Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-03-28

Mr.. BUTLER expressed his infinite
obligations 10 the House for its kind
ness, and said have never conceal
ed the fact which is now so ofienseive-
ly put forward, thatI voted for Jefer
son Davis in the convention of my
party fiity-seven times. | thought
him the representative man of the
South, and hoped thereby to save the
threatened dsunion which appeared
in the distance. ! was foiled, and
disunion came. The difference be-
tween me and the honorable gentle
man from Ohio is this that while
Jefferson Davis was a Senator OF the
United States, and was claiming to be
a friend Of the Union, ! supported him;
while the gentleman (Mr Bingham)
supports him while ho is a traitor ]
have changed my support. Laugh
ter. ! saw the error of my way and
rcpented. But | did not expect a
blow TO be aimed at me in that direc-
ton from the side of the House which
supported him then, has supported
him ever since, and it still supporting
him and his friends. Laughter and
/ applause.
Mr. Binpham's seat is on the Dem
ocratic side of the House-Reporter. ]
] did not mean 10 impugn the honor
or integrity of the gentleman from
Ohio only said / thought he was
leading the other side of the House.
Mr. BINGHAN-If the gentleman
had qualified his words by saying he
thought SO, l would not have said one
word.
Mr.. BUTLER-l never speak any
thing / do not think. Laughter and
applausc.l ! viii not try to repeat
the words ! used, said the gentle
man had gone in spirit, as he had
gone in body, over to the other side
of the House. ] thought so then; !
think so now. said so then say
so now, daughter and l cannot take
it back, sir. Manifestations Of en-
couragement. The gentleman has
had a good taste TO attack me, for the
reason that / could not do any more
injury TO the enemies Of my country.
/ did the best j could. Other men OF
more ability could do more. And no
man is ready to give them higher plau-
dit for their valor, their discretion and
their conduct than myself Because
/ could not do more, ! feel exceedingly
chagrined.
If during the war the gentleman
from Ohio Mr. Bngham) did as much
as | did in that direction ] should be
glad to recognize that much done.
But the only victim Of the gentlcman's
proves that know of was an inno-
cent woman, hanged upon the scafiold.
His only victim in the war was Mrs.
Surratt can sustain the memory Of
Fort Fisher, If he and his associates
can sustain him in the blood of wo.
man tried by a military commission
and condemned without sufficient ev-
idence, in my judgment.
Mr.. BINGHAM asked and obtained
five minutes TO reply. He said: AT.
ter ten years Of service in this house,
gentlemen will look in vain for any
remarks Of mine personal TO mortal
mau on this floor, save when / was
gratuitously assailed by others. ]
have observed the amenities of debate
and the amenities of personal condnct
out of the House, IN such form, trusi
rs entities me to the respect and con
sideration of those who know me best
But the gentleman Mr. Butler Will,
he talks of matters OF taste, choose,
TO constitute himself my Judge touch
ing the integrity of my conduct as {
sworn representative Of the people
and when he comes tc make his repl,
to me, feeling that he had done a dis
honor 20 himself aud an injustice 4
me, undertakes TO qualify his rasl
judgment by saying that he only sale
he though so.
Sir, if he had said at first that h,
thought so, il never would have dis
} turbed my unanimity, for / would
have concerned myself Just rs much
about what he thought as / would
about "Who killed Cock Robin.
, Laughter ] The gentleman has showi
, the same want of consideration 70
the rights Of others in the remark
| which he has Just made by favor O
the House BY what remark does b.
r constitute himselfa Judge to say of me
TO say of men who were his peers il
the field of conflict when the cartl
= quaked. that the blood Of innocenc,
= is on my hands.
! Docs the gentleman mean TO say il
bis sweeping Judgment that it is ais
{ on the hands Of those brave men VIII,
! constituted by the warrant Of you
, President n court to opronounce the f
r nal Judgment, without which nobod,
! could have boen executed Sir, ] re
! peat in the language Of a man, th
b latchet of whose shoes the gentlemai
{ was not worthy to unloosc, who saii
{ that he would patiently hear first
/, and consider and pronounce iadgmen
e afterwards. In the language OF th
c great Lord High Chancellor Of Eng
] land, Notwithstanding tho uttorance
4 Of a cynical poet that hc was "th
b greatest, wisest, mcancst tofmankind,
s l will say that, whether the blood O
c innocence is on my hands or not,
I, leave TO the charitable "spcechcs Z
= men and TO future ages" the grea
r question connected with the assass
+ nation Of the chosen Of the people, b
d which he was cut down in the pre'
ence Of his rejoicing countrymcn, nc
C Tor his crimes but for his virtue
o --murmuring as his great soul wor
C up 70 the common Father Of us al
charity towards all and malice 4