Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-04-05
A SCENE IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.

/ A correspondent Ci Tue AA"ooeiP Pni'
4 Iagxirer writes of the scene as follows,
under date of March '3Oth: -
A very extraordinary scene took place
in the Senate to day between Mr.. Gar
rett Davis and Geneal Butler. which,
while it lasted, created profound sensa'
ton, especially i'll the galleries Mr.
Davis had been speaking for some time
upon Mr.. Sherman's resolutions instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee to report a
Kuklux bill, and had worked himself in
to considerable passion at what he con-
sidered the unjust charges of disorder
made upon the South, when General
Butler came into the Senate. AT this
point Mr. Davis was. facing his Demo
cratic colleagues, and was apparently en-
horting them. aas
General Butler, observing whowas speak
ing, marched over in that direction and
took seat directly next to the Kentucky
Senator. Then. stretching his legs out, he
wheeled his chair around, threw himself
back and looked at Mr. Davis with an
expression on his face of mingled insolence
and contempt. The galleries, thinking
it a mere piece of blavAdo, enjoyed the
thing hugely Mr.. Davis, whose back
was still turned. had reached that point
in his speech where be was claiming that
the stories of Southern outrages were
grossly exaggerated. ...
They are more" said he, they are
vile inventions of unprincipled adven-
turers and heartlers scoundrels, made to
continne their i'll gotten hold on political
power they are and here, turning
around in the warmth Of his feeling, he
beheld Geneal Butler almost at his very
elbow, looking straight at him with face
ilumovable as a stone. Mr.. Davis immedi-
ately paused in his half-hnished sen-
tence, placed both hands on his desk, and
glared at Butler almost with the ferocity
of q tiger. Butler returned the Ken
tuckian's look uafinchingly, only grow
ing a trife paler.
The tableau continued for several mo-
ments without either changing his atti-
tude particle, while the galleries looked
on in painful suspence, and the surround
ing Senators held their breaths and af
fected an unconcern which no one felt. ri
nally Mr.. Davis drew himself up, thrust
his clenched fist almost in Mr.. Buffers
face, and said Here, is the man 1hi,
is the class of men who concoct stories
of diabolical Southern outrages, and then
ask for unlimited power to suppress
them. Look at tie scoundrel Here he
is," aud. his excitement becoming too
great for him, he sank back into his seat,
while the Chair promptly suppressed
some threatening demonstrations which
were attempted in the galleries.
1t being one of those things where in
reference was very delicate matter. no
one had attempted anything of the kind
thus far, and those present breathed
more freely when Mr.. Davis dropped into
his seat. Still, Mr.. Butler never budged
nor altered the expression of his face, al
though thousand eyes were turned upon
him. Mr.. Davis Was no sooner in his
chair than he wheeled it around, and
commenced to draw it up by short jerks
in the direction of Mr.. Butler, until the
distance between them was almost i'm
perceptible. when he burst out again with
"Oh you scouudrel! You rascal!' with
a few strong a3jetives prefacing each cpl
thel. "Did you come here to insult me Z =
Mr.. Butter replied, "Go away from me
What do you suppose l care about youl
Go away Mr.. Davis was just about to
raise his arm to strike Mr.. Butler when
Senator Wilson left his own side, hurried
over to the scene of the threatened con.
fict, and, placing himself between the
two men stopped the disgraceful proceed
il gs at once. Mr.. Davis, upon being ap-
pealed to in calm, considerate way,
cooled down at once and retired into one
of the Senate ante rooms. Mr. Butler
however, stalked around the Senate
chamber for several minutes Laughing
and talking to this one and that as if
nothing whatever had happened.
When MIR. Davis was asked, later in
the evening. why he gave way to his
pfejudices in such conspicuous manner,
he replied that it was very evident to
him that Mr.. Butler took his seat there
for no other purpose than to insnlt him,
and he would allow no man to do that
Mr.. Butler, however, says that he no
more thought Of Mr. Davis when he sat
down than he did Of the man in the moon,
and never had the least idea of insulting
him ...'
An Assault on a Temperance Man.
While Colonel w. L. Garner, of No |