vermont, I fhould mention, that'
J have but ao iinperfed recolleclioo of the con- .
verfatinn. I felt irritated at it, though afterwards
I felt afhamed that 1 fliould be irritated -by what
he had faid. Mr. Dana mentioned fome converfa
tion he had had with his colleague and Mr. Brooks
on tue lubject ol the previews coo vcrutiodbetwetB.
them and Mr-Lyon. " ;
Mr. Dana in reply to a qneftion from Mr, Ilar-
of his being cafiiieied, hau not been mentioned to J per gave the ' following account of the manner ia
ins uiiiionuur, uiai 11c ii;ui een appuintru ana tar vrmcn nc inaiguuy was ouereo uu colleague,
many years commanded as Colonel a regiment of ' I witnelTed it. 1 was looking hi my eolleague'a
militia in Vermont. I recalled nothing further face and marked him particularly, tor I felt par-
of importance to the prcfent circumflince. ' ticularly intereQed. He turned Ms"iye towards
Mr. Uaua tie atkuowjedgrd his leelmjs much I the member trom Vermont : drew back his righc
interrd'ed in the bufineft 1 and wihedto be exen-1 arm 'j his countenance changed, apd now expTef
fed from giving tediniony if the committee would jjfrd to my fatitfacVion, that lie recollected wbero
indulge hint, bon e rriuirkl had been made npon I fie was ; bia liau then came ap with hi bandker
hit rellin.nnv before the t((niiiuttte, a repetition of
v lika lie r.) (Led to. avoid.
Mr Hrwiiks hoped th mmiher Would be excu
fed. He ha1 heard hli trfiimony before the com
mittee ami did not think it cry material.
Mr. Harper hoped he would not be exrnfrd.
Mr. I. I'arkar was for rxculing the member. He
rtnatked there was an iuluiution before tlieconi-
mittre, from the member from Vrmo it, tliit the
pc ntlctnan'a leflimory wa rather partial or car
ped by hi fcelinc. This waa wlut the member
alluded to.
Mr. Sitgrraves conceived the teflimnny of the
member lio n Conue.'tK'it matcrul ut to the be-
alanine 01 tbe tranuaion, be w.ihrd i.ti-i nut to
be cacufei.
Mr. NUIiolat alfo wi&rd the member not to be
eacufed. The queSion was putai.d tU nota car
ried it.
Mr. Uaaf before he eitierrd pn hit evUlenee rr-
marked, tint fame perfot belonging to the houfe
had, ot of doors, marie Torre uawrrnte.I re-
chief and wiped bia face. 1 dept uo- tp hire, and
li'nl my hand on his arm, faying, this mud becoa-
tiucrril oi ; the member from New-lork threw ia
his cautionary hint. I propofed that owe fliould
leve the houfe, I believe at faid yet, asd wa
went out.
Mr. Coit'a tedimony. I was aot pet fent when
the act took pLce. Before it took place 1 waa par
ting from toy feat oot of the bar where Mr. Lyan
was ItinJing. He was adJtefliog a kind of rant
ing, briarl tooverdtioa refpediog the date of
Connecticut towards I he Speaker. V hethrr I had
noticed the cooverlation befere 1 left nrv rati do
not recollect. My recollcclioa it probably tha
more iipperfert on this fuhjeft, from the cirrtim
(lance. tlt t had heard a fimilir cauvcrfiuon from
Mr. Lyon a little while before at 00c of the fire
nitre,, hcl'ore the houfe formed. All was pif-
Hug, ot before I Irft my feat, fomt ebfervstioa
wi f'dretTed rtirtkulirlv to int. with 1 lotion t
the fuljitt of the toevttalian, cither by the Spea
ker or Mr. Lyott. Mr. L) oa at U time was fin
mark upnn hi t(limony before tl Cotrmtittrr, I igg f.t cnmparatle view af tbe autaber of toit
nd m St t not very maier'ul to the pit feat c(e
be hd eipreiTrd hit with to i n.ufrd. liut tlx
houfe had denied hi.n. lte AmhiU iherrfofT rro
cced. On Tatfdty cf l!t week, while thr tellti
were cot n'.irg the bilUt, IlleplfrMnwy frjtand
flood al the f-re behhul me. While there hr i
I'umtof Next- Ycrkcat'c up tonve an l meatiwned
tint the memVt fron VetanoiK fi! frfJthatth
( onnedicat rrpre Ccntstioo would br turned oot if
they otel tgiinlt Mr. nebou mendertl.
some time alter the irembet Irow rrmnt tmr
toward me, and I fted him, before Mr. W illi
m, whether h' bad f'4 whit Mr William in
finned me he had. He (aid he did nt fy thit, hH
tlat we sll mow! J V turned ovt if we rrted the
poiat we wlhd iotrry. 1 aded wbst ,He poict
wt. He Hid It ti that lb I'rtft.lf 6t fhaJd
a ' m " a " Mm
fort to aftcea.wMft iKi ati.cr wrre
tf owidVd by I told h5flht w'i nM the
aaedioo upoo Mf. Skhlit amfniTwrf. He
aafwf fd ia w wofJ, if i. 1 replied ia Ihre,
itiintf. There wat trra a titMty af iBr?
tlaa. I beiWe I fd fomeihiff of U mp 4Tbi
1K f IS kaawlg the pp1e of Cpt.lit bet
lir tfcta tbtir rt ttfffltt'ta.4" I felt fn irrit
I'kmi t hi mwtt, ! f-ne Indiattioa at bit
fjien lor member inConneOWut and tle number
giita (ur hlmiclf in tke flit of Vermont. Ibi
led me to p'tt fTeqeliioolo Mr. Lyon, rtfpcA.
ing hi knollr f the mode of voiiog n Con-
netici.r. The ariwer not leading to any thirg in-lerrflm-
I fwd on to the fjuthptrt of ll ISoufe.
I rro'Ut I pfJ, my ccueagne Mr. CrifwolJ
wMf.uinla the fe cxtspied Sy Mr. Harpfr
or daidin behiod it. ! rrtgUfkt oo'.ht? fr-
Hwr.
?-'r.I tniCnl wjthrr wen 1 wi mik-re a
com(utit rtteTctf;t f the vHi y;;.en for mem
Hen nf frtij.fff In Cfflne '1ki and Vermont h
did r. jnify it by wKerving 1 tat abwi tifjir
nflTiiet M totri wrre pven 10 the Fetmet !!lr
feren aettWft, as weregiftn iwbU owgdalrW! a
lot U Virmoat.
A. Itteoot rt tolled tbe prtkalara.
Mr. Htrpff ad what n the trnot of th
wift fiihi to by the wltsefi, at Uavkg
A.I frt'ood ibefe it rmr nd btfrn
tMJt hb a Ww to fijr ny thiwj WWCWw'fatlsbTt li
the member frcai Vetwt 1 I dKpofrd tw df
trdtl hwalJeotdoUher : Pt loMthw rw
alt in my n 1 iSctiK-i my fejftiKSti(M In
Idta of beitg able to bStar tay af my ta jli-1 aaitrtatwiSfr'ieg nt tf the caavttfitioa tliar
vvrw-j
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