The Portland daily press., 1871-04-21

1
himself and Senator Davis, of Kentucky.
| 1.-THE Associated Press has not given us ar
abstract of Mr.. Buffers explanation" bu
idea OF its character can be gained from the
subsequent proceedings.-ED. PRESS.
| Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, asked and OBJ
| tanned permission to make personal explana'
tion IN reply to Mr.. Butler. He said it was
too late in the day for that gentleman to put
| on airs and profess a rule of nOn-intercourse.
He trusted his (Farnsworth's) great age had
not anything to do with such non-interc0urse
| as was suggested to the Senator from Ken
the management of the National Asylum for
disabled soldiers. He complained that the
committee had not acted fairly in the matter,
10 refusing, among other things to require the
Treasurer Of that institution tButler) to pro-
duce his bank book, which would show that he
had constantly on hand from 100000 to $3.50,
600 of Government money which he kept in
his own private bank in his own name, and
with which he speculated.
Mr.. Butler made point of order that this
was an attack upOn him instead of q personal
explanation.
Speaker Will the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts state the words to which he objects,
and the Chair will rule on the question.
MIR. Butler-I should say pretty much all of
it. (Laughter.) When I am told that have
gorged myself with the public money sup
pose that does not require poins of order to
be made.
The Speaker ruled such language out of
order.
Mr.. Farnsworth-The member from Massa-
chusetts alluded to my speech as published in
the Globe, and am only recounting the points
to show that it was not unparliamentary.
The Speaker said he had no doubt that the
language OF the gentleman from Illinois was
unparliamentary, and he SO ruled without hes
itation.
Mr.. Farnsworth was allowed by the vote of
the House to proceed in order.
Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts, remarked that
it was not proper for member to ask for
unanimous consent to make personal expla-
nation and then make criminal charges against
a member.
The Speaker said he entirely agreed with
the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Mr.. FarnswOrth remarked that he also
agreed with the gentleman from Massachu-
setts (Laugbter.) He went on to speak of a
transaction for the sale of piece of property
at Hampton, Va, for national asylum, TIE
property having been owned by Mr.. Butler but
transferred to him by his brother-in-law, Hill
dreth, to cover appearances. In conclusion he
said, if that transaction and testimony given
by Butler before the Committee on Military
Affairs at the last session were before any
petty Jury OF the United States it would con.
vict him (Butler) of embezzlement and per-
jury. daughter and great excitement) That
was all he had to say.
Mr.. Butler remarked that he held in his
hand the report of the Military Committee,
made at the last session on that subject and he
would read the closing paragraph of it as an
answer to all that advertised calumny which
might be put out against him anywhere. The
paragraph which he read states that the Com
mittee was convinced that the funds of the
national asylum for disabled soldiers had been
faithfully applied by the board of managers
and that the general management of the sew
eral branches of the asylum had been efficient;
also that the committee had come to the con-
clusion that the Treasurer, having accounted
for all funds of the asylum that ever came into
his hands was to be entirely exoneraJed from
any charge or suspicion, misappropriation,
neglect or misconduct in the discharge of his
duties. Mr.. Butler said in conclusion that un-
der that report he branded as false and calum-
niOus everything that could be said against the
President and Treasurer OF the national asy-
lum. 1t was for the committee to say whether
its members had been corrupted under his
Buffers; lead. They could vndicate their own
honor.
He had not their honor in charge. Their re-
port was shield to him against the attack of
any man. He had no words for character
ization of tn at attack. The gentlemen should
judge of it for themselves, coming as it did un-
der the guse and pretense of personal ex-
PLANTATION.
There were 12 or u gentlemen in the House
whom he had taken to Fortress Munroe and to
sold to the national asylum, and every man
who ever saw it would admit in that transact
ion he had given $25,000 to the disabled SOL
dierS. t..s
MIR. Farnsworth-The member from Massa-
chusetts swOre in the investigation that he did
not sell it; that his brother-in-law sold it,;
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Butler-Oh, pshaw! pshaw! That was
one of the cheats in the statement. 1t was
put in the hands of my brother-in-law as se-
onr Ifu for iaIh ha 1nr,
MIR. FarnswOrth-YOur brOther-in law swore
that he did not lend you any money. Laugh-
ter.)
Mr.. Butler-I cannot have any controversy
with that man, whom would not believe un-
der oath. daughter and hammeripg from the
Speakers gavel.) Referring to the witnesses
who swore against him in the investigations he
said that one OF them was runaway marine
or deserter whom he had been trying to find to
put ball and chain around his leg, and that
another was a Baltimore man who had once
served with him (Butler) for supposed gallant
conddct, but who had since gone down lower,
lower, lower, until he had sunk to the position
of being witness for the member from Ill.,
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Farnsworth-And the other witnesses
were from Massachusetts, and his brother-in-
law. (Renewed laughter and other manifesto
tions OF the thorough enjoyment of the scene. }
Mr.. Butler remarked in conclusion that he
would not again be drawn into a controversy
of an investigation and report exonerating a
man from all blame when such exOneratiOn
was only made the foundation for fresh charg-
es and fresh calumnies direct from hell
Mr.. Beck of KY, asked and obtained leave
to make statement on behalf of the Senator
from Kentucky, who he said had been fOully
denounced by the member from Massachusetts.
That Senator and that member had had con-
troversy on the floor of the Senate. hs
Mr.. Butler-Oh, no! L had no controversy
with him.
Mr.. Beck-The Senator denounced the mem
Der on the floor of the Senate as a id scoun.
drel and l would characterize that as a cOntrO-
versy (Laughter.) They had q quarrel on the
| floor of the Senate. Il ought to have ended
| there and would have ended there but for the
fact that the member from Massachusetts saw
| fit to come on the floor Of the House and use
| language greatly offensive to the Senator from
Kentucky, and it was after that the Senator
| had pronounced the speech that has been quot.
! ed by the member. The member from Massa
/ chusett1, if he had personal explanation tt
make. should have made it at once, but he had
| waited till last Tuesday; the day that Congress
| was to adjourn, and then ask leave to make it
having sent printed slips of it in advance tc
| Boston and to the New York Herald, knowing
| that the latter would have left the city before
he could have seen it in print. Thereupon
| objected, because it had been held up so long
and not because did not want to give the gen.
| tleman chance for replication.
Mr. Butler, interrupting-The reason given
by the gentleman was he would not let mt
| speak as long as an Indictment against hi
State continued.
Mr.. Beck-lf had had an opportunity t.
reply to that indictment would have done il
| in way which hope would have been worthy
| of the State. When the gentleman was try-
ing to get leave to-day asked him whether be
! would assal the Senator from Kentucky ant
| he replied that he would not, and on that state
| ment members on the Democratic side yotes
to give him the privilege. did hot believ,
| what he said and therefore voted against fl :
| (Laughter) Whe he rises and announces tina
the Senator from Kentucky has been guilty O
falsehood deny it. 1 hurl it back and L "a,
that the character of that Senator is as good a
that of any man upon EARTH He never di,
wilfully tell a lie, and no man before ever ac
cused him Of it, When the member said tha
the Senator was shielded by his age and tha
| he did not seek the proper redress have Onl
| to say that while my Senator is neither a BULL
| or a blackguard the member can get any re
dress from him that he seeks outside of thi
hall or anywhere else (Laughter.) do 40
believe it lies in the mouth ofthe member fror
Massachusetts, to talk about my Senator beinl
shielded by his age or not seeking proper re
dress: I have witnessed scenes with that mem
ber which satisfied me he would not seek tn
redress to which he alludes. Naughter) H'
does not forget that have in the presence {
fifteen members of the House seen the membe
from Illinois (Farnsworth) put his fist in th
face Of the member from Massachusetts,, de
nounce him in every way one man can dt
| nounce another until I had to say to 0the
members of the committee standing by that
| did not think one white man would take
without fight and that decent negroes in Ne
York State would fight over it. (Uproarou
laughter.)
Mr.. Farnsworth, derisively-It was on al
count of his extreme age, perhaps (Snouts