Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-17

comes in and undertakes to thwart that party
by aid of the votes of our opponents, whom
expected to vote as they did, by offering a meas
ure they can support, and he gets them to sup
port what republican majority cannot; that
| say is a legislative trick and say it with
full knowledge of my responsibility. If it is
not true in the Judgment Of the country, shall
fail; if it is true, then, on the heads of those
who did it be the responsibility of the loss of
life, liberty and property of our friends, the loyal
men of the south, unprotected and uncared
for by any MD they receive from congress, when
our hands are tied by this trick. ,"
Mr.. kclley-"I desire, inaSnuch as | am sim
ply replying to an assault on the protectionist
members of the house, to ask the gentleman
whether an examination of the record will not
show that those republicans who voted to re-
peal the duties on the articles which American
labor produced,-but voted against q repeal of
the duties on tea and coffee, which do not COM
pete with any of our ndustries,-do not make
the bulk of the republican vote of which he
complains, and whether he does not saddle upon
innocent shoulders offences of revenue reform
ers, who give the democratic ascendency in this
house, and have maintained itp The vote on
late measures, in reference to coal and salt and
tea and coffee, by no means shows the tariff or
revenue reform strength in the house. For
one, voted steadily against the repeal of duty
on coal, although think the duty unwise. |
| did not vote on the salt question, because did
not desire to take part in legislation shaped by
'hN NSlhVNidliS party Ill lllb HOuoCs IL All lllS
republican party, or majority, want a repeal
| OF the duties on salt, we will do it in our own
| way; we will net follow the lead of the democ-
| racy II we want a repeal of the duty on coal,
| we VIII do 1t in our own good time and for our
| own purposes; we will not do so under the lead
of the democracy. Ii we want to repeal the
| duties on tea and coffee, we will do it; we will
| not follow democracy. | voted for a repeal of
| the duties on tea and Coffee still | think it
| would be unwiSe in the present state the treas
10 fnl-a Of, H.
| feeling under which voted. did so because |
| wanted the people of the country to see
where our party would 90 if we contin-
| ucd to follow the democratic lead and
| vote their measures. The difficulty is,
| am all the time obliged to shape my action
| so that majority of this house may carry on
| the legislation of the country for itself, and not
| permit democratic minority by carefully and
| fully prepared resolution of a republican minor
lty to do it, as in this instance, and defeat the
| will of the republican majority"
Mr.. Dawes-"Is there any better way than TO
| acquiesce with the majority ?"
Mr. BUTTERFLIES, sir! always acquiesce with
| the republican majority, and never with the
| democratic ma ority; Qaughter) that is the way
in which understand acquiescence"
Mr. Dawes-"How do you cyphcr Afty-eight
| to fifty" (Laughter.)
MIR. Butler-I cipher fifty eight to fifty by the
| men who were compelled to vote for this resolu-
ton, or compromise themselves. That was the
reason why this resolution was so cunningly
| prepared"
Mr. DdweS-"Tbere does not seem to be any
| body troubled but YOU
Mr. Butler-''l am not in the slighteS trouble.
| | think somebody else will find trouble when
they reckon with the people for thus defeating
| legislation to give peace to the SOUTH"
Mr. Peters said the resolution proposing the
select committee was written by his colleague
| and friend, MIR. Blaine. The friends of the
| resolution went about the house and consulted
with other gentlemen, Many republicans
| thought the resolution desirable, as q comprO-
mise, and ought to pass, even if the legislation
| was TO come. 1t was not sprung upon the house,
for all notice was given that could be given in
the way he had Just mentioned 1t was also
| shown to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Mr.. Butler-"What was the answerP
MIR. Peters replied that he stated a fact, not
being called upon to give au answer
Mr. Butler-"The answer was, that on no
| condition could vote for it."
MIR. Peters, resuming, said it was stated in the
| caucus that its action was not binding, but that
1t was understood that the bill for the protection
| of loyal citizens should not be introduced leay-
ing all at liberty to do what they thought pro-
| per, TO come to some action upon it. There
| was no trick whatever in the case but act.
| ing on his own convictions and responsibility,
| no caucus determination would have restrained
| him from the right He would, however, go
| into caucus and bind himself for the orguni-
| zatlon of the house. He would go into a eau
| Gus, and, If possible agree with his friends to
| certain extent; but ne would not be forced into
| voting against a measure, because the gentle
man from Massachusetts opposed it, or any
gentleman on the other side advocated it, He
was not to be driven to vote for free salt or coal
| because the democrats wanted them. He be-
| heYed the resolution to be Salutary, and he
congratulated the house that it had been passed
by majority of all the republicans and demo-
| Gratis who voted.
| Mr. Rutlpr asked what ,yo,,lJ
have thought of him or ten of his friends who,
having attended at caucus, and agreed upon a
nominee, should come into the house and throw
| the speakership into the hands of the demo-
| Gratis.
Mr.. Peters-"I should suppose you had some
deyilish design"
Mr. Buter-"We agree fully" Laughter !
Mr. Blaine, speaker,-Mr. Wheeler in the
chair-'l desire to ask the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts, Mr.. Butler, whether he denies to me
the right TO have drawn the resolution"
Mr. Butler-"l have made no assertion on
that subject one way or the other"
Mr. Blaine-"Did not the gentleman distinctly
know drew it,"
| MIR. Butler-"No STRIP
Mr., Blaine-"Did not take it to the gentle
man and read it TO him?'
Mr.. Buter-"Yes sir"
Mr.. Blaine-"Did not show him the manu-
scriptp
Mr. Butler-"Yes sir"
Mr.. Blaine-"In my own handwriting?"
Mr. Butler-"No sir"
Mr.. Blaine-"And, at his suggestion, added
these words: and the expenses of this commit
tee shall be paid from the contingent fund of the
house of representatives. [Applausel The
| fact that the ways and means committee wanted
to pay the expenses was the only objection he
made to it"
Mr. Butler-"What was the answer the gentle
man made? suppose may ask that now the
speaker has come upon the floor"
Mr.. Blaine-"The answer was that immed-
ately wrote the amendment providing for the
payment Of the expenses of the committee"
| Mr.. Butler-"What was my answer? Was it
not that, under no circumstances would have
anything to do with it, being bound by the action
of the caucus?"
Mr. Blaine-"No sir. The answer was, un.
der no circumstances would you serve as chair
man."
Mr. Buter-"Or have anything to do with
| the resolution.
Mr.. Blaine-"There are 224 members of the
| house Of representatives. A committee eau be
formed without the gentleman from Massachu-
| sets being on it, His service is not essential to
the constitution of a committee"
Mr.. Butler-"Why did you not find such
| committee thenP
Mr.. Blaine-"Because | know very well if [
| omitt,d the appointment of the gentlemen. if
would be heralded throughout the length and
| breadth of the country by the claquers who have
| so industriousy distributed this letter this
morning, that the speaker had packed the COM
mittee, as the gentleman said he would, with
weak-kneed republicans who would not go into
| the investigation as vigorously as he would;
that was the reason, (applause) so that the chair
laid the responsibility upon the gentleman for
declining the appointment"
Mr.. Butler" know that it was trick of
| the chair"
Mr.. Blaine" All, trick | | know now what
the gentleman meant by the word trick lam
very glad to know that the trick was success
| full"
| Mr.. Butler" No doubt.
| Mr.. Blaine" 1t is this trick which pleases
the gentleman from Massachusetts, on his re-
sponsbty before the country"
| Mr.. Butler" Exactly"
Mr.. Blaine" Wholly~
Mr. Duter-" Wholly"
.Blaine-"Now sir, the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts talks about coercion by which fifty
eight republicans were made to vote for the re-
solution. do not know what any one of them
may have to say; but, if there be here to-day a
single gentleman who has given to the gentle
man from Massachusetts, the intimation that he
felt coerced, that he was in any way restrained
from free action, let him get up now and speak
or forever after hold his peace
~