Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-29
The RutIer-RIaine Debate

Washington correspondent last week:
Mr. Kelley Of Pennsylvania asked to be
excused from serving as a member Of the Sc
lect committee on the investigation of The
southern Outrages. He invited attention tC
the circular laid on the desks Of the members
addressed to the Republicans Of the Hous,
Of Representatives, signed by b. +. Butler
Was it charged that this committee wal
raised by a combination of the High Tariff
Republicans with the Democracy? ? liz
begged leave most emphatically to deny tina
assertion, and TO say that he was on the t1oOl
yesterday as a High Tariff Republican, anc
voted on every question put while his healtt
permitted him there, and by an examination
Of the Journal it would be found that his
views on all questions were consistent with
those Of the gentleman from Massachusetts
fButler). While the revenue reformers
around me were men who Joined with the
Democratic party of the House, and saved
rt- ascendency and success in assaults upon
tho INDUSTRY of the country, by showing a
determination to rush through, without de-
bate Or reconsideration, a repeal of duties
aa articles in the production of which many
thousands Of American laborers were en-
Vl5ved, all voted against me when they voted
IN opposition TO my accuser the gentleman
from Massachusetts,. In the name Of the
industrial interests of the country and their
carly, earnest and honest protest against this
false and unfounded accusation, and, having
done this. asked the House TO excuse him
from serving on the committee.
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts-I may be
UardOned tor saying a word IN reply 70 what
has been said by my friend from Pennsylya-
MIA (Kellev) ! have made no accusation
against him. His vote always has been in
accordance with his party obligations /
r.a frfa. -hrs.a rsarl r.
the combination but | ask Is there any
other high tariff gentleman who desires the
floor to explain his vote. | say again anal
we tile votes, and while admitting that two
or three high tariff men have voted with the
Republican party, / say and | re-atirm that
this resolution, which is obnoxious to the
majority Of the Republicans on this floor,
was put through lest there should be legls-
lation on tariff.
Mr.. Peters Of Maine-Will the gentleman
yield to me for a question?
MI Butler-Hes sir.
Mr. Peters, wish to ask whether the
gentleman Is not aware that the majority OF
the Republican members who voted yester-
dav on the resolution voted for It =
Mr. Butler-I am not.
Nr Pcters-An analysis Of the yeas and
nays made by many gentlemen shows that
tltv-cizhu Republicans voted for and fifty
Mr.. Butler understand all that per
fectIv. The resolution was sprung upon the
House Many Of the warmest opponents Of
the resolution voted for it. because as sou tn
ern men. as other good Republicans, they
saw, from the trick that was played upon
them, that there would be no other legisla-
ton exceIt this in favor Of the South, and
they did not like to vote against it.
Mr. Dawes would like to ask my col
league a question
Mr.. Butler-I-et me finish my sentence.
Thereupou they voted in that way SO that
they might MT be placed IN 81 seemingl y
false position at home. But that was not
tile way in which the eighty-f0ur men who
attended the Republican caucus, held the
ui,ht before. which many Of those gentlemen
who voted for the resolution either did not
attend OF left before its deliberations were
through intended or ordered their commit
tee u bring the matter Of protection to
southern Union men before the House. BY
the aid Of a majority Of Democratic votes
legislation III this House Is carried on IN def
aucc Of any organization Of RepublIcanIsm
Now. ! viii yield to a question from my col
league (Dawes)-
Mr.. Dawes-W hat ! desire TO ask my col
league Is that he viii state explicitly what
ne means by the term trick, which he ap-
plies to MS fellow members upon the floor,
acting under the same responsibility he acts
under
Mr.. Butler-Term what
Mr.. Dawes-W hat the gentleman means
when he applies the term trick to the action
of his fellow members here upon the floor
[ want to know what my colleague means by
applvinr the term trick to fifJy-eight Of his
political associates upon This floor, who diff
tered with fifty acting under the same sense
Of responsibility and the same sense OF duty
that my colleague acts under upon the floor
of this House.
Nj Butler-I do not understand that
applied the term trick to Republicans.
Mr. Dawes-My colleague will find it in
hs circular he has been pleased q place
upon our desks.
Nr. Butler-Mr Speaker
Nj Dawes-Wait momens.
Mr.. Butler-Why should [ wait when
do not choose to- (Laughter).
Mr. Dawes-In that circular and in the
remark which just fell from his lips he says
that the resolution was carried by trick.
Nlr. Butler-N0 sir What did say was
this, that it was sprung upon the House by
t-ich, and do not apply 1t to tfty-eight
men.
Mr. Dawes-My colleague has forgotten
what be said himself.
Mr. Butler 1 have not forgotten.
Mr. Dawes The more the pity then.
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Butler-I am not troubled about all
this. say here. that after Republican
caucus was regularly called by the duly
elected members of the House, at which the
gentleman was present until he found what
the action of the caucus was to be, had acted
upon and had determined what measure
SHOULD be rut before the House for its con-
sideration, then that a legislative trick
by which the minority OF the party sprung
the question upon the House which compelled
the votes of a portion of the Republicans
and gave a seeming majority TO measure
nlusorv in its character and useless in action,
which had 10 majority in fact IN its favor,
20 that the measure or the majority might
be defeated BY the aid Of Democratic votes.
These arc the gentlemen all around inc who
did not feel at liberty to vote against the res
OlutiOn when it was thus sprung upon them
who felt about 1t Just the same as do, but
felt obliged to vote for IT lest they should be
COMPROMISED. That is what l mean by leg
isatlvc trick, by which a seeming majority
was compelled where there is none in tact.
| mean when a man stays out of a caucus of
the Republican party and that caucus settles
a measure and then comes in and undertak6
70 thwart that party by the aid Of the vote
Of our opponents, whom | expected to vote
as they did, by Offering measure they can
support and he gets them to support, which
the Republican majority cannot, that ! say
is legislative trick, and say it with a 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 fe, liberty and property of our
friends, the loyal men Of the Soath, unpro-
tected and uncared for by any aid they re-
ceive from Congress when our hands are tied
by this trick.
Mr.. Kelley Of Pennsy sylyania -lnasniuch as