Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-22

was announced after the adjournment so that h,
had no opportunity to decline at the time, Gen
Butler appeared in letter the next morning, q
copy Of which was laid on the desk Of each mem
btr Of the House The letter was scathing re.
sons for declining to serve on the committee. lie
81 argcd that the resolution authorizing the com
IN tic, was adopted by uuion Of the Democrats
a. the high tariff Republicans, the latter of whom
wire willing to permit the slaughter and cxter-
N inatjn Of their political friends in the Sluth,
il The tariff could be slyed even for nine months
by au carly adjournment Of Congress" The
y ,mjcracy he charged with acting " in pursuance
o. deliberate plan, carefully cJucocted, to muir
DIR and outrage enough Union men Of the SOUTH
o. overcome by fear, intimidation and injury the
Republican majority nc the next Presidential ecc.
tim. His third objection was that the committee
would be wholly powerless for good. Sitting in
the vacation, it could not enforce the attendance
o. witnesses, nor compel an unwilling witness to
testify. " The witnesses willingly coming before
the committee to testify against their Ku Klux
ntishb,rs would be killed on their way home from
Che committee rOom.' In hi. fourth point he
claims TINT the report Of the committee wJull
bo wholly nugatory, illusory and useless to
show the exact state Of things at the SOUTH.
W Wherever the committee would 90, there would
he sunshine and peace, and we should be compc-
ed 50 to report Where we were not and could not
b., banded murder, robbery and arson would stalk
abroad at night to be disbluded by the rising
SUM-
lie ais points out the TACT that the resolution
vls so framed that the committee cannot report
ider the rules Of the House in more than year
nom this time and that without the consent Of
the democrats they could not report and have il
printed until after the end VI the next prcsiden-
tnl canvass. After explaining that he had pre-
yously assured the speaker that he would not
serve on the committee, he pontedly closed his
letter by saying, " believe can demonstrate
even if a majority OF parliamentary body can
force Massachusetts man off committee at
pleasure, that it is quite another thing for the
speaker to force another on a committee without
h- consent"
This letter stirred up such a breeze as has not
wii.tled through the Representatives. Chamber
before in twenty years. Several members of the
C mn ittoe Immediately arose and asked to be ex-
cused from service thereon
Democrats and high tariff men, and all Of But
ler's old enemies Except Farnsworth, who will 70
for him no more), " went for him" as though he
lind been heather Chnee" Butler parted
tier attacks with the skill of an adroit enccr
At lust Speaker Blaine called Mr. Wheeler Of New
Nori to the chair, and taking the floor, he poured
out the red-hot yias Of his wrath upon the head Of
Batter until it WAS soon evident that he was get
ting warmed up to fighting heat" Such a
st enc as ensued has seldom been witnessed in
either House. No rcstrant was attempted to be
exercised over the speaker, and they were limited
only by their command Of yituperative language.
in which both excel. When on one occasion But
le- in a tone Of irony or mock poiteness, said.
% Pardon me, but" Blaine instantly re-
tortel, " God may pardon you, but never will. "
Although this committee will stand. Congress
" Il not adjourn as the House had hoped Some
IN assure of relief and protection will doubtless
yet be agreed upon TnoMAs.