"Mr. Speaker!" she protested; "there is no question, previous to
this, which needs the consideration of the house! This is first in
importance, and demands your immediate--"
"Order! order!" came from all parts of the house.
"I am in order--the right is always in order!" she exclaimed,
getting more and more excited. "We women are not going to be
contented with the mere show of our rights on this floor; we demand
the substance--"
And so she was going on, when there arose the most fearful tumult.
The upshot of it was, that the speaker ordered the sergeant-at-arms
to remove Mrs. Whiston; one of the members, more considerate,
walked across the floor to her, and tried to explain in what manner
she was violating the rules; and in another minute she sat down, so
white, rigid and silent that it made me shake in my shoes to look
at her.
"I have made a great blunder," she said to me, that evening; "and
it may set us back a little; but I shall recover my ground." Which
she did, I assure you. She cultivated the acquaintance of the
leaders of both parties, studied their tactics, and quietly waited
for a good opportunity to bring in her bill.
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