Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-24

3
by Republicans, "who, to a certain ex.
tent, voted under coercion, and had
struck hands with the Democrats, IL
was carried in defiance of the organi-
zatioa of the Republican party as pro-
claimed in the Republican caucus.
| The coercion intimatcd was Blaine's
/ influence over members through com.
mittees vet TO be appointed. Mr..
Dawes wanted Butler to explain what
/ he ment by trick, for an examiua-
tion of vote showed that tiity eight OF
I the Republicans voted for the resolu-
I ton, while only fifty voted against Il
and yet the majority Of the Republi'
can members were accused Of engag>
( ing in trick. Thus was Buffers sec
ond charge demolished, and il nettled
him 10 sec that Dawes had done u
but he clung to his assertion that the
committee had been authorized by n
trick, and reminded the Republicans
( that they had agreed 10 stand by his
ku>Kmx bill in caucus. Peters, of
Maine, said that he had offered the
committee at the Speakers request,
and added that there was no such eau,
Gus action, and if there was it should
not bird him in legislative matters.
At this point Speaker Blame tackled
Butler in magiteent sty.e. He called
Mr.. Wheeler, of New York, TO the
chair, and took the floor, His first
act was also to convict Batter Of false
hood. After preliminary skirmish
he said Il desire TO inquire If the
gentleman was not informed that the
Speaker had written that resolution.
Mr.. Butler said he was not SO informs
cd. We'll, said the Speaker, II
took the resolution TO you in my own
handwriting. and you not only read II
but you suggested m amendment, that
the expenses of the committee should
be paid out Of the contingent fund of
the House"
There was murmur all over the House
At this, but brazen Butler never hinehed
The Speaker proceeded in vigorous strain
and with much feeling 60 further expose
the latter. Butler 81, uneasily in his seat
Inflated his cheeks as he always does when
he is mad. threw his eyes aslant the cell
ing, then over on the Democratic side, and
then AZ the Speaker Mr.. Blaine, alluding
20 Buffers statement that some Repnbll>
can members had been eoerced into vot'
ing Tor the resolution, wanted all Republi~
cans whomsoeYer, 80 coereed, % stand
up now and SO state the fact or 10 forever
hereafter hold their peace Ii any one
had not voted as free act the country
should know il. He paused, buI no men,
Der arose. He then read nom Buffers
letter, in relation 10 coercion, and said this
statement WAS made in the face Of the fact
iha; ffty-eight Republicans had voted for
the resolution, while forty-nine besides
Butler had voted against it. He now de-
manded that Butler should say what meni-
Der was eoerced. Butler replied that 10 do
50 would be to detail private conversation.
He declared that it was understood in the
caucus that the bill should be introduced
TO suppress disorders in the South, and the
action Of the House yesterday was q viola
ton of caucus action Mr.. Blaine appeal
ed TO the president Of the caucus 10 say
whether il was not understood that no
member would be bound by the caucus
action. II had never been the practice for
10 bind men upon measures, but
only on nominations made for Office. He
did not doubt il Butler could have obtained
any followers he would have bolted the
caucus which had nominated himself Mr..
Blainel for Speaker. As the latter pro-
ceeded he grew more and more wrathful.
and took in the spirit ofthe exciting scene,
The Republicans and Democrats gave him
every encouragement He said he would
say nothing about his writing that resolu-
tion, for he dispised and spit upon the as
ser;ion Of any man who questioned his
right in that particular as n Representative.
Even the insolenee Of the member him
self, said the Speaker, will not carry
written this resolution he had been accused
Of playing a trick. lerjumped up fr ON
MS seat and snarled out, II repeat IT, IL
was a trick" Blaine intimated in reply
hat Butler was in the habit Of repeating
most everything but the truth. And |
low," said the Speaker, this letter which |
mas been printed here, telegraphed all /
,ver the country, and laid in printed slips |
,u the desks ofmembers, is OF the meanest, |
most contemptible, most unfair attacks |
hat was ever made" A burst Of applause |
inished the period. Butler was quick on |
lis feet He fired away ai the Speaker, /
md said it was his duty 10 keep the chair /
where he occupied wooden seat and 1
poke through a wooden head" Mr.
Blame reminded Butler that Mr. Colfax
nee found il necessary 10 leave the Speak
,r seat to chastise him. Butl0r said he
lad the door, and he wanted to be heard.
lie was, perhaps. ignorant Of parliamen-
AIRY law, but he did not want to have any
more knowledge Of it if il would have the
fleet upon the mind that had been devel
ped in the speech of the Speaker this
morning. Tho way he snarled this out
.reatsd roars Of laughter. He felt pro-
oundly his position as lacking in parlia-
neniary knowledge, "but for ways that
.re dark and for tricks that are vain
here's none like Speaker ---, the same
now rise to maintain" The blank, said
le, might be filed by gentleman at will.
n continuing his remarks. he charged that
he Speaker had entered into collusion
With the Democrats % force this measure
Trough. He had not expected 10 bring
his dissraaeful controversy into the
House, but he rcsorted TO the press,
md expect that the gentleman would have
aiken tho same means. He had no doubt
le would survive all that Blaine had said
bout him long after the latter ceased TO
,ccupy the presidential chair; and wound
Up by charging that il Blaine had shown
lalf the zeal in legislation for protecting
he loyal people Of the South that no had
n forcing through land grant and other
obs there would have been no necessity
or action now. Name one, SIR" said
Blaine. II name most all Of them" said
Butler "And / pronounce il base cal
imny," said the Speaker; it is utterly
alse." Butler contented himself by reit-
rating the charges Of his letter and sat