The New York herald., 1869-02-12
WASHINGTON
A Crazy Woman with a Pistol Discovered
Secreted in the White House.
THE PARDON OF DIR. MUDD.
The East River Bridge Bill
Reported i'm the Senate.
ANOTHER EXCITING DAY IN THE HOUSE.
-~-,~-~>>~
The Discussion on the Electoral
Vote Resumed.
Sharp Onslaught Of Bingham and
Shellabarger ON Butler.
--~>~-~~~~>~~~~~~-~~-~-
The Member from Essex
Holds His Own.
The Discussion on the Electora
Vote Resumed.
Sharp Onslaught Of Bingham and
Shellabarger ON Butler.
The Member from Essex
Holds His Own.
WAsHrNGroN. Feb. II. 1869.

WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1869.
Another Day OF Excitement In the House.
There was another crowded house to-day to listen
" the finale Of the discussion caused by irrepressi
bic Butler, and which gave rise to such extraordi-
nary scenes in the House Of Representatives yes-
terday. The galleries were again packed with
spectators, and thousands OF visitors who came TOO
late to get seats wore compelled to stand outside
the chamber or TO return home disappointed Every
seat was taken up full hour before noon, when the
session was to commence. The members, who
were gathered on the floor before the opening OF
proceedings, spent the time in talking the
citement OF the preceding day. and seemed to enjoy
the thing as they would q pretty lively entertain
ment at theatre Buffers pugilstic exhibition, the
good hits made by other MEMBERS the salies Of wit
the exhibitions Of buoonery and all the features Of
the exciting session discussed in the reest man.
ner, and it was really wonderful to note how few
egarded the thing in serious aspect. and how few
were those who seemed to consider the narrow
escape the country had had from the danger Of
emitting to fulfill the requirements of the const-
tuition by falling to declare officially the election OF
the legally chosen President and Vice President Of
the Union for the next four years. Shortly after the
prayer, and while the reading Of the journal was
progressing, the prominent members dropped in
Butler, with his bright, shining face and bald head
appeared on the floor, hopping about as lightly and
gayy as II he had done nothing particularly wicked
the day before, and as If he had not the remotest
idea that every eye was watching his eccen-
trio movements Wonderful man, is that
Butler. Cool and selrpossessed, saucy, de-
liant, active, wide-awake, never at q loss
for expedients always ready to pound be pounded
at full OF resources, artful cunning and yet doing
everything apparently in the most natural and easy
manner imaginable. tsThere never was man born
like that Butler BEFORE" said spectator to-day "At
least, never one after precisely the same pattern
You can't cut him down permanently. He viii uD
again, no matter how you trample on him. Any
other man would have been killed long ago. politi-
caily, but Butler seems to thrive on opposition
abuse and contumey, and raise peg higher after
each successive tilt with his adversaries.n 1t would
seem so, truly. To-day, when he got the floor, he
vas surrounded by crowd Of members who favored
his action yesterday. They all congratulated him.
and even his opponents eyed him with an ex-
preston in which admiration predominated
over hostility and simulated disgust. Ben
SAT IN his seat listening to the remarks
Of those who addressed him. while he bent over his
desk scanning with his single eye letter after letter
or newspaper after newspaper, occasionally popping
his head up suddenly, like one Of those artificial
figures on springs that start out Of boxes when the
covers are removed, or jumping up altogether his
legs and rushing 70 some other part Of the House,
perhaps TO stop half way ana return again, as II
some new idea had Knocked its predecessor into q
cooked hat before II had time to carry itself into
ecution. Butler has o curious cool. hdgetiness
about him. lie W never easy physically, but col
lected mentally always. He twrls and turns in his
chair, Us II pins and needles were in Its scat. One
second his face is turned iuquisitivey towards
the ceiling, the next II is bent downwards
his eye following his Eimble fingers over
q sheet OF paper while he makes some
note with his pep Now he Is trotting about like a
little spirited pony; moment after he is standing
In roEt OF the Speakers chair with his thumbs fas-
tenet In the arm holes OF his vest while he listens for
d few moments to what some member may be saying.
He rarely seems to listen for a longer period at a
stretch, but strangely enough, no matter how busiy
he may be empoyed-whether writing reading
talking or walklng--he never misses what is going
on. When he seems most distracted he Is really
most wide awake and alert These peculiarities OF
Ben Butler were prominently developed to-day
during the discussion. While Sheabarger, Thomas,
woodward, Eldrdge. Bingham, Schenck, Colfax and
Garfield were speaking Butler was to be seen every
where about the foor. Just at the moment
one OF the speakers might be pitching into
him In some way Butler perhaps would be
nying through one Of the aisles, and would stop
d
Interruption to confuse or worry the member having
the roor. Bingham, in his remarks on Burler was
the severes OF any OF the speakers; but the Essex
member seemed 30 care very little what the ohoan
orator said and ratified about quite unconcernediy
sometimes planting himself right close to his assai
ant and eying him with cool defiance that induced
Bingham to point his finger at him and shake it In
high excitement, and roll out with increased fury
and vigor words OF denuncation such as Bingham
well knows how TO hurl at his opponents. While
Bingham was worked up to the highest pitch OF ora
torical ecstacy IT must have put his amour propre
20 test to observe Butler standing about four
yards or, frigidy looking over q piece OF manu-
script, as II not caring snap about Bingham ana
NIL 'the gathered wisdom OF thousand years. that
was summoned to his demolition
The only thing tnat really seemed to trouble
Butler was the question when he should get chance
10 speak his piece in reply to the remarks OF ali his
assailants. A sort Of agreement seemed to have
been made 10 choke or Butler, and he appeared to
have au inkling OF some such Intention for he
watched hls moment very closely. II was only
when the plan TO shut him on from speaking seemed
likely prevail that he lost cooness FOR few mo.
ments Garfield had the moor and had nearly ex-
hausted his hour. Butler was sitting IN his chair
ready to spring mp the moment Garfield should
nnsh. The latter, however, was q party to the
choking or or stining plan, and concluded by
moving to lay Buffers resolution on the
table. Instantly Butler was on his feet and
twenty other members. Butler gesticulated ex-
citedy at. Garfield, and was understood TO
inform Garfield 'that that was the meanest
thing he had ever done in his lifen The other mem.
hers in Buffers favor crowded around Garfield and
begged him TO wthraw his motion. Garfield, In fact,
found himself surrounded by lot Of "fc spirits, /.
the chief of which was Butler. and, seeing Much n
storm about TO occur on the moor, was induced TO
back down, ana Logan, Of Illinois, was awarded the
floor. Logan gave up half Of his time TO Butler.
who proceeded to speak az soon as order could be
restored. Ills speech was remarkable for boIdness,
ingenuity and sharp, cutting sarcasm. In his trench