Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-02-02
Mr. GoocH-I presume before that.


don't know the fact.
Mr.. BRooBs-I know he did not before
the suit was entered
Mr. GoocH IL not before che
gentleman made bis statement on this floDri
Mr.. BRooKs--I know that General Bat
Ter psed the telegraph 70 say the money was
in The Treasury, when it was not there.
Mr.. GoocH--ls IL in accordance with
your position here to charge Gen. Butler
with being gold robber2
Mr. BRooKs-A man who robs citizens
and keeps the money until suit is instituted
and makes no report on the suject,
deserves the epithet.
Mr. GoocH--Does the gentleman know
that such is the fact? ........
Mr.. BRooKs-It has been so stated to
me.
Mr.. GoooB--Did you not know the other
day that Gen. Butler had made his report?
Mr. BRooKs-He was affrighted into
making the report.
Mr. 0GoocH-If Gen. Butler had taken
money while in command at New Orleans
and had not reported the fact to the Govern
ment, but attempted to conceal it, he has
committed wrong; but il he has not dono
TINS then the gentleman from New York
IN calling Gen. Butler a gold robber. has
done wrong, 1t seems to me that the
gentleman is the last man who would not
receive note from gentleman whom he
charged with being a gol l-robber. because
he thinks he can shelter himself behind bis
Congressional privileges.
Mr.. BROOKS Has he the gold or not?
Mr.. GooCH-He had the gold ready to
respond.
Mr. Brooks asked whether Major or
General who takes by force fifty thousand
dollars in gold from another man aud keeps
it is not robbcr. Ho thought after these
statements the House could Judge whether
or not he was right. IF Gen. Butler or his
friends were dissatisfied with these charges,
all they could do was to ask for Commit
tee Of Investigation aud not send letter or
order to draw him into controversy. He
maintained that he had been fuly justified
in using the adjective against him. He then
proceeded tc state what was known to other
Generals, involving Gen. Butler in common
speculation. In conclusion he said: So help
me God, have no party object in a con-
troversy like this. When | made the
remarks to which exception has been taken,
Gen. Butler was in full command and now,
when he seems to have fallen, | would not
have thus spoken had he not provoked me
toit. With my pen will fully respond. -
But here, on the floor of the House, in the
presence ofthe country, Iaddress the House
and proclaim the charge and the ground on
which | made it,
Mr.. STEvENs--We have heard to-day
about the privileges ofthis House. Mem
bers decent. decorOus, and respectable in
their behavior have been assailed; but there
is another privilege injurious and dangerous
to the country, and that is the privilege of
members rising in. their places, and in
malignant, vindictive, outrageous, and inde
eent manner scatter their filth and slauder
on the great men and patriots fthe nation;
and then shlrk from responsibility and shield
themselves from answering because they
are members on this floor This privilege"
is shameful abuse, and ought to recoil on
the head o. any man who practices it: and
here they stand under the shield of privilege
and send forth charges to damn and blast
eminent men. The gentleman from New
= ork said he did 1t from revengeiul motives,
provoked by a letter which he received. l
have no doubt Off it. do not blame the
gentleman so much as do those around
him. lam only sorry their names are not
on record (those who voted to suspend the
rulesj that the world may see and point at
them With sccrn. How could the motion
he made and sustained unless to crafty the
tiithiest garbage from foul stomachs cast up
by malignant hate. -
Mr.. SHENCR asked the gentleman to give
way for an adjournment and he could
resume his remarks to morrow.
Mr.. STEVENS did so oremarking that it was
right an opportunity should be given to
state the facts.
On motion the House adjourned.