Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-23
A PASSAGE At ARMS BETWEEN
BUTLER AND BINGHAM,

In the House OF Representatives in
Committee of the Whole, on the Dist
inst, the resolution for the relief of the
Southern people was discussed at con
siderable length In the course Of the
debate Mr. Butler spoke of Mr.. Bingham
as having gone over to the Democratic
side of the House, not only in body but
in spirit, and demanded of him what OF
that great and good man, President John
son, had done, while Provisional Governor
of Tennessee, taxing wealthy Rebels to
support poor families" The report then
proceeds:
Mr.. Bingham said II does not become
a gentleman who recorded his vote fifty
times Mr.. Eldridgs suggested fifty-seven
times for the arch-traitor Of the rebellion
for President of the United States, to I'M
dertake to cast an imputation either on my
integrity or honor. ] repel with scorn and
contempt any utterance of that kind by any
man-Whether he be hero Of Fort Fisher
taken, or hero of Fort Fisher not taken.
Roars Of laughter from both sides Of the
House. l also stand here, sir, in the
name of the American people, TO repel
with scorn any attempt TO levy charities by
confiscatiOn in violation of the constitution
Of my country; that, sir, is the proposition
which the gentleman (Butler) dares to ut
ter in the American Congress in the sa-
cred name CT charity. Applause and
laughter
MIR. Butler rose to reply, but the Chair
man announced that the time TO which the
House limited debate had expired
Mr.. Butler asked the privilege of the
House 10 reply.
The Chairman said the gentleman could
no: ask that privilege when the House was
in Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Butler asked the unanimous consent
10 speak ten minutes.
Unanimous consent having been given
Mr. Butler expressed his infinite obliga-
tiOns TO the the House for its kindness, and
said:
have never concealed the fact which
was so Extensively put forward that / voted
for JEFF. Davis in the convention of my
party iifty-tive times | thought him the
best statesman in the South, and hoped
thereby to stay the threatened disunion
which as ] feared ! saw in the distance. 1t
failed and disunion came. The difference
between me and the honorable gentleman
from Ohio is this, that while JEFF. Davis
was Senator Of the United States and was
claiming 10 be friend of Union, | sup
ported him, while the gentleman Bing-
ham supports him while he is traitor.
| have changed my support (Laughter.)
| saw the error Of my way and repented,
but did not expect the blow TO be aimed in
that direction, from that side Of the House,
which supported him then and have sup
ported him ever since, and is still support
ing him and his friends. Laughter and
applause. (Mr. Bingham's seat is on the
Democratic side.-Reporter) / did not
mean TO impugne the honor or integrity of
the gentleman. l only said / thought he
was leading the other side of the House.
Mr.. Bingham. II the gentleman had
qualified his words by saying he thought
so, | would not have said one word.
Mr.. Butler. never speak anything
do think. Laughter and applause. | will
try TO repeat the words / used. ] said the
gentleman had gone in spirit, as he had
gone IN body, over TO the other side of the
House. 1 thought so then, and think so
still; ] said so then, and saw so now.
Laughter / can't take it back. The
gentlemen had good taste to attack me for
the reason that l could not do any more
injury TO the enemies of my country. | did
the best | could. Other men Of more ability
could do more, and no man is more ready
TO give the higher plaudit for their valor.
their discretion and their conduct than
myself Because l could not do more |
felt exceedingly chagrined If during the
war the gentlemen from Ohio, (Mr. Bing-
ham, did as much, ] should be glad to
recognize that much done, but the only
victim Of the gentleman's proves that
know Of was an innocent woman, hanged
on the scafold
The telegraph failed to bring the con.
clusion Of this interesting episode