The Portland daily press., 1871-03-17

democratic party in the House. Ii majority
OF an the Republican party want to repeal the
doIy on salt We will do it in our own way. We
will not follow the lead of the Democracy. II
we want to repeal the duty on coal we will do
ltln our own good time and for our own pur-
poses.
We will not do so under the le ad of theDemoc-
| racy as Democratic measure. Ii we want TO
repeal the duties on tea and coffee we will do
II, We Will not follow Democracy. voted for
Ine repeal OF the duties on tea and coffee; still
tnihK it would be unwise in the present state
OF the treasury to take off all those duties
That was the feeling under which voted
dld SO because l wanted the country to see
wnere our party would go if we continued to
follow the Democratic lead and vote their
measure. Inc difficulty is that am all the time
ophgGo 10 shape MY action so the majority of
the house may carry on the legislation of the
country Tor Itself and not permit Democratic
minority by carefully and fully prepared reso-
iutions OF the Republican minority to do it as
| publican majority.
Mr. Dawes-Is there any better way than to
| acquiesce with the majority?
Mr but'er-Yes, sir; always acquiesce with
| the Republican majority and never with the
Democratic majority. Uaughter.) That is the
| way understand acquiesce.
Mr. Dawes-How do you cipher 5S to 80.
| (Laugbter.)
Mr. Butler-I cipher 58 to 80 by men who
| were compelled to vote for this resolution or
to compromise themselves. That was the rea-
pared.
Mr.. Dawes-There does not seem to be any,
| body troubled but you
Mr.. Butler-I am not in the slightest trouble.
l tnnk somebody else will find trouble when
they reckon with the people for thus defeating
legislation that would give peace to the South.
nr. reters said the resolution proposing the
and friend, Mr. Blaine. The friends of tbe
| resoiutlon went about the House aud consult
| ed win other gentlemen. Many Republicans
thougnt the resolution desirable as comprom-
lse ana ought to pass, even if other legislation
was 10 come. 1t was not sprung upon the
House for all the notice was given that could
De gwen in the way he Just mentionedH 1t was
etts.
| Butler-What was the answer?
Mr.. Peters replied that he stated the fact;
not being called on to give an answer.
Buter-The answer was, on no condition
| could vote for it.
Mr.. Peters resumng, saying it was stated in
caucus that its action was not binding,
but it was understood that the bill for the
protection of loyal citizens should not be
| introduced leaving all at liberty to do what
they thought proper There was no trick
whatever in the case; but acting on his own
convictions and responsibility no caucus de-
termination would have restrained him from
the right. he would however go into the eau
Gus aud bind himself for the organization of
the House. He would go into the caucus, and
If possible agree with his friends to certain
extent; but he could be forced into voting
against the measure because the gentleman
from Massachusetts opposed il or gentlemen
on the other side advocated it, He could not be
driven to vote for tree salt or coal because
Democrats wanted them. He believed the
resolution salutary and he congratulated the
House that it had been passed by majority of
all the Republicans and Democrats who voted.
MIR. Butler asked what the gentleman would
m fn nfh hIJ cfrn usn IL.
who having attended the caucus and agreed
upon nominee, should come into the House
and throw the Speakership into the hands OF
Democrats.
Mr. Peters-I should suppose YOU had some
derelict design.
Mr.. Butler-We agree fully. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Blame, Speaker(Mr. Wheeler of New
York in the chair, I desire to ask the gentle
man from Massachusetts (Butler) whether he
denies to me the right to have drawn this res
oluti0n.
Mr.. Butler-I have made no assertion on that
subject one way or the other.
Mr.. Rlaine-Did not the gentemaa distinct
ly know drew it.
Mr.. Butler-No sir.
Mr.. Blaine-Did I not take it to the gentle.
man aud read it TO him.
Mr.. Butler-Yes sir.
Mr.. Blaine-In my own handwriting
Mr.. Buter-No, sir.
Mr.. BlaIne-And at this suggestion added
these words: "And the expenses of the COM
mittee shall be paid from the contingent fund
Of the House of Representatives (Applause)
The tact that the Ways and Means Committee
wanted to pay expenses was the only objection
he made TO il.
Mr.. Butler What was the answer the gem
man made? suppose 1 may ask that, now
that the Speaker has come upon the floor.
Mr.. Blaine-Tbe answer was, Immediately
wrote an amendment providing for the paw
ment of tha expenses of the committee.
Mr.. Butler-Wh hat was my answer. Was it
not, under no circumstances would I have any,
t.ing to do with It, being bound by the action
of the caucus?
Mr.. Blaine-No, sir; your answer was, un-
der no circumstances wodld you serve as chair.
man.
Mr.. Butler-Or have anything to do with
Mr.. Blaine-There are 224 members of the
House of Representatives. A committee can
be formed without the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts being on it. His services are not es-
sental to the constitution OF the committee.
Mr.. Buter-Why did you not find such
committee then?
Mr.. Blaine-Because I knew very well if
omitted the appointment of the gentleman it
would be heralded throughout the length and
breadth OF the country by, ,claquers who have
so industriously distributed this letter this
morning, that the Speaker had packed the
committee, as the gentleman said 1 would do,
with weak- -kneed Republicans who would not
go into the investigation vigorously as he
you'd That was the reason. daughter
So the Chair laid the responsibility upon tue
gentleman ct declining the appointment
Chair ''isA VI 'no
Mr. Blane-Ah! trick. know now what
the gentleman meant by the word trick"
am verv glad the trick was successful.
Mr. Butler-No doubt
Mr Bialne-lt is this tick which places the
gentleman from Massachusetts on his respon-
sibility before the country.
Mr. Butler-Exactly.
Mr. Blalne-Now, sir, the gentleman from
Massachusetts talks about coercion by which
republicans were to be made to vote for the reso
luton. do not know what any one then may
have to say. Ii there be here today a single
gentleman who has given to the gentleman
from Massachusetts an intmatiou that he felt
coerced, that he was in some way restrained
from free action, let him get up and now speak
or forever after bold his peace
Mr. Butler-Oh, yes.
Mr. Blaine-The gentleman from Massachu-
setts says in his letter:-"Having been ap-
pointed against my wishes. expressed both
publicly and privately, by the Speaker as
chairman of the 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-thrds of the MAORI
ty of Republicans in the House(
Mr.. Butler-Yes, sir.
MIR. Blaine-Tbis statement is so bold and
groundlesS that do not know what reply to
make to it. 1t is made in the face of the fact
tuat ou tuc Iou CdlI MY y-tISut 1Ncpuo1iCduo
voted for the resolution and forty nine besides
the gentleman from Massachusetts against it.
1 deny that the gentleman has right to speak
for any member who voted for it unless it may
lie the gentleman from Tennessee (Maybard),
who voted for it for the purpose probably of
moving a reconsideration, very common,
very justifi able and very proper course when
ever any gentleman chooses to adopt it. am
not critcising at all, but if there by any one of
the ffty-eight gentleman who voted for The res
Oution under coercion l would like to have
the gentleman from Massachusetts, designate
him
Mr.. Butler-I am not here to detail private
conversations.
Mr.. Blaine-Oh, no; but you will distribute
throughout the entire country unfounded ca
lamnies purporting to rest upon an assertion
made in private conversation, which, when
called for. cannot be verified.
Mr.. Butler-Pardon me, sir; said it was in
caucus
Mr.. Blaine-I hope God will pardon you.
but you ought not to ask me to do it, (Laugh.
ter)
MIR. Butler-I will God and not YOU,
Mr.. Blaine am glad the gentleman will.
NJ. Butler-I have no favors to ask of the
devil, aud let me say the caucus agreed upon q
definite mode of action.
MIR. Blaine-Caucus Now let me saw here
and now that the chairman of that caucus, sit
ting on my right, chevalier in legislation
sans pteur ct sans reproche. The gentleman
from Michigan (Blair) stated as man of hon-
or, as he Is bound to say officially from the
GUAR, tna1 IL was not considered and could not
De considered binding upon the gentleman.
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