The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-04-27

mellow light streaming through the
glass ceiling, and the galleries empty,
and the floor noisy from the effects OF
strong coffee and old whisky, for the
hour hand pointed at 3 A. NJ, when =
controversy started up that in moment
quieted the noise and concentrated at
tention upon TIVE members. 7a5 aes q.
For weeks past Messrs. Schenck and
Butler have regarded each other very
like two prize-fghters in training. and
restrained from attacking each other on
ly by the traditional laws of the ring.
Since the hour when Butler uttered his
insolent insinuation of corruption
against Schenck, and received no other
reply than charge Of uttering a false
hood, the members have felt that fight
was brewing between two of the bitter
est and most remarkable men in the
House.
The fact was, that whatever may have
been considered Buffers standing before
the country, his insinuations we're of
such character that Schenck could not
let them pass without charging home up
on the man who dared stand up among
his peers and utter them. There has
been so much corruption connected with
this whisky business that it is impossi-
BILE, almost, for public man to touch it
without taint. Against General Schenck
| these char ges have passed from whis
pers to open denunciations. And all
this Butler gathered up and poured out
before listening House, NOT only by
infamous inferences, but a distinct init
nation that other matters still more
gross and corrupt lay behind. This was
| taken up and not only members, but
journals, asserted that in the seizure of
the telegraph office by Batter, pending
the Woolly Investigation, this unscrupu-
lous Congressional detective had pos
sesscd himself of positive proof Of
Scllenck's completely with the most infa-
nous combination that ever burden ed
our Governme ent.
No one believed for O moment Butler
was impelled to this by any virtue as a
law maker. It was known that in the
organization of the House. Mr.. Speaker
Blaine dared not assign this man to
place such as his talents and position
before the country called for. His char
acter was so low that the committee he
might head would have at once lost its
influence, even if members could have
been found willing to serve under such
chairman. Stung to the quick by such
slight, and wrought upon by jealousy,
be has since been an Ishmaelite in the
House, ready at any moment to assail
those about him more fortunate in the
possession of better reputation. Under
the charges thus thrown out, Schenck
had rested with, for him, strange qui
ct. His more intimate friends knew
that it was the quiet of a man who felt
himsel: intr enched, and was pursuing
unmoved, the even tenor of his way.
| Nevertheless, he had none other than
wrath for the man who had dared assail
| him.
The hour came when Butler was to
receive his punishment. The Confer
ence Committee had again met and again
| reported. The report after stormy
session Of the committee, reached the
House at three in the morning. Butler,
aided by Logan, assailed it bitterly; and
the first named again, in his snaky
growl, tina. is half hiss and half roar, re-
peated his offense. The House was as
silent as a cemetery. The Democrats
leaned forward and listened eagerly.
The tall, imposing figure of Fernando
Wood sat bolt upright, with q shade
more of expression cleaning from his
cold, gray eyes. Brooks leaned over
his desk with snarl Of satisfaction
playing about his oomical face.
Voorhees, turned his face to the Speaker.
and for moment forgot himself. Nj
black smiled with delight.
On the Republican side, the friends of
Schenck watched him narrowly. They
listened to the Indictment that was be
ing thrown out through sneers aad
insinuations, far more insulting in
manner than in words. Garfield 8
fine face glowed as it was wont to glow
on the field of battle when the first gun
of the enemy broke on his ear. Allison g
bright eyes shone with renewed fire from
their cavernous recesses. The venera-
BILE HoopeE played nervously with his
seals. The somber Bingham threw his
head back and snuffed in his peculiar
way when excited All gazed intently
at Schenck, but saw no change in lin
other than came from tenser awing
together of his fine-set mouth, and a
slight tapping OF his heel, as if the gath