The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-27
"SCENE" IN CONGRESS.
Generals Butler and Farnsworth on
the War-Path-sBeards and Brains"
-"Coward1ce and Assassination"

4 Washington dispatch of Wednesday says:
General Butler and General Farnsworth met
in battle array in the House this afternoon,
and the occasion was one of rare Interest and
excitement. Probably no other scene OF per
sonalities was ever allowed more limit IN TINS
body, OF produced more unparliamentary IAN
puage. The basis in itself was insignificant,
being the question of passing private patent
pistol bill for the relief OF one Rollin White
over the Presidents veto. While Butter was
advocating the passage of the bill, Farnsworth
interjected charge into the speech tnat pro.
duced positive sensation, by declaring that
Butler had been employed as counsel Tor tne
represent the latter before Congress for q fee o.
two thousand dollars. He exhibited a certl-
fed COPY of documents on file in the Patent
Office to show that General Butler had received
this sum, To this General FarnswOrth added
that General Butler had filed a small brief IN
the Supreme Court, where suit over the case
was pending, as mere pretenoe to cover the
receipt of so large tee for work to be done
really in Congress- ssI therefore charge him,
said Farnsworth, with vehement voice and ges
ture, with being on both sides of this case; on
one side without a fee, and then on the othel
side of the case with fee" BY this time the
whole House was on its feet. The entire Demo
cratic side came into the central aisle 70 see
what would follow next. Mr.. Farnsworth hat
the rule read that no member should vote on 9
subject in which he was interested. An attempt
to shut off debate and thus end the scene failed
and Mr.. Butler got the floor in reply. MIR.
Farnsworth sought an interruption. Mr.. Butler
excitedly said: II don't yield to man who has
got more beard than brains," alludlng TO the
formers long iron gray beard. Mr.. Farms
worth shouted out, sThe member may curse my
beard. but he shall not come into the House ana
steal under the Shddo,o of IT," This was received
with shouts of .order" from the Republicans.
and cries of 'good, good" and mods ofapproval
from the Democrats. But Mr.. BLuier went on
with his reply, charging MIR. Farnsworth with
having made an Infamous and maliclously 1alse
statement, and adding that he acted In the
first instance against the White patent fol-
some of his constituents, but that he was not
called into the case professionally until White
came to him and said his counsel was Ill and
asked Mr. Butler to take his place in the SUI
preme Court in the pending case. He did this
BY preparing the brief, which, he said, took
him month, and for which he received the
sum named, but that he never argued the
case in court, because the counsel first en-
ployed was then able to 60 on himself. After
disclaiming any interest In it In violation OF
the law and his position as a member, as Nr.
Farnsworth had charged, he concluded by say
ing ssthat he who had dealt this blow, without
notice, and when he (Mr. Butler) was unpre-
pared, Was coward and an assassin" Down
came lne Speakers SdVti Will d lcoIiui o!oW.
But the Speaker said nothing. The whole
House looked first at the Speaker, then at
Farnsworth, who was in his seat, and then at
Butler.
The gavers tall was succeeded by no call to
order. "Is It message from the Senate ?" in
quired Butler. The Speaker was now as silent
as his gavel. 1t was evident that this was moi
the usual signal announcing message from
the Senate; but an incompleted call to order.
D,,tla q
charge. ~ take It," said he, "and reiterate
it, that it is principle of ethics that no one
here will dispute, that he who deals blow on
one that is unprepared for 1t, and has no notice
of it, is an assassin and coward; and venture
that it is an assertion that even the Speakers
gavel will not interrupt" Butler then sat
down full of passion and excitement. Mem
bers, were requested to take their seats,
and order was restored. After little more
debate the vote was taken, but so general was
The feeling against Butler, who had at first adj
vocated the bill, when he knew he was inter
ested init, that he only got twelve votes TIL. tie
dred.