New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-27
THE BUTLER.BIOOKS CASE.
SPEECH OF MR.. BOUTWELL, OF MASS.

secessiOnsts and whose sympathies ere with tho
purposes OF the secessionsts. had not Lesated wnen.
ever and wherever they could obtain the OF the pub.
lie, 10 erragD wh0msoeyer they might upon whom IN
any degree, in their estimation. rested the crime OF
being patriots. remembered that General Butlsr had
been the first 10 expound tn this country aud to
the world the doctrine to the rights Of the negro
on this continent ana 10 expose TO mankind h9
course necessary to be pursued in order that th rebel
lion might be crushed. regarded the observation az
the gentleman from NewIoik rs an observation mads
In harmony with these confined and oil rtpeaed DEC
made by secessionsts the South and seces.
sonists and then sympahizels in the North did nos
properly appreciate the circumstance ihat ne spoke
from this floor that no here shielded by The COpst'
tuition that lie had in certain sense tie ear OF thc
American public ard perhaps u the world, and mat
what he uttered went upon the records Of TINS h"uso
and became part OF the history OF The country.
Gen Butler being the subject OF that observation,
took entirely different view Of the matter ana when
the remark brought 10 his notice ne a1aresseas
letter to the gentleman from New YOTk That ietef
has been read before this House; It's contents are ID
great degree known to the country. Il 1t lad been
what the gentleman from New-York assumed upon h!s
floor that 1t wasa challenge to him TO mortal COMBAT
il he had not been helmc BY his fears lie wond
have reoiccd that that day for Which nc onged-the
day for the rsconstruction of this Union as Il wahad
approached in that the assassination was attempted IA
part Of this city Of member for words SPOKEN ia
debate, aud there challenge TO another reyNinx
recoecons which must have beeE grateful to MN OK
those days when the Union did exist " as 1t Was, ana
there freedom Of speech upon this floor or upon
the floor Of the other House Of Congress- but MS tears
Ioyercame entirely the tendency which be otherwise
would have had to rejoice III the restoration OF tue
lpalmy days when assassination and dueling was me
order proceedings in the capital OF the couny. 3us
those DAYS arc passed; that there longer
plantation masters 10 be here or to be represented here
trust that plantation manners also viii depart from is
Ii WAS the last OF the designs of Gen. Butler 70 cha
epge the gentleman from NewYOrk 10 mortal combat
The letter the gentleman was dated IN TIE 10Th day
of January. On that sane day Gen. Butler al.
dressed letter to the Speaker Of this House. which
was not sent. / have examined Gen. Buffers letter
book and find that that to the Speaker anticipates Ia
order the letter addressed to the gentleman from New
" 81 9TH
sufficiently explain the purpose which Gen BntIeS
had In view send that letter to the Clerk, and ask
that it BE- read to tie House.
| The Clerk read, as toiows $500
SIR: take leave most respectfully to request you 10 lay
before the House Of Representatives this note IN order 10
avail myself Of the only means 81 redress known TO no
whou; breach Of the PRIVILEGES Of the honorable HoSe
Mr. James BROOKS member OF the House on the o1 OF
January reported have used in debate the following AN
gusge; "a. =, ,,.rode,l
Government during the tendency Of the late pee den,,
election control the City Of New by sesdps mere
States Robber Of :he pubic Treasury aud major.
the power given TO him to atenP to eoui9 ne se2as %
those whom the gentleman calls thieves and robbers u NY
The Correctness Of thu report Of which have taken
measures to sscerts.n. NM. 20,
position M Brook, occupie. q very high crimes anc msa
neanos alleged to be committed by an ohcer oil t Onl.,
STATE. which u he guilty ought to be visited by the most
the shaTss cauuniou, and false tsGn Z dee to The
the employment Of such person III II, service IN bun ohci
position would also dne TO the dignity oil tie
The Constitution and United states and parls'
snay u'ase give the officer bus charged no Of re-
Dies. through ordinary eourts Of law or any other nodo
known among honorable therefore, the sene
Of justice Of the honorable ca.e respectfully ask h, an ny
vert CATION may be order Of the chang re-rred asnu
me by meuber Of the ouse, Through coo uisee Of To
usmbsr, with the most smpe power. Of .nSnisy
fuinx 81 single charge made desire TO h,se pat !ss
al
m .ccu.er make good lis accusation bs5rs ths
Committee OF tue hoc,e so that toe .cc1sa DC to'sa E
punihmsut the accusation be- found false aud csun
Nous the hoaosbc House may De n position 70 ~
honor and dignity BY the due punishment oil pnoio
/ have the honor to be, very respectfully;
Hon sPrAKER HOn'e Of Representatives. Congress Of ths
| Mr. BourvEIr-Tbat Is copy from Gen. Bntlars
etter.book OF letter which he intended 10 addtss 10
the Speaker OF this House whenever the genteman
from New York should have replied 10 the leltcr sent
10 him on the Goth Of this month. Lest there should be
any Misunderstanding will say this in regard 10 these
letters up to yesterday, after the Adjournment OF tao
House. had never coDyersed with Gen Butler OF Win
any hiend OF his IN reference TO any ocsl act Of big
life. As the gentleman from New.iork waS about
closing his remarks went the seat Of the hon.
orabie member from Pennsylvania Nfr. Stesens) and
said to him that desired that the House Shond at:
journ before this debate closed aud that TO moTIow
? would prGbahly present official documents to this
|, House At that moment I had no knowledge that any
official documents existed, but had known Gen. Bntof
for twenty five years / knew bis fiuls; Enew his
virtues; knew lis faiiDss; knew his capacities;
knew that m transaction involving 5000 he bad evil
deuce incontroyeribe ~ TO tue position be occupied
And when approached him, as dld last evening wih'
out apy SUCCESSION from him, and reported 10 him IL
brief The Statements that lad been made this co-
and said TO him that II he had any documents 10 pre-
sent 10 the House. l. bis Representative shosld Do
happy 10 be the means Of communicating them, La
opened his letter book and showed 10 me the two et-
tiers the ono addressed to the gentleman from New
York and the other b the Speaker OF the Horse Hs
sand that both were written at the time; asi they
appeared on the letter book in their proper POSITION
only that the copy u the letter 10 the speaker preceded
thar OF the letter To the gentleman tiom New York
the same tine had The boiiuess 10 meet thsro CIpt
Clarke who there in uniform. knew that II hs
had worn gray uniform when lie approached the gentle
been atTighted said TO bin | wished 10 know
what he knew about the matter. lie sDid 81 wrote
the letters - The sam. Time on the same day from the
dc,ltion Of Gen Bller aud they were recorded juss
as they appear.
single ", ri row In reference 70 q matter on which
I do not propose 10 spend mnch time-he affairs "a
Norfolk. The gentleman (Mr. Brooks did not present
Yesterday any evidence whatever as to Gen. Buters
transactions At Norfolk shIll not therefore spend
much time over it, nut when approGc2 tho greater
subject the House VIII aud tie country " III see.
THAI any statement Of his without testimony 10 10
transactions of ANYBODY, cannot be believed by IL
country. say. from IA inquiry this morning. thai ths
records of the War Office furnish Testimony wh3tso.
ever mpeaohing Gen. BHtcrs reputation or condnct IN
reference To trade transactions in the district which lie
has lately commanded
ence TO the $50 go transaction in New OreanS Iasa
the attention Of the gentocCn from New York 10 one
point because, Wnen have presented the evidence
shall pat 10 linn question on my own fesponsotly as
Il member O. this House ms representative OF ais'
trict as OF this county, interest d some whai
IN the reuu IN OF man who Is already historical,
ems, who s,n. The administration Of Hastings in India,
has had ,l cJms4nd aud greater interests OF thd
in ia ut