New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-24


REYELS-ONE CENT POSTAGE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBuNEl
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb %, 1870
This having the day set for action on the reso
ton OF expulsion against Mr. b. F. Whittemore OF south
Carolina there large attendance OF members ana
privileged persons the floor and an immense throng
OF people the Hobbies and galleries OF the House In
the two hours preceding the time when tho resolution
would be called up there much commotion ana I'M
usual excitement the floor 1t appeared dlihcnt 10
get the attention OF members TO business. all seeming
bent on discussing tho merits of Mr.. Whtemores case
The whole matter appeared TO place inc HOUSE,
in a most painful position, especially as the
accused was well-known. INDUSTRIOUS anu
active member holding two important positions
on committees, and generally popular with his fellow
members. Great sympathy was everywhere expressed,
and general desire act leneny but the facts seemed
to be too garng TO admit OF anything short OF the iu
force Of the law the subject Then. too the Military
Committee, composed entirely Of men who had at some
time or other been military men, were active IN
pushing the case 10 conclusion. MT. LoRah'
especially, insisted on the severest and most
summary punishment that could DO inhicteu.
In conversations with members, no lntlmaleu
that, the disposal OF Mr.. Whtemore's case no was
ready to bring other before the House fato
had made Whittemore's case the test, ana ne pelhg
guilty 1t would do 10 take such action with MN as
might allow others to escape. All this tended 10 make
was to support the Committee In the Investigations they
as the representatives of the people, had ordered.
At exactly o'clock Mr. Logan rose and stated III de-
lberae that the time had arrived IN "hich 10
consider the case Of the South Carolina member. He
called up and had read the resolution OF expulsion '
Poland counseed delay, and said important witnesses IN
the case had left out and that there was no cahs
for haste lie wanted TO offer resolution. but Logan
declined 10 yield Mr. Poland appealed 10 him, ana at
TEMPTED TO be heard above Logans and the SOUND
OF the Speakers mallet calling him To oruer'
Logan had the floor and declined 10 yieid'
A dozen points OF order and parliamentary
questions showcred upon the speaker ana count
less hands grasp!ng slips OF paper were shakeh why
toward the Chair and the confusion was great Livery
member appeared TO think his proposition. II he could
only submit It. would lead tho House out OF all It's
trouble Mr.. Blaine who had evidently studied all tho
points carefully which likely TO arse. was quick
clear, and decided in his rulings. Ten minutes had
passed. and Logan. Poland Farnsworth and others were
s in the cloud OF discussion Mr. Logan stating that he
would yield to nobody exceptwhemorc. Then upJumpcd
Butler from the confusion OF papers and books, which
surrounded him. and repeated bis admonlon OF Monday
that It improper for Mr. wntemoro TO act for him
self. That old and true principle OF law That
be who Is his own counsel has for Client. ana
that he uter appeared the attorney OF Whiiemore
At this point the front doors Of the Hall were quietly
pushed aside and whitemore deliberately Inserted h
round ngure WITHIN the space anu H"NuS'v ""N'"
10 his scat near the door. bnzz ran
through the audience. and hundred ilbred
persons pointed their him 10 indicate hs pres
ence TO those who did not observe him. His department
was dgnined and quiet. Shaking the few hands which
were stretched toward him by bis fellow members, he
gravely took his seat and bent his attention 10 the pro
ceedIugs. Mr. Logan annoyed at the frequent IN.
terrupuons, and Butler showed signs OF an ap'
preaching storm when Logan objected 10 n mem
.g Az. A attOTueT. Nutler
shook all over with rage. and with trembling voice
pitched high and both hands raised he said he presented
an AFFIDAVIT OF the accused. aud he should not ask logan
the House. anybody for permission to present H. IL
was the given right, under the Constitution Tor
every man TO be heard, land said be- 81 dare
you to Abridge that right" Thus far Butler bad
tho best Of the fight. and tho House and
the audience were with hun. Half an hour had
now passed. and the affidavit occupying IS minutes In
the reading cent 20 the CLERKS desk II possible.
tins additional defense OF WhittemOre weaker than
the one made before the Committee but arranged
In better shape and listened 10 with greater aten
ton Other points Of order, numerous and varied that
IL Ia impossible recall them folio cd and much confu
sion great number Of little men. who want 20 add
their names 10 all Important debates. especially
before large audience. embarrassed the proceedings
greatly by raising msy excuses Tor obtaining the floor
but the Speaker sho wed great tact In dsposug Of them
Mr. Poland, during the excitement and uncertainty.
succeed IN obi staining the reading Of his resolution, but
nobody seemed able tell just where lis authority came
from The resolution pleaded for delay. and was
before the House Some doubt every
where apparent, owing to. tho parliamentary
complications, as TO Buffers and Whlttemores
position Butler said he appeared as Whttemores attor-
ney; others insisted he must resign his seat FIRST and stu
discussion continued Finally some obscure member dc
anded that the Speaker should decide whether he was
an attorney or member Mr. Blaine promptly replied
that the Chair considered Mr.. Butler a member let
Others denomnate him whatever they pleased The con
fusion was expelled finally by Mr. Whtemore, who was
under the rules entitled to hours time taking the
floor and Welding his whole time TO Mr.. Butler sy.
nopss OF his argument elsewhere given II did not
come up to tho expectation OF the audience nor OF the
House, although It creditable The fact Is that
Whittemore had managed his case In a very bungng
manner, and Butler was IN great measure disarmed
He made many points which had their effect. II was
thought that he made mistake In attacking
newspaper men hero violently. as IL was
known TO nearly all members the floor that
engaged the Whlttemore Ia connected with tho
profession here While 1t was apparent that Butler had
not up TO his usual standard 1t was everywhere
remarked that Logan, who made On hours speech In
reply had been unusually brilliant and effective. His
speech Of the strongest he made the floor
and long before he had finished evident that White
more's lost When he had closed he demanded
vote without further delay An index Of tho result
had In the vote Poands resolution delay and add
tonal testimony, which lost by vote OF 1856.
After the vote Was announced Logan requested
from all parts OF the House. Of ateness
the hour TO postpone the vote the final proposition OF
expulsion until IL o'clock tomorrow. especially since
had consented to give additional hour TO whttemore
his friends. The vote therefore, postponed and
II is understood that Whttemore will occupy the hour
himself There is only opinion tonigh OF tho result
and that opinion Is that Mr. Whitemore Will be expelled
by overwhelming majority.
LATER.-After consultation with his friends, Mr..
whittemore wrote his resignation as "a member Of tho
nd he ma Gy Tell In he