Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-02-02

letter from Gen. Butler was brought to him
by II. q. Clark, Captain and Adjutant.
Mr.. boutwell, rose 10 3 question OF
order, that the letter of Gen Butler did not
violate any Of the privileges Of member.
The SPEAKER said before deciding the
point he would ike Mr.. Brooks to point out
what words 10 the letter he excepted to.
and he would then rule as TO them specif-
cally. e.l '...i
Mr.. Brooks in reply, quoted from the
Constitution, that for any speech or debate
in either House, members shall not be ques-
toned in any other place."
The SPEAKER replied, that would Justify
tho gentleman in refusing to answer the
letter, hut did not settle this point.
Mr.. Brooks Their said no excepted to tho
whole letter; that 1t was sent through Gen.
Buffers aid de-eamp. in uniform, instead
of through the post office. and that Capt.
Clark was desirOus Of an immediate answer.
He did not like military gentleman com
ing into his house aud calling fer an imme-
date answer (lauehter) or any answer. He
expressed to this ad-ic-cimp that he could
not give an immediate answer, but would
take his own time. The remarks to which
Gen. Butler had taken exception, were
made on the floor Of this House, and he
did not choose to enter into correspondence
with Gen. Butler concerning them
Mr.. boutwell, pressed his point Of
order.
Mr. BaooKs quoted from the letter.
Tine gentleman who hands this will wait or
call for an answer at any place you may
designate. This, said Mr.. Brooks, is the
language of the duelist.
The SPEAKER decided that the letter was
not an infringement of the miles. He said
that if he should rule that it was, it would
cut off all right of criticism by constituents
in their letters on the speeches or acts of
their members, aud all attempts to secure
explanations Of language which person
aIlu1e to here deemed unjust. 1t seemed
to the Chair not improper that apers 90 who
had been charged here as gold rebher
should inquire if that charge was correctly
reported, and whether there was not some
explanation or qualification of it, and the
language Of the note did not seem offensive
Language something like this might have
been used by those recognizingduelling Ifthe
letter was clearly intended as inviting settle.
ment of the matter by what is called the Code
of Honor, but which the Chair regarded as
the Code Of Murder, he (the Chair would
have ruled differently, but as it was suscept-
ible OF a different construction, he decided
that 1t was not question of privilege.
Mr.. Brooks appealed from the decision
of the Chair he had said the object was
to ascertain whether he had been correctly
reported or not, he would have found out at
the Office of the Congrsssionl Globe, or OF
its reporters. He had revised the speech
making the words 'bod robber' read gold
robbcr," Gen. Butler sent his aid to him
with the letter while he was at breakfast
AN aid de-camp in full pauoply. paid out
Of the Treasury of the United Stptcs, and
at present in the service of Gen. Butler. -
If he had been a dulist he should have
accepted the note in that character, but be
resolved to resort to his rights as member
Of this House, and it was on that ground he
lett it to be said whether he is co rrect or
Incorrect. U
MIR. INGERsoLL. What ground had you
for asserting that Gen. Butler is gold
rohber?
Mr.. Brooks cannot give my reasons
under the ruling of the Chair. ri,
Cries from the Democratic side: "Lets
have them, what are they?"
Mr.. STEVENS. We had better confne
ourselves to the legitimate line OF debate.
require the gentleman to speak to the
text. ,.. ....
Mr.. INGERsoLL-I move the rules be
suspended that the gentleman may erpain.
| The rules were supended for that pur.
! pose. .. ..lr..
Mr.. STEVENS lin loud tone) 1--WE
suspend the rules that We may disgrace
ourselves" r
Mr.. SPALDINa inquired will it be in
order to let Butler IN the ring?
| Mr.. HERMAN said that is not in accord
ance with the precedent excluding Mr.
Field.
Mr.. Brooks said the reason he did not
reply to the letter was that he had known
him on previous occasion in New York,
when surrounded by staff OF twenty or
twenty five officers in the Hoffman House,
to send out his aid-de-camp to demand the
presence Of a gentleman before him; and
when the gentleman appeared he found him
seated at the table with his pistols before
him; and this in the peaceable city Of New
charge of Butler being geld robber was
certain transaction in New Orleans and the
proceedings in the Surrogate Court of New
York. The plaintiff in the case, Samuel
Smith, procured au order to refund certain
moneys: stating in his deposition that he
went from. Saratoga some years ago to New
Orleans, and he and his brother eutered into
the banking business. On the 9th OF
April, 1862, when Farragut had passed the
forts, he sscreted his gold in the air cells of
the vault, fearing the city would be given
to plunder. Gen. Butler on the first OF
May, issued an order and directed every
man to return to his business, promising
that the right of property should be held
.inviolatc, subject only to the laws ofthe
Unitsl States. The deponent accordingly
rsopened his banking house. Gen. Butler
soon commenced examining into the affairs
of the bankers. Finding the deponent had
100000 in gold, ne demanded the monsy Of
him, and on refusing he was therwn into
prison until he revealed the place ofconceal-
msnt Gen. Butler now has $4,000 ofthis
gold, &c. He (Mr. Brools) had only to
add that this money had never been paid
into the Treasury of the United States, and
yet remains in Butler hands. ..,;.i a,;
Mr.. LOAN. Has it never been returned
to the proper Department? - n \
Mr.. Books is not in the Treasury
Department. .,.,.,. ,t't
Mr. LoAN-I understand it has been paid
to the War Department ut....l tl
: Mr.. STEVENS asked whatwas the result
Of the suit to which the gentleman referred.
Mr. BRooKs replied it was still psnding.
The fact was not to be disoredited that that