The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-17
BLAINE VS.. BUTLER.

In addition TO our report of last evening of
Congressional proceedings, we give the follow
gdetails of the debate in the House,
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, asked to be ex-
cused from serving on the select committee to
investigate Southern outrages. Neither the
condition of his health nor his affairs permitted
him to pledge the summer to any public duties.
He was now under medical charge, threatened
with pulmonary atliiction, and therefore after
the adjournment of Congress must seek repose,
not labor. He invited attention to a circular
laid on the desks of members, addressed TO tue
Republican members, signed B. f. Batter. 1t
was charged th at this committee was raised by
q combination OF the high-taritf Republicans
with the Democracy. He begged leave most
emphatically to deny that assertion, and to say
that be was on the floor yesterday as
a high-tarif Republican, and voted on
every question put while his health per-
mitted him to be here and an eXamina-
tion of the journal will show that his views
were on all questions consistent with those of
leT) while the revenue TefOrmers around him
joined with the Democratic party of the House,
and secured its ascendency and success in its
assaults upon the industry OF the country, by
rushing through without debate or reconsidera-
tion a repeal of the duties on articles in the
production of which many thousands of Ameri-
can laborers are employed. All voted against
me when they voted in opposition TO my accu-
ser, the gentleman from Massachusetts, In the
name of the industrial interests of the country,
and their representatives upon the floor, he
made this early, earnest, honest protest against
the false and unfounded accusation, and having
done this he asked the House to excuse him
serving on the committee.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts-I may be par
doned for saying word in reply to what has
been said by my friend from Pennsylvania (Mr.
kelley. have made no accusation against
him. His vote has always been in accordance
with his party obligations. He attended the
caucuses of the party as long as his health per-
mitted. l know that he is not ons of those who
entered into the combination, but ask, is there
any other high-tariff gentleman who desires the
floor to explain his vote? / say, again, analyze
the votes and while admitting that two or three
high-tariff men have voted with the Republican
party, | say and l reatfirm that this resolution
which is so obnoxious to a majority of the Re-
publicans on this floor was put through lest
there should be legislation on the tariff.
Mr.. PeteIs-Will the gentleman yield to me
for question
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Peters-I wish to ask whether the gentle
man is not aware that a majority of the Repub-
lican members who voted yesterday on the reso-
luton voted for it!
Mr.. Butler-I am not
Mr.. Peters-An analysis of the votes shows
that 6S Republicans voted for and so against the
resolution.
Mr.. Butler-I understand all that perfectly.
The resolution was sprung upon the House.
Many of the warmest opponents of the resolu-
ton voted for 1t, because as Southern men, as
we'll as other good Republicans, they saw from
the trick that had been played upon them that
there would be no other legislation except this
in favor of the South and they did not like to
vote against it.
Mr.. Dawes-I would like to ask my colleague
Mr.. Butler-Let me finish my sentence.
Thereupon they voted In that way SO that they
might not be placed in seemingly false posi-
tion at home. But that was not the way in
which the eighty-four members who attended
the Republican caucus held the night before,
which many of them who voted for the resolu-
tion either did not attend or left before its deli
berations were through, intended and ordered
these committees to bring the matter of protec-
tiou to the Southern Union men before the
House. By the aid Of a majority of the Demo-
cratic votes the legislation of this House is car
ried on in defiance OF any organization of Re-
publicanism. Now will yield to a question
from my colleague.
Mr.. Dawes-What desire to ask of my col
league is that he will state explicitly what he
means by the term ''trick, which he applies to
his fellow members upon the floor, acting under
the same responsibility that he acts under? |
want to know what my colleague means by ap-
plying the term trick" to tifty.eight of his po-
litical associates who differed with fifty acting
upon the same sense of responsibility, and the
same sense of duty, that my colleague
acts upon here in this House?
Mr.. Butler. of Massachusetts-l do rot under
stand that l applied the term to strict Repuol-
cans"
Mr.. Dawes-My colleague, in his circular
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts-Mr. Speaker
Mr.. Dawes-Wait a moment.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts-Why should l
wait when do not choose to. .(Laughter.)
Mr.. Dawes-In that circular aud in the re-
marks which first fell from his lips, he says that
the resolution was carried by a trick"
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts-No sir what
did say was this, that it was sprung upon the
House by trick, but did not apply it to fifty
eight members.
Mr.. Dawes-My colleague has forgotten what
be said himself.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, i have not for
gotten.
Mr.. Dawes-More's the pity then. Qaughter.)
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman from Massachu-
setts says in his letter. Having been ap-
pointed against my wishes, expressed both pub
iicly and privately, by the Speaker, as chairman
of a committee to investigate the state OF affairs
in the South ordered to-day by Democratic
votes, against the most earnest protest OF more
than two-thirds majority of the Republicans of
| the House
Mr.. Butler-Yes, sir.
Mr. Blaine-This statement is so bald and
| groundless that do not know what reply to
! make to it. 1t is made in the face of the fact
| that on the roll-call, hfty-eight Republicans
| voted for the resolution and torty'nlne, besides
| the gentleman from Massachusetts,, against 1t.
! deny that the gentleman has the right to speak
for any member who voted for IL, unless II may
| be the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. May
nard), who voted for 1t for the purpose, prob
| ably, of moving a reconsideration very COM
| mon and very justifable and proper course,
whenever any gentleman chooses to adopt it. l
am not criticising them at all, butt If there be
| any one of the ifty-eight gentlemen who voted
| for the resolution under coercion would like
the gentleman from Massachusetts, to designate
| him.
conversations.
Mr. Blaine-No; but you will distribute
| throughout the entire country ill-founded ca
lumnies purporting TO rest upon assertions made