The Portland daily press., 1869-02-12
NewsLaurels for General Bu,lsr.

NewSLRureln for General ButAef'
t will hardly be possible for anybody to
make Gen Butler's radicaIism an excuse for
his unhandsome conduct upon the occasion of
counting the electoral vote "Wednesday, since
Wade and Co1fax, two men whose radicalism
is quite up to the Butler standard, if not
little more, took issue with him and final
IL, prevailed against him. One OF the "oo'
reliable Of Washington correspondent
nounees his conduct that of buiiy ~ - p' 700
ing his objections to counting the VIZ y Seo.-
gia. despite the repeated rulings Vi .ne rresi-
dent of the Senate, and severaI members seem
10 have shared his disgrace. Ihe proceedings
ottor the Senate had decided in its own cham
har that the joint rule of the two houses
should be adhered to and that the vote of
Georgia should be counted, are thus described
by Dixon of the Boston Advertiser: sh7a -
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 prepa-
rations for a fight The Senators at length
filed in as before. Mr.. Wade took his place,
announced the re-assembling Of the joint con-
yention, called attention to the rules govern
ing II, and said that he eonld not entertain Mr..
Buffers objection. There was buzz through
out The galleries. Everybody saw Mr.. Butler
standing in his place. He was expected to
protest. but probably not one of the great au,
dence dreamed that he would conduct himsel If
as he did. He threw up his head, pushed back
his coat.c affs. squared himself before his desk,
and in a loud voice shouted out an appeal from
the decision of the presiding ofticer. Babel
broke loose at once, and, for halt an hour by
the clock, reigned supreme. Mr. Wade had
made one or two queer rulings during the day,
but now, though excited, he clearly knew what
he was about. He refused to entertain the APP
peal, for the very sensible reason that as Mr..
Colfax clearly explained afterwards, no appeal
in a Joint convention of this kind was posi-
BILE. Having announced this decision, he di-
rected the tellers to foot up the vote of the
electoral college. Mr.. Butler shouted out to
the House to stand by its rights, and insolent-
~ demanded that the Senate should leave the
chamber. In this action he was backed up by
a considerable number Of Republican MEM
bers of the House. Mr.. Wade raped to order
again and again, but the heaviest blows of his
gavelwere scarcely heard three yards away
The din Ard confusion ic Of the chamber
the drunken and maddened shareholders =
Mr.. Butler was gesticulating furiously, and
throwing taunts across at the Senate which
| could only be halt heard IN the gallery above.
The spectators on the floor were crowding
down to the front, forgetful, in the excitement
| of the moment OF what was due to courtesy
| and privilege. Forty or fifty Republicans an
| adozen Democrats were ON their feet, each
one adding his part to the. disgraceful scene.
MI; Farnsworth' On one side OF the cnamp ,e.
clearly seen, while, Mr.. Ingersoll on the other
side was shouting across the area, evidently
bent on preventing Mr.. Farnsworth from do
ing something. Half a dozen Senators were
trying to make themselves heard. Mr.. Shanks
was urging on the melee, apparently in Mr..
Buffers interest, while Mr.. Eldridge was cry
ing out derisiyely-.Let us have peace-let us
have peace" All this while Mr.. Wade kept
rappfDg with his mallet. Senator Salisbury
sprung up to, say something, bnt was pulled
souri, Came To the front and shouted out a
point of order! Somebody moved an adjourn
ment sine die. Mr.. Wood called for the Ser
geant-at Arms. Several Senators were on
the floor and screaming. at the top of their
voices. Mr.. Butler again flung his arm out
at the Senate, and cried, that the House want
ed its chamber cleared Of the interlopers.
Senator Doolittle q sternlye demanded that
the joint rule should be executed by an an
nouncement of the vote. Mr.. Butler and his
oldest and mostn respectable Senators hung
their heads and blushed for shame at the mob.
like scene. The galleries hung over in amaze
ment. The occupants of the diplomatic quar-
tersat silently studying the new lesson in con-
gressiOnal manners General Banks tried to
get the floor for soothing speech. Senator
7Dooittle again demanded the announcement
OF the result, whereupon somebody on the Re-
publican side IN the back part Of the chamber
shouted: I'VE want the enate toget out OF
here."s Senator Cooking beganthe announce
ment, but was yelled down by Butler and his
clique nosal1sI4 h5iW rs'Ai@W s94iJofL
Mr.. Colfax Sprung to his feet and declared
that if there was any further resistance on the
part of the members of the House to the order
OF the presiding officer, he would direct their
instant arrest. Mro Butler tossed up his head
ana slowly settled into his seat and the Ser
geantai-Arms walked over and stood by Mr..
Ineersons Senator GonkliEg rose and began
to read the result of The vote, and, although
Interrupted by considerable noise, made him
self heard Mr.. Wade declared Ulysses s..
Grant elected President and Schuyler Colfax
Vice President for the next four years. In a
moment more the joint convention was dis
solved and the Senators were retiring from the
rahamhar