The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-04
WASHINGTON.
THE LOUISIANA ELECTION.

THE LOUISIANA ELECTION.
NEW YORK, May "a Washington specia
says Mr.. Suley, the Republican delegate iron
Louisiana to the Chicago Convention, is II
Washington, and states that there is no doub
that the Senate in Louisiana is Democratic
while Republican Governor and House arr
elected.
PROPOSED RECESS OF CONGRESS.
Congress will probably adjourn from the l5t]
to the 26th, in order to allow such members a
desire to do so, to 60 to the Chicago Conyen
ton.
A DIsGRACEFUL PERSONAL CONTROVERSY II
THE HoUsE-THE BUTLER AND BROOKS DE
BATE.
In the debate in the House yesterday, on
Mr.. Brooks resolution, Messrs Butler, Gar
held and Logan explained their connection
with the Alta Vela affair.
Mr.. Butler said he signed it with no expec-
tatlon that the President would then De I'M,
peached. / knew he never would be still until
he was impeached. (Laughter;) Until saw the
letter IN the New York Herald nobody spoke
to me about it. 1t was not letter at all, but
a legal opinion, and it is pretty good opinion
in my opinion still; lie SAID, IN the course Of
his remarks, that he had very frequently re-
fused TO give opinions or undertake law suits
when he had personal differences with one OF
the parties. Perhaps he could give an instance
interesting 10 the gentleman from New York
Some time ago there was a case when one
"AhS SHSu ~ iCiiO" ny Tue udIIB OI DrOOkS
for part ownership in the New York Express,
and there was difficulty between Eras.us
BROOKS and the other partner about a division
OF the spoils. They brought to him the case
and showed him that the two Brookses had
robbed this Clarke He said he did not like
the firm and would have nothing to do with it;
1t was Tasty affair, and not so fertile as
guano. He saw the case in Court and saw the
Brookses beat He believed that it was set
tied right, and the judgment followed the ver-
hnf in h oh, hA1 Il al
give an opinion II he had he should have
abused somebody, or been abused. laugh
ter.) Mr.. Butler said that Judge Black did
not know OF the existence of the paper referred
to until the President showed it. The Presi
dent said that he should be glad to issue the
order for the protection of the discoveries If
Alta Vela, but Mr.. Seward would not let him.
Nov" said the President, "If you get some
members of Congress to stiffen us up and not
complain of me to the House, L shall be ready
to do IT" Mr.. Black said he asked few rerso
nal friends to sign the paper. There was no
crime. The country was not called upon to
pay dollar. He was no defender of Judge
Black. but he would prefer taking the issue
with Judge Black in the impeachment case
rather than with a pseudo Republican who
had been employed for that purpose. He re-
peated that he would rather have Judge Black
than any man who had stolen the livery OF
Heaven to serve the devil in.
NJ. Eldridge of Wisconsin addressed the
which the names to that paper were signed
cast suspicion over the proceedings.
Mr.. woodward of Pennsylvania, abiding to
remark Of Mr.. Eldredge, said as to a suspi-
cion that Judge Black was a man OF the high
est integrity, a conspiracy with anybody was
impossible with Judge Black and especially
with the gentleman from Massachusetts,. The
idea was impossible.
Mr.. Eldridee resuming, said he did not enter
into the question at all; he only remarked that
w Gil min TIL
Black withdrew as he did at the time from be-
ing counsel for the President. BE then re-
pied TO Mr.. Logan, arguing that the facts at
tending the signing of the letter were enough
to excite suspicion in the minds of honest men.
Mr.. Logan asked the gentleman to give way,
but Mr.. Eldridge refused to yield the floor, saw
ing that the member could not be gentleman
and treat his political opponent with polite
ness and civility.
Mr.. Logan-You can't expect anything else
from blackguard, and don't take that back.
Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio Mr. Eldridge yielding
the Hoor, gave circumstantial account of how
the signatures were procured in the House.
Mr. Stevens said that Seward acted like a
scoundrel in the Alta Vela case, and he caused
to be read a letter from Judge Black dated
New fork, April 18th, explaining his connec-
uon with the case, and how he came to decline
acting as counsel for the President. He
(Black) says that his retirement was not
prompted by anybody; he felt himself forced
Mr.. Brooks said he never entered into dis
cusslons with such men as Butler and Logan.
Mr.. Butler-When 1 was in the service of
the country did you not accuse me of being a
gold robber?
Mr.. Brooks replied that it was substantially
established by the courts of New York. The
gentleman had pursued him with tire and fury.
The honorable gentleman would never forgive
him because he was the means of extorting
from him, through the Treasury Department,
the 100000 in gold which had been taken from
certain citizens in New Orleans, but the
amount was returned in legal tender notes.
As member of Congress he had a right to
commenV on his acts in New Orleans. One
morning he sent an Aide-de-Camp to him
(Brooks) with letter threatening him unless
rettacton was made; and because he called
the attention of the House to this crcum stance,
the gentleman has pursued him with a volley
OF abuse and vtuperatiVe language which he
could not describe, but which was filter for
Billinsgate and Newgate than for Massachu-
it's
The Speaker called the gentleman to order
Mr.. BROOKS asked if "Billinsgate" is out of
order? 1t is one of the gates to the city of
London.
The Speaker said the remark was not PAL
hamentary
Mr.. Brooks in further reply said no matter
what his lawsuits were, his case had been set
tied satisfactorily. He should not allude to
the gentlemans history in Massachusetts, or
elsewhere. His record was before his own peo-
pie and countrymen, and his countrymen and
his constituents sent him here by majority
OF thousands. The most religious, educated
intelligent and wealthy citizens of New York
had Endorsed him again and again. He might
enter into the history of the gentleman from
Massachusetts, and speak of his exploits at Big
Bethel and Fort Fisher, and of the ''beauty
and booty" at New Orleans, especially the
booty.
The Speaker remined him that this had no
connection with the Alta Vela m alter.
Mr.. Brooks, resuming, said he had no RENE
dy against the gentleman for personal assaults.
The gentleman was not amenable to the laws
OF debate or courtesy, but if he was called upon
to give an opinion in connection with him, he
would say that certain honorable gentleman
has returned to Massach usetts with the key of
Richmond in his pocket. He was attacked by
common bricklayer for insulting his wife
and soundly thrashed.
Mr.. Washburne OF Illinois, moved that the
resolution be laid ON the table, and this was
agreed to-yeas 20. nays 26.
This question was decided by party vote.
the only Republicans voting with the Demo-
Gratis in the minority being Managers Butler
and Wilson, and Mr.. Morehead
The House at IL O'Clock adjourned.
1t is said Judge Black has written another
letter to President johnson relative to the
Alta Vela affair. In it he saws he knew moth
ing of the letter signed by certain radical mem
bers Of the House, including Messrs. Butler
anu hoSdn, COuUSelllnS CDe frenuent IN rela-
ton to the affair, and that he had no commu-
nication whatever with him on the subject.
MANAGER BINGHAM's ARGUMENT
WASHINGTON, May 3-Manager Bingham
will occupy two DAYS, if not three, in the clos
ing argument in the impeachment case. q
All the Senators have during the trial been
remarkably silent, even among their most in
innate friends, as to how they will vote ON the
subject, and therefore what course of each will
be is matter of conjecture. Much money has
been staked on the result.
TIE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AFFAIR
Representative Window gave notice in the
House of his intention to introduce a resolu-
ton censuring Representative Washburne OF
Illinois. Alter adjournment, Messrs. Wash
burne and Window, on their way from the
Capitol, happened to meet in one of the pas
sage ways, when Representative Washburnt
asked for what he proposed censure. Mr.
Window replied, for writing a letter to Mr.
Folsom in relation to his colleague. Which
letter, it will be recollected, was the basis O
personalities.
MEETING OF soRDIERs' NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE. q"
A meeting of the Soldiers National Execu
tive Committee was held here Saturday eve
ming. Members from thirteen States present
Resolutions were adopted au thorizing Stat
delegatiHns to fill up all vacancies from sol
dlers OF their respective States who shall b.
present at Chicago. Returns have been re
ceived from nearly all the States, and the com
mittee feel assured that it will be the larges
delegate convention ever held in this country
PENNSYLVANIA.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
PITTsBURG, May 1.-The Montana Oh
Works located a mile from this oitv rara 70