National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-02-26
C0lfax and Butler.


iOnal muss on Wednesday was such
as to increase his reputation for
sense, firmnesS and presence mind.
Twice during the stormy session lie
Quieted the tumult. first when he
threatened disorderly members OF
the House with arrest, and sent
Butler, like a Bullying schoOlbOy. to
his seat.-and again, after the Sen
ate retired for .he last time, and be-
fore Butler had made his worst
speech. He then calmly reviewed
the course of Mr.. Wade, and showed
the childish members that the pres
iuent of the Senate had exactly com
piled with his oath and duty. Still
Butler was not Gatisfed, till he had
ranted away for half an hour longer
about "tlle Liberties of the country"
the ''sacred right of revolutions"
"kicking Out' the Senate, etc. He
insulted several members, and aim.
ed au insult at Mr.. ColiaX, who had
called Mr.. Dawes to the chair, and
occupied seat on the floor. These
were Buffers words plainly referring
to Mr.. ColfaX, although he after
wards disclaimed doing so:
| suppose that when the president
of the Senate hereafter shall make
the declaration that Il vice-president
was elected who was not elected,
and that vice president shOuld hap
pen to be the Speaker of this House,
he could then order the sergeant at
arms to stitle the voices of the pcO-
pie in order to secure his own cleo
ton.
Hearing these words, Mr.. Colfax
asked permission to reply, which
Mr.. Butler refused, and it was not
till he had finished his harangue,
aud Mr.. Shellabarger got the floor,
that Mr.. ColfaX could reply. He
then rebuked Butler for his Ian
guage, and Butler disclaimcd it as
referring to Mr.. ColfaX. The latter
then said:
l accept an explanation of thu
gentleman from Massachusetts.
am glad to find that ! was mistaken
although | was listening CAREFUL,
to his language and his smiles
There is II question here between
the two houses; and as one who is
to leave this House, perhaps forever
l desire to address a few words OF
warning to my fellow members, ad
vlsing them to avoid, as far as pos
sible, conflict between the two
branches to which are entrusted by
the constitution the legislative pow
ers OF the government. If it is ap
parent that duties haze been per
formed in conformity to the law
standing on the statute book, then
! pray you, beware! Will thi
House, or any member of it, choos
to go down to all coming genera
lions as unjustly condemning al
act performed by co.ordinat,
branch OF Congress! This case i.
all i'll a MT shell. The constitution
OF the United States declares thai
the president of the Senate shal
count the electoral votes ant
declare tEe:esult. Ifther. wasno 9th
er rule than that, the whole matte
would be in the hands of the vice
PRECEDENT. We said that in 1885,
when the question came up DIS f
the counting Of the electoral vote
OF Wisconsin, where the clector
had been delayed by a SNOW storm
and had me. on day succccdin,
that appointed by law. | rccollcc
the scene very well in the old Hall
but | will not now trespass upo
your time by repeating it.
Subsequently in 1865, four year
ago, in consequences of the disorgal
lzcd coalition of the country, an,
OF the fact that there were severn
states which were not in practical
fclations with the government o
the United States, it was though
there might he some difficulty grow
ing Gut OF the counting of the votes
and 1t was decided to adopt Join
Tulo and provide that Whenever TN
vote OF any state was disputed b.
any person the two houses shoul
retire without debate and decid
upon it. That gave to the lcgisla
tive power of the government powc
over the question. We believe
constitutional. | believe il wa
wise But subsequent to that time
a few days ago, the two house
adopted a concurrent resolution an,
declared that when the house
should come together in this hall il
conformity with the laws, and Will
the joint rule then, il the vote q
Georgia did not effect the result. Il,
president of the Senate should sa
exactly rs he did say. 1t seems {
me that there is nothing clear,
than that, and | was surprise
when ! heard the supplementary al
gumcnt of the gentleman from Ma,
sacllllS sets, where he said that, b,
the action Of the House of Repre-
scntatlves in sending our mcssag
to the Senate, that the House iii,
not think the vote of Georgia ougll
to he counted, we had abrogatc,
the Joint rule. have never hear,
before that one House can abrogat,
y, Joiht rule agreed to by boil
HOUSES. desire to say only ON,
,mng more. 1t is impossible in
JOINT convention that there Shout,
DC an appeal. There has bee,
much feeling manifested here br
cause an appeal was not cntcrtainc,
ny thc presiding officer Of boil
houses. repeat there co,uot Lo