The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-03-25
A Rough scrimmage in Congress.


beers of the new congress last week to support
Buffers Ku-klux bill, yet, few days after
that caucus, the house adopted q resolution
which had been offered as compromise by
the democrats, the object Of which was to de.
fer action on the Butler bill until next winter,
and meantime to appoint a committee of thlr-
teen to make, during the summer, Thorough
investigation of the south and to report in
December. This resolution, it appears had
| been shown to Batter before it had been pre-
sented to the house, and at his suggestion, an
amendment had been made to it, and it was
agreed that Butler should be chairman of the
committee, SO that it was naturally supposed,
SO far as Butler was concerned, ever ything In
regard to the supposed resolution or "com-
PROMISE WAS smooth and lovely. With this
impression, the resolution passed the house on
Wednesday by vote of l25 to Ca The sur
| prise of the members of the house IN ay there
fore be imagined when, on entering the house
ON Thursday morning, they found on their
desks printed circular signed by Ben. But
|
ing agreed in caucus to support the Butler
bill and then "going back" on their pledge
by voting for the compromise" resolution,
and also casting upon Speaker Blaine the
whole responsibility of the " treachery," by
! charging that he had connived with the dem
| ocrats to defeat his ku klux bill by concocting
this legislative "trlck." The house had no
sooner organized than Mr.. Kelly, Mr.. Dawes,
and other republican members began to call
Mr. Butler to account for the manifest false
hoods OF the statement in his circular"
Butler parted these assaults as best he could
until finally Mr. Speaker Blaine, (having call.
ed another member to the chair,) proceeded
to interrogate Mr.. Butler in this WISE
Mr.. Blalne-Dld not the gentleman distinct.
ly know that drew the resolution?
Mr.. Butler--No, Sir.
Mr.. Blaine-Did not take it to the gentle
man and Read it to him
| Mr.. BUTTERFLIES, sir.
MIR. Blane-Did not show him the manu-
| scrpts
| Mr.. Builer-Yes, sir
| MIR. Blaine-In my own handwriting
Mr.. Butler didn't know
ana thus the catechism went on for few
minutes until Butler was compelled to confess
thas his indignation over the alleged "trick"
was an afterthought, doubtless inspired from
the White HouseD whereupon Mr. Blaine pro.
ceeded IN one of the most cutting speeches
ever made in the house, to stake the hide OFF,
the beast that had SO long frightened con-
gress with his roar. The speaker convicted
Butler, from his own mouth. to be liar and A
demagogue. So far from the Speaker being
concerned in trick to cheat the majority, he
showed that majority of the republicans in
the house voted fer the resolution appointinp
the committee. The resolution was shown to
Butler before it was offered, and by him so
amended as to more certainly secure its pas
sage. The Speaker also alluded to Buffers
subserviency to the wishes of the President
with the inference that he (Blaine) was no,
inclined to wear Grant collar.
The reply of Butler was coarse and abusive.
but 1t lacked the Speakers keeness and polish.
The whole scene, in which the democrats
took ne other part than that of amused spec
taters was as disreputable as 1t was extraor-
binary. AS the st. Louis Republican, remarks,
"the peerless impudence and magnificent men.
dacity of Butler the amazement, indignation
and tremendous invectve of Blaine: the
storm of personal abuse which each layished
upon the other; the quantity, quality and
variety of epithets employed; the unrestrain.
ed license given to what was bar-room row
rather than parliamentary debate the laugh
ter and applause in the galleries echoed by
laughter and applause on the floor-all COM
Dine to form scene such as the congress of
the United States had never witnessed before,
and which may he regarded as one of the log.
ical and lovely results of that radicalism
which has ruled the nation for ten Years past
Had this disgracefulsquabble occurred between
two members of less mark II would have been
bad enough and significant enough but here
we have. the acknowledged adviser of the pres
ident, and leader Of the ADMINISTRATION psrtv in
the house, STACKING the presiding officer of
that body in such an insulting manner that
the latter feels obliged to leave the chair,
descend into the arena, disregard the rules OF
dccorum, which he is swsrn to enforce and