The Cecil Whig

[Reported for the Baltimore Sun.]
WASHINGTON, April 23, 1844.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr. Wright having the floor, spoke in favor of raising a sufficient revenue from a large importation with low duties, instead of a small amount of importation with high duties. He was in favor of a moderate system of revenue taxation, equitably laid upon all classes. He argued that the affairs of the country ought to be left to the fixed laws of trade under the influence of impartial legislation.

Mr. White, of Kentucky, followed and after some preliminary remarks, went into a defence of Mr. Clay from various charges pending against him, and which have recently been the subject of newspaper controversy.

Having repeatedly yielded the floor, as a matter of courtesy, for explanation, Mr. White requested that he might be allowed an additional hour.

This was refused, whereon Mr. White took his seat.

At this period some conversation of an animated character took place between Mr. White and. Mr. Rathbun, of New York.

The latter then left his seat and struck Mr. White. The blow was returned, and in a moment as it were, more than a hundred members were piled in a heap around the parties It was a repetition of the general struggle which occurred at the rencontre between Messrs. Wise and Stanley, some sessions ago. To heighten the confusion the loud report of a pistol was heard, and cries arose of "a man is shot."

Mr. Hopkins, who was in the Chair. shouted "order," and thundered with the mace, but he might as well have tried to calm a whirlwind, for the struggle appeared to increase, members pulling away at each other with desperation.

Loud cries of "let the speaker take the Chair," arose and the officers ran to his room. He instantly appeared, and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to take the mace and do his duty.

That officer accordingly took that emblem of the embodied power of the Union and soon, by its moral force, the struggle began to subside. In the course of a few minutes, comparative order was restored

[It was then ascertained that the pistol was fired at a member of the House by a man named Moore, because the said member (Mr. McCauslin, of Ohio) put him out of the door. It missed its aim, however, and the ball entered the groin of an officer of the House named Wirt.]

Mr. Dromgoole moved that Messrs. White and Rathbun be taken into custody by the Sergeant-at-Arms. He made this motion from no personal feeling towards the parties, but solely with a view of preserving the dignity of the House which had been violated.

Mr. White took exception to this proposition, on the ground that it presumed the parties were desirous to avoid an investigation.

Mr. Dromgoole rejoined and again disclaimed any personal feeling.

Various other propositions were submitted by way of amendment, the principal of which was a motion to refer the whole matter to a select committee with instructions to report on the facts.

Pending this Messrs. White and Rathbun severally rose in their places and without going into the facts expressed their regret at the occurrence. Finally they left their seats and shook hands amidst the most deafening tokens of approbation.

The question still being on the motion to refer to a select committee.

Mr. Holmes, of S. C., rose, and after some appropriate remarks, offered a resolution providing for the expulsion of Messrs. White and Rathbun.

After a debate on this resolution, a resolution referring the whole matter to a select committee was adopted.

W. S. Moore, the man who fired the pistol, is in custody. The wound of Mr. Wirt is not considered mortal.