While the Senator from Nebraska was delivering a speech, he made a remark to which the Senator from Kansas took exceptions.

When the Kansas Senator arose,--flushed with anger, and laboring under intense excitement,--to correct what he declared in words that were more forcible than elegant, to be a misstatement of his position, the Senator from Nebraska did not hesitate for a moment to accept the correction, remarking by way of explanation and apology that he had not distinctly heard the remark the Senator from Kansas had made, and to which he was alluding when interrupted.
"Then," retorted the Senator from Kansas, "that is your misfortune." "I admit," the Senator from Nebraska quickly replied, "that it is always a misfortune not to hear the Senator from Kansas." The unfortunate controversy between President Garfield and Senator Conkling resulted in a national calamity.

The bitterness that grew out of it had the effect of bringing a crank on the scene of action.

Early in July, 1881,--when the President, in company with Mr.Blaine, was leaving Washington for his summer vacation,--this cowardly crank, who had waited at the railroad station for the arrival of the distinguished party, fired the fatal shot which a few months later terminated the earthly career of a President who was beloved by his countrymen without regard to party or section.
Whatever may have been the merits of this unfortunate controversy, it resulted in the political death of one and the physical death of the other; thus depriving the country of the valuable services of two of the greatest and most intellectual men that our country had ever produced.
When the President died I was at my home, Natchez, Mississippi, where a memorial meeting was held in honor of his memory, participated in by both races and both parties.

I had the honor of being one of the speakers on that occasion.