The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-29
spicy Debate in The House.
BINGHAM VS.. BUTLER.

Dle debate TOOK place IN the House of
Representatives, on Thursday, be-
tween Mr. Bingham of Ohio. and
Gen. Butler the question being the
Southern aid bill, the former favorino
and the latter opposing the bill. We
copy from the Boston Joluuaps ac-
count Of the "scene:"
When an amendment Combining the
TO destitute and helpless
was being debated, General |
Butler took the floor and said that on
this question he was in favor of the /
Presidents policy. He then sent to
the Clerks desk and had read the |
proclamation of Mr. Johnson when
Governor Of Tennessee assessing tax |
upon the wealthy citizens of Nashville
for the support of the poor. He
General Butlcr). would admonish
the gentleman from Ohio not to go
against the policy Of the President,
especially as he had gone over to the
other side not only bodily, but also
in the spirit Mr. Johnson wanted to
tax the rich secossionists to feed the
poor, and he General Dutler), wish
ed to do only the same thing. lie
would further ask the other side of
the House how they could possibly
vote for this measure, so long as the
money was to be expended by the,
to them, great bugbear the negro
bureau.
Mr. Bingham replied that such re-
marks came with bad grace from a
gentleman who had voted fifty times
in Convention for tho arch traitor of
the rebellion for President to cast i'm
putations on the motives of others. r.
For one he repealed with scorn and
contempt any such iusinuatons as
had been made, whether they came
from the heir of Fort Fisher taken or
from the heir of Fort Fisher not taken.
This pleased the Democrats, WHO
applauded, and amid some confusion
Mr.. Blaine, who was in tho chair, de-
clared that the hour for terminating
the debate had arrived
Gen Butler pointing to the clock,
which denoted Is minutes past three
said that rs he understood the or
der of the House debate was to close
at 3.15. The gentleman from Ohio
has been permitted to exceed this
time, and asked the same privilege
The Chair decided that debate was
closed, and asked General Butler,
who remained standing, if he rose to a
; question OF order
Gen. Butler said that he did not,
and was proceeding to speak when he
was called to order
Some confusion ensued during
which a motion was made and carried
for the Committee to rise.
Speaker Colfax soon restored order,
F., and Gen Farnsworth asked unani-
nous consent that Gen. Butler might
reply to Mr. Bingham.
Dir Elbmdge hoped that consent
would be given. This was an inte-
, resting question upon which light was
t wanted and he hoped that the gen
$ tleman from Massachusetts, would not
be bottled up The consent was
| granted
S Gen. Butler said he had never tried
to conceal the fact, that he had Fifty
seven times voted for jeff Davis fol
: the Presidency.
Mr.. Bingham only said fifty
times.
S Gen. Butler paid no attention TO the
t intersection, but continued and saiC
he had supported jeff Davis because
he believed him to be the representa-
G tive man Of the South, and believed
G his nomination would tend to dis
i perse the clouds which he Gen But
ler) saw gathering over the country
}. The difference between him and Tho
t gentleman from Ohio was that h,
: supported Davis when he was in til,
d Senate and was loyal Union man
: while Mr. Bingham continued to sup
:. port him now that he was traitor =
Q He did not expect such blow as this
d however, to come from the side of tn,
y House which had always supported
U Davis, and which was still supporting
e him He did not impugn the gentle
7 mans motives, He simply said h,
/ thought he (Mr. Bingham, was til,
: leader on that side of the House.
/ Mr. Bingham denied that Genera
e Butler had qualified his remarks, ant
e said he thought 50. If the remarl
7. had been qualified there would hav
/ been no otfense.
/ Gen. Butler replied that he woulc
10 repeat his remark which was tina
the gentleman from Ohio had gon
over to that side of the House in spir
J, it as well rs in body Referring +
y Mr. Bingham's allusion to Fort Fish
q er, Gen. Butler said he never expect
= ed that he would be altogether exon
:, Grated fran some blunders that b
: made, but lie had done what he coul
: to inhict as much injury as possibl
- upon the rebels; and he had neye
= expected to be censured for that.
= the gentleman from Ohio had done a
# much to cripple the rebellion,
= General Butler would give him a
credit and honor for it. But the onl
! victim the gentleman could produc
! was "a woman hanged that was Mr.,
10 Surratt Gen Butler could stand a
that might be said about Fort Fishe
if the gentleman could stand unde
:. the blood of woman, shed upon tn