The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-17
THE KU=KLUX.
Ben. Butler Badly Beaten.
A Day Of Filibustering In the House
Butler Tries To Get His Ku.Klux
RiII In. and IN Flanked by n Reso-
tuition for Committee OF Inquiry
nm the Subject.

Butler Tries to Get HIS ku.hIuX
RiII In. and IN Flanked by n ResO-
/ tuition for n Committee Of Inquiry
on the subject.
/ WASHINGTON, D. c., March l5.-Chief
among the mourners Of all the multi
tude who have lately come to grief, is
the notorious member from Essex, B.
F. Butler. In the Republican caucus
last night he cracked the party whip so
often, and assumed such domineering
manner, that large majority of the
members who attended the same were
completely disgusted There were only
eighty four members present, all OF
whom, except two, agreed, mainly
through want Of harmony on the mat
ters in question or through indifference,
to allow Butler to report the bill he had
prepared to the House, and engineer
the same through it he could. Butler
was in high spirits, and was confident
that with the Republican party to back
him, he would do thing or two in the
way of legislation that would not only
put an end to Ku-Klux troubles, but
scare those who INDUCED in those pas
times clear ont OF their boots. To-day,
when the House met, Butler had his
bill ready, and contided it to Lynch, Of
Maine, for presentation, when the State
of Maine should be called upon for bills
or resout ols. The Democrats had been
made aware of the action Of the Re
publican caucus last nj ght, and had
also arranged a plan OF their own by
which they expected to defeat or post
pone any action on Buffers bill. Be
Tor the call of States was proceeded
with, the Democrats commenced TO
tiIibuster. They moved to adjourn until
next Monday; then Saturday, and then
Friday, each Of which motions was
sandwiched with iuterlocutory moves
10 adjourn at once On all these mo-
tions the yeas and nays were ordered,
with the result Of wasting considerable
time. Butler looked upon all these at
tempts to head him off with that digniti-
edspatience which only comes with the
consciousness of assured strength and
final success. Even when jubilant
Democrats would pop up and ask if 1t
was in order to read election returns
from New Hampshire, Butler would
| look condescendingly at the speaker as
much as to say, you have your fun now,
but it must soon end.
Finally, after two hours had been
frittered away in this general jolitica-
ton the Clerk called upon the State of
| Maine, and Mr.. Lynch responded with
the Ku.KIux bill agreed upon in eau
Gus last night. 1t was sent up and read,
Butler taking his position in the middle
aisle Immediately in front OF the
Speaker. When the reading was
finished, Beck got the floor, and pro-
tested against its being considered. lie
made the point that it contained mat,
tiers which could only be properly con-
sidered by the Judiciary committee,
which had not vet been appointed. Mr.
Cox objected to it's introduction on the
ground that no notice thereof had been
previously given, which point was sus.
tained by the Speaker, Butler mean
while endeavoring to explain that he
ONLY introduced it in order to have 1t
printed.
Upon this decision Butler looked ex-
ceedingly discounted, and the Demo
Gratis again began their filibustering
tactics. The Essex member walked
back to his seat to consult with some
of his friends, when another motion
was made to adjourn, This time the
Democrats did not vote at all, and
great wonderment was caused thereat.
Butler was not the only member who
was at sea about this stage. There had
been considerable quiet manHuvering
going on between leading Democrats
and Republicans, which had escaped
the attention OF the Essex member
Finally four members were seen en-
gagged in hastily writing down near the
Speakers table One Of these was
Peters, of Maine, and the others Cox,
Beck and Wood. They were there but
few minutes, when they dispersed
and resumed their several seats, There
was a call for the regular orders and
Mr. Peters, from Maine, responded as
the Clerk called his State. He offered
a resolution in opposition to Buffers
which completely killed it. The vote
on its adoption was almost unanimous,
only Butler and four colored members
opposing it. This vote not being salts
factory, Butler demanded tellers. He
and Shellabarger were appointed as
such. Garfield, who sits just back Of
Butler, sang out, Butler. 60 and tell,
and there was loud laugh raised at
Butler expense.
The Essex member. upon being thus
admonished, turned around, white with
rage, and responded, After that re.
mark, | most certainly will not
MAYNARD being substituted in his stead,
the members commenced filing down
the aisle to sustain their previous ac-
ton. Among the Republicans voting
in the affirmative were such leaders as
Dawes, Garfield, Wheeler, and Blair OF
Michigan. When Butler saw what
turn affairs had taken, he broke out
with the exclamation, Its no more
than | expected. have been sold out
by men who did not attend to the eau
Gus" This vote resulted in l02 to Is.
The question then recurred upon the
passage OF Peters bill, which was
e. finally successful by l25 to 6i.. The
Chair Immediately announced the COM
mittee, when the House adjourned.
In the meantime the Senate had been
in caucus for two hours, debating the
proprietv OF entering unon Kn.KluX