Memoirs of John Quincy Adams

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. At these words, Turney, who was sitting within arm's reach of Bell, started up, and, with furious gesture, looking him in the face, cried, It is false! It is false! Upon which Bell struck him with his fist. Turney aimed a blow at Bell in return, and they were rushing at each other, when the members adjoining separated them. Cries of Order Speaker! Sergeant-at-arms! Instantly arose. Polk, the Speaker, darted up to the chair, turned Howard out of it, and called upon the sergeant-at-arms to keep order. The tumult then subsided of itself; and the Speaker, to justify himself for resuming the chair, read from Jefferson's Manual, p. 132, of the new edition of the rules, the precedents as reported from the British House of Commons.

At these words, Turney, who was sitting within arm's reach of Bell, started up, and, with furious gesture, looking him in the face, cried, It is false! It is false! Upon which Bell struck him with his fist. Turney aimed a blow at Bell in return, and they were rushing at each other, when the members adjoining separated them. Cries of Order Speaker! Sergeant-at-arms! Instantly arose. Polk, the Speaker, darted up to the chair, turned Howard out of it, and called upon the sergeant-at-arms to keep order. The tumult then subsided of itself; and the Speaker, to justify himself for resuming the chair, read from Jefferson's Manual, p. 132, of the new edition of the rules, the precedents as reported from the British House of Commons.