The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-02-18
Butler on the Rampage.

0NSAOA VA WAC 4s0AAk08Os
The following from the special cor.
respondencc of the Chicago Tribune
gives the most ineligible account
we have yet seen of the joint convcn,
ton muss last Thursday over the
count of the Presidential vote:
'sMr. Buffers objection to the
counting of the vote Of Georgia
brought score OF members to their
feet, three or. four Of whom intcrpc.
sed points oforder. Buffers manner
was that of a bully, and his tone as
defiant as could be. He insisted up.
on his objection, and, in the confusion
and excitement of the moment fairly
faced down the presiding officer
Mr. Wade, not well versed in parlia.
mentary usage, and desiro4s or not
giving any cause Of offence, allowed
Buffers objection to be read by the
teller When this had been done,
Mr.. Wade decided that they could
not be received, for the reason that
the two branches Of Congress had
precladcd their reception by its rule
of Monday. Mr.. Butler appealed
from the decision, and when Mr..
Wade stated that no appeal could be
taken in joint convention. Butler
instantly appealed to the House to
overrule this decision. Mr.. Wade
Immediately saw a storm brewing,
and, evidently to avoid trouble, d.
rected the Senate TO retire and an
nounce that each branch Of the Joint
convention would vote on the 9ues-
ton presented by Mr.. Buffers objec-
ton. The House at once voted on
tho square issue Of receiving or not
receiving the vote of Georgia, in dc.
flancc ofthe joint rule, decided by
large majority to exclude it entirely,
many members cxcusing their votes
privately on the ground that the
Georgia Electors did not meet on the
proper day, but one week too late
The Senate had a stormy time over
the question at issue, and did not de-
cideitfor moro than an hour. A dozen
resolutions were offered and rejected,
and finally that of Mr.. Edmunds was
adopted 1t was based on the as
sumption thatneither branch could
alone repeal the joint rule, and that
as the matter stood there was nothing
to do but enforce it, and the presiding
officer was, therefore, instructed on
the part of the Senate not to enter.
tain Mr.. Buffers objection or any
other objection or points of order
The news Of this action in the upper
branch reached the House before the
Senate did, and Mr.. Butler and his
cabal at once began preparations for
fight. The Senator'S at length filed
in as before. Mr.. Wade took his
place, announced tho reassembling of
the joint convention, called attention
to the rules converting it, and said he
could not entertain Mr.. B tiers OBJ
lection. There was buzz throughout
tho galleries Everybody saw Butler
standing in his place. He was expec.
ted to protest, but probably not one
of the great audience believed he void
do what he did do. He threw up his
head, pushed back his coat cuffs,
squared himself before his desk, and
in loud voice shouted out an appeal
from the decision of the presiding
officer. Babel broke loose at once,
and for haitian hour, by the clock,
reigned supreme.
Mr.. Wade had made one or two
funny rulings during the day, but
now, though excited, he clearly knew
whot he was about. He refused to
entertain the appeal for the very sen
sible reason that, as Mr.. Colfax clear.
ly afterward explained, no appeal in
a joint convention of this kind was
possible. Having announced this
decision, he directed the tellers to
foot up the vote of the Electoral Col.
lege. Mr.. Butler shouted out to the
House to stand by its rights, and in
solently demanded that the Senate
should leave the chamber. In this
action he was backed up by a con-
siderable number of Republican mem.
bers of the House. Mr.. Wade rap>
ped to order again and again, but the
heaviest blows Of his gavel were
scarcely heard three yards away
The din and confusion of the cham
Der equalled that of the worst days
of drunk and maddened shareholders.
Mr.. Butler was gesticulating furious
ly and throwing taunts across the
Senate which could be only half heard
in the gallery above. The spectators
on the floor were crcwding down to
the front, forgetful, in the excite.
ment of the moment. or what was
due in courtesy and privilege. Forty
or fifty Republicans and dozen
Democrats were all on their feet, each
one adding his part to the disgrace
full scene OF bedlam. Mr.. Farnsworth
On one side of the chamber, was mix
ing in the fight with an intent not
clearly seen. Ingersoll, on the other
side, was shouting across the area,
evidently bent on preventing Farms
worth from doing something. Halt a.
dozen Senators were trying to say
something. Mr.. Shanks was urging
on the melee, apparently in Buffers
interest, while Eldridge was crying
out derisively, "Lct us have peace"
Mr.. Wade kept rapping with his
mallet. Salisbury jumped up to say
something, but was pulled down by
his friends. Van Horn, of Missouri,
came to the front and shouted out a
point Of order. Somebody moved an
adjournment sine die. Mr.. Wood
called for the Sergeant; several SEN
ators we're on the floor and scream.
ing at the top of their voices. Butler
again flung his arm across at the
Senate, and cried out that the House
wanted its chamber cleared of inter.
lopers. Doollttle sternly demanded
that the joint rule should be execu.
ted by an announcement. II object!
l object l object!' The older and
more respectable Senat ors hung their
heads and blushed for shame at the
mobilize scene. The galleries hung
over 10 amazement, the occupants Of
the diplomatic quarter sat silently
studying the lesson in Congressional
manners. Something of the confu-
sion was doubtless owing to Mr..
Wade's lack of knowledede in Parlia.
mentary law and usage, but no igno-
rance of his duty on the part of the
presiding officer could not for mo