The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-23

natlOnS OF OIlCcrS nave always OUCH uelu us Dlnu-
ing; but Just let me say if the minority did not
vote against the decision of the caucus that NOM
mated me for Speaker, in my Judgement, it was
not the fault of the gentleman from Massachu-
sets (Applause.) 1fthe requisite number could
have been found to have gone over to the de-
spised Nazarenes on the opposite side, that gem
man would have led them as CALAMITY as he did
his forces at Charleston. (Renewed applause
and laughter
Mr.. Butler-Mr. Speaker.
Mr.. Bane-I have the floor. do not very
often ask it.
Mr.. Butler-Iet not your conscience accuse
you.
Mr.. Blaine-Mr. Speaker, in old times it was
the ordinary habit of the Speaker to take part
in the debate. The common custom has fallen
into disuse. For one, am very glad II mas
for one, | approve of the conclusion that forbids
it, The Speaker could not with consistent IL
deity to his own party, be an impartial admin
istrator, of the rules of the House ana paftic-
pator in discussion, if the members would take
from him that appearance OF importantly Wnlch
Isl so important to maintain in the rulings ofthe
chair. But at the same time desplse and de-
nounce the insolenceofthe gentleman from Mas
sachusetts, when he attempts to say that the
Representative from the Sd District of Maine
has no right to seek that, under the rules,
the resolution be adopted has no right to ask
Judgment of the House upon the resolution.
WHY, even the insolence of that gentleman him
self never reached that sublime height before
(applause): and that is the extent of my Often
ding, that | wrote the resolution; that / took
it to various gentlemen on the other side ofthe
House; this is a resolution which you cannot
afford to tilllibuster; it is resolution demand
inc a fair. impartial investigation, and under
the rules | desire that this resolution may be
offered and my colleague peters, will offer it.
And then the gentleman from Massachusetts
teleoraphs-he knows to how many papers
through the whole United States, for doubtless
his letters will be found IN crtenSo wherever
he could get it inserted tn this mornings jour
nals-ths was a Legislative trick
Mr. Butler-And repeat 1t now.
Mr. Blaine-fhere are certain repetitionS
which do not amount to SANDER, and the gem
tleman may repeat everything in that connec-
ton, as his colleague Dawes very well says.
"except the truth"
Mr.. Butler in his seat did not hear my col
league say that.
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman from Massachu-
sets uses the language in his remarkable let
ter. Because the very resolution which author
lied the committee was so framed and i'll my
belief. purposely, in the interests of the Demo-
cratic party, that such committee cannot re-
port under the rules of the House in the face Of
the Democratic opposition and by their permits
sion in more than a year from this time, the
usual power not being inserted IN it Ito report
at any timel The gentleman from Massachu-
sets is a very astute lawyer, but it has fallen
under my observation that he is extremely ig-
norant of the rules of the House. Had the res
olution contained those words it would have
been tantamount to suspending the rules, and
one objection would have prevented it from
coming i'll another.
Mr.. Blaine then proceeded to show the reso-
luton framed to allow the committee to report
at any time during December next, abiding
possibly to the fact that the committee, like that
on reconstruction, of which Mr.. Butler is chair
man. having power to report at any time, had
failed to report all. And concluded: 81 appeal
TO hot
and they will bear me witness that the cir
culatiOn of this letter in the morning prints
its distribution throughout the land by telegraph
and the laying it upon the desks OF members Is
intended to be by the gentleman from Massachl-
sets not offered boldly, but covertly, will not
Use the stronger phrase-an insult to the Speak
or of the House. As such, | resent it. de-
nollnce the letter in all its essential statements,
and in its Measurements. and all its differences
and mean inuendoes. ] denounce the letter
as groundless, without justification, and the
gentleman himself. trust, will live to see the
day when he will be ashamed of having writ
ten it,"
Mr.. Butler, in reply, criticised severely the
action of the Speaker in leaving the chair to
discuss not question of great public policy,
of national Importance. but solely to mingle in
n personal quarrel. will state what I said
when he came to my seat yesterday and showed
me the resolution, and asked me to go for it,
and said that | should be the Chairman of the
Committee under it. l said-''I will be ID
if l WILL (Great laughter.) 81 will have
nothing to do with it," am sorry to use
word here and apologize for it, but when ask
ed to betray my associates with whom | acted
in the caucus it seemed 4 very good one to meet
the eXigency. (Laughter.) That was my an
swer. and when he read the clause containing
the appropriation, even with my ignorance OF
the rules as he claims, told him that the House
if it determined to put the resolution through,
it would escape objection if it be differently
wordet I did this because believed he sug-
@ested TO the gentleman from New FORK. Mr..
Cox, TO make the point in order against the
bill of the majority of the House, which car
ried it over under the Speakers rulings.
Mr.. CoX-Mr. Speaker, that is not true.
Mr.. Butler-I did not say it was true, said
| believed it at the time. 04aughter.) | be-
lieyed it for the reason that l saw the Speaker
90 over there on the Democratic side of the
House. getting the Democrats to agree to sup
rort the resolution, after he had shown it to
me. for he did me the favor of to show it to me
first, and then saw him with rich owners of
coal fields, as he was attempting to get the DEM
ocrats to agree.
Mr. Bane-I was in favor of the repeal of
the coal tariff and the gentleman was not.
Mr.. Butler-I say again for ways that are
dark and tricks that are vain. will name the
Speaker. and that rise to explain. There is
one thing more | wish to state. | have been
accused of not reporting at any time, AS Chair
man of the Select Committee on Reconstruct
ton. l did report this bill as Chairman of the
Committee on Reconstruction, and the Speaker
of the House being against it, while it was be-
ing read at the Clerks desk, made Il ruling
which allowed Mr.. Wood of New York to in
troduce Il Joint resolution for the repeal of the
duty on coal thereby stopping the reading OF
the bill, which could never come up again
il ruling never before made in this House, and
trust never to be made again.
Mr. Blaiue-Will the gentleman state the
rule:
Mr.. BUTTERFLIES; ruling that while bill was
being read that anybody might interrupt that
Eeading by motion to suspend the rules.
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman certainly does
not want Il serious answer. The very princi-
pie of suspendng the rules allows it to be done
when no gentleman is occupying the floor.
Mr.. Butler-Hhe gentleman by the name OF
THE Clerk" after the bill was reported by the
Committee of this House, was occupying the
floor by reading the bill at that time, and the
best kind OF occupancy of the floor, too, for the
House had right to hear what the bill was be-
fore he was taken from the floor. do not care
whether | am right or wrong upon rulings.
admit my ignorance of parliamentary law, and |
thank God know no more about it than do.
Because | see how it affects mems minds who
have made it a study. Laughter.) But | do
think that if the Speaker had been half as
anxious for the passage of this bill to protect
the people of the South as he was for some land
grant measures passed from the Speakers table
at the last session, it would have become Il
law long ere this.
Mr. Blane-Will the gentleman specify
what?
Mr.. Butler-Oh. pretty much all of them.
Nh Blainc-I do not think it worth while
to say anything more than that, it Is simply and
only gratuitous calumny.
NOMINATIONS BY THE GovEENoE. The
nominations have been made by the
Governor
STATE