AFTERNOON SESSION.
The SPEAKER resumed the chair at two o'clock p. m.
Mr. BUSKIRK. Mr. Speaker: I move that there be a call of the House.
Mr. COFFROTH. I second the motion.
Mr. SPEAKER accordingly directed the clerk to call the roll.
The roll call proceeded, and when Mr. Addison's name was called--
Mr. COFFROTH said for him: Mr. Addison has appealed from the decision of the Republican caucus. When the Republican caucus determined to fasten upon the people the proposed amendment of the Constitution of the United States in regard to negro suffrage, he appealed. He has resigned his place and gone home.
And when the clerk called the names of Mr. Admire, Mr. Barritt and other Democrats on the roll, who had for the same reason resigned, Mr. C. would have answered for them in similar terms, but he was restrained by the Speaker's hammer, the voice of the clerk pursuing the roll, and the calls for "order."
The clerk reported fifty-eight members present and answering to their names, as follows:
Messrs. Admire, Baker, Barnett, Beatty, Britton, Breckinridge, Buskirk, Chittenden, Coffroth, Davidson, Davis, Dunn, Fairchild, Field of Lagrange, Furnas, Gilham, Gordon, Green, Hall, Hamilton, Higgins, Hutson, Johnson, of Parke, Johnson of Marshall, Jump, Kercheval, Lamborn, Logan, Mason, Millekan, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Osborn, Overmyer, Palmer, Pierce of Porter, Pierce of Vigo, Ratliff, Ruddell, Sabin Skidmore, Smith, Stephenson, Stewart of Ohio, Stewart of Rush, Taber, Underwood, Vardeman, Vater, Wile, Windman, Williams of Hamilton, Williams of St. Joseph, Williams of Uniou, Wilson and Mr. Speaker--58
The SPEAKER announced no quorum.
Mr. Coffroth and Mr. Buskirk, rose and addressed the Speaker at the same time.
Mr. COFFROTH said: I rise to a personal explanation--a question of Privilege--
Mr. BUSKIRK said: I move that the House adjourn till five o'clock, and send for the absentees.
The SPEAKER. If the gentleman from Huntington rises to a privileged question, he is in order.
Mr. COFFROTH. I have been the subject of some misunderstanding and perhaps of some misrepresentation here. It has been stated--and that of course is true--that I have not page: 594[View Page 594] acted as a majority of my party here have acted, resigning their seats; but it has been charged that I have not resigned because I was afraid to refer this matter to my people. Now sir, to avoid any further misrepresentation and all misunderstanding in this matter, I wish to say that on last night I attended the caucus of my party in the other end of the building, and there tendered my resignation. But when I tendered my resignation, for reasons satisfactory to themselves, I suppose, they directed me to withhold it for the purpose of representing the party on this floor; and so I did not resign.
Mr. BUSKIRK (interposing earnestly.) I rise to a point of order. The gentleman can not make outside rumors a question of privilege. The question before the House is a motion to adjourn.
The SPEAKER. If the gentleman rises to answer to anything charged on the floor, he has a right to proceed.
Mr. COFFROTH. Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is parliamentary, and it has been the custom here--
Mr. VATER (interrupting.) I rise to a point of order. I would like for the gentleman to make his point.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Huntington has the floor.
Mr. COFFROTH. If I was speaking in a preliminary way, I was just coming to the point. And it will take but a short time to make it; and I will say to the gentleman from Marion, that I intend to get along here in a friendly way; and I say to him because he has been ordinarily kind under such circumstances as this, and I hope he will continue to be so. I was about to remark, Mr. Speaker, it is true, that I was elected to this place by but seven majority--the county I have the honor to represent--I say the honor, because they are intelligent and liberal people--the county I represent went Republican, contrary to its usual habit, but I was elected by seven majority.
Mr. BUSKIRK (interrupting.) I insist that the gentleman's explanation is not a question of privilege. The motion is to adjourn. There has been no insinuation or charge made against the gentleman in this House; and what has been said outside can not be brought before the House under a question of privilege.
Mr. COFFROTH. What I was saying is preliminary to the matter I have to present.
The SPEAKER. So far as the Chair can determine, the gentleman's remarks so far have not been in order. But the Chair does not know what the gentleman is about to say. The gentleman from Huntingdon will proceed.
Mr. COFFROTH. The Chair also, has ordinarily been considerate and kind.
Mr. OSBORN (interrupting.) I rise to a point of order. Under the rules which govern this body we can not do business--we can do nothing when there is not a quorum present, but adjourn and send for absentees.
Mr. COFFROTH. I was just making an explanation; and will come right to it now--
Mr. BUSKIRK (interrupting vigorously.) I make the further point, that, pending a motion to adjourn, no remarks can be made to that or any other motion. I say he has no right, pending my motion, to indulge in remarks with reference to matters which have taken place outside of the House.
Mr. COFFROTH. If the gentleman will indulge me but for one moment, I will put it in the fewest words practicable. I have before stated that I was elected by a majority of seven votes. And the gentleman from Monroe (Mr. Buskirk) was elected by a large vote. Now I propose to resign if he will do so, and we will go to the people on this question.
Mr. BUSKIRK. I have no occasin to resign and go before my people. [Applause.] I say the gentleman is afraid to resign. [Continued astounding applause.] I dare you to resign, sir. [Applause continued.]
Mr. COFFROTH. I challenge the gentleman to accept my proposition.
Mr. BUSKIRK. I challenge you to do what your Democratic friends have done. [Renewed applause.]
Mr. COFFROTH. I challenge the gentleman to accept--to do this! Here sir, is my written resignation.
Mr. BUSKIRK. Tender it, if you dare![Uproarious applause, by clapping and stamping.] The question now before the House is the motion to adjourn till five o'clock, and send for absentees. [The applause was protracted, with demands for the question.]
Mr. BUSKIRK utterly refused the proposition of Mr. Coffroth for each to go before the people, and submit the issue to their decision.
The SPEAKER then entertained and put the question on the motion to adjourn, and declared the House adjourned till five o'clock, amid shouts and cheers from the floor and gallaries--
Mr. COFFROTH calling stoutly for a division of the House on the adjournment vote.
And then--
The House took a recess till five o'clock p. m.
