Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-17

throughout the entire country calumnieS, pur-
porting to rest upon assertions made in private
conversations, which, when called for, cannot
be verified"
Mr.. Buter-"Pardon me sir. | said it was
the caucus"
Mr.. Blaine--"T hope God will pardon you,
but you ought not TO ask me to do it," laugh
teri
Mr.. Butler-T will ask God, and not you"
Mr.. Blane--'l am glad the gentleman will"
Mr.. Butler--'I have no favors 10 ask of the
devil and let me say that the caucus agreed
upon definite mode of action"
Mr.. Blaine-"The caucus-now let me say,
here and now, that the chairman of that eau
Gus, sittingon my right, Is cheyaier in legisa-
ton, sans peur, ct sans repr0dche. The gentle
man from Michigan, Mr.. Blair, stated, as n man
of honor as he Is, that he was bound to say
officially from the chair that il was not cOnsd-
cred and could not be considered binding upon
a gentleman; and, more than that the talk
about trick; why, the very infamy of politi-
cal trickery never comprised designs so foolish
and so wicked as to bring togethc" a caucus
and attempt TO pledge them to support
measures which might violate, not only
the political principles, but the rcli-
gious faith, of men, to the support of
bill drawn by the gentleman from Massachu-
sets, Mr.. Butler, which might violate the con-
seientious scruples of men; and vet, forSOoth,
he comes in here and declares that whatever Il
caucus may determine TO do, however hastily,
however wrongfully, YOU must support it.
Why, even in the worst days of the democracy,
when the gentleman himself was in the front rank
Of the worst wing of it, when was it ever at
tempted to say that majority from party
caucus could bind men upon measures involving
questions of constitutional law, personal honor,
or religious scruples? The gentlemen asked
what would have been done; he asked my col
league, Mr. Peters, what would have been done
in case of the members of the party voting
against the caucus nominee for speaker. I'M
derstand that was thrust at myself. Caucus
nominations for offices have always been held as
binding; but Just here let me say, that, if a
minority did not vote against the decision of
the caucus, that nominated me for speaker, in
my Judgment il was not the fault of the gentle
man from Massachusetts (Applause.) If the
requisite number could have been found to go
over to the deSpiscd Nazarenes on the Oppo-
site side, that gentleman would have led them
as CALAMITY as he did the forces in the Charles
ton convention (Renewcd applause and laugh
ter.)
Mr. Butler-"Mr. Speaker"
Mr. Blaine-"l have the floor. do not very
often ask it,"
Mr.. Butler-"Let not your conscience accuse
you"
Mr.. Bane-"Mr Speaker, in old times it was
the ordinary habit of the speaker of the house
of representatives to take part in debate. The
custom has fallen into disuse. For one, am
very glad it has. For one, approve of the con-
cluSion that fOrbds it. The speaker could, with
consistent fidelity to his own party, be an inn
partial administrator Of the rules Of the house,
and constant participator In the discussions,
if members would take from him that appear
ance of impartlallty which is so important to
maintain in the ruling OF the chair. But, at the
same time, deSpse and denounce the nsOlence
of the gentleman from Massachusetts,, when he
attempts TO say that the representative from the
third district of the state of Maine has no
ffIIp n
resolution shall be adopted, has no right to ask
the Judgment of the house upon a resolution.
Why, even the insolence of that gentleman him
self never reached that sublime height before
laughter-and that is the whole extent of my
offending, that ! wrote the resolution that
took it to various gentlemen on this side of the
house, that said to the gentlmen on the other
side of the house this is IL resolution on which
you cannot afford to filbuster; it is resolution
demanding fair impartial investigation, and, I'M
der the rules, desire that this resolution may
be offered and my colleague, Mr. Peters, will Of
fer it; and then the gentleman from MaSsachu-
sets, Mr.l Butler, telegraphs, he knows to how
many papers, through the whole United States,
for, doubtless, his letter will be found in ertenSO
wherever he could get it inserted in this morn
ing's journals. This was a Legislative trick 4"
Mr.. Butler-"And repeat it now"
Mr.. Blaine-"Therc are certain repettions
which do not amount to SANDER, and The gen.
tleman may repeat anything in that connection,
as his colleague, Mr., Dawes, very well says, ex-
cepth TRUTH"
MIR, Butler-in his seat-"I did not hear my
colleague say that"
Mr.. Blane-"The gentleman from Massachu-
sets uses this language in his remarkable let
ter: Because the very resolution which author
lied the committee was SO framed and in my
belief, puTposely, in the interests of the demo
cratic party, that such committee cannot report
under the rules of the house, in the face Of
1nTnnnrafiP md hNrf I,oir
in more than year from this time the usual
power not being inserted in it to report at any
time
The gentleman from Massachusetts is very
astute lawyer, but it has fallen under my OBJ
servation that he is extremely ignorant of the
rules of this house. Had the resolution con-
tanned those words it would have been tanta-
mount to suspending the rules, and one objec-
uOn would have prevented it from coming in"
MIR. Blaine then proceeded to show that the
resolution was framed to allow the committee
to report any time during December next, al
luding forclbly TO the fact of committees, like
that on reconstruction, of which Mr. Butler is
chairman, having power to report at any time,
had failed to report at all, and concluded:
81 appeal to the members on both sides of the
house, and they will bear me witness, that the
circulation Of this letter in the morning prints,
its distribution through the land by telegraph,
and laying it upon the desks of members, are
intended to be, by the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts, not done boldly, but coverty. | will
not use stronger phrase. Insult to the speaker
of this house, as such, resent. | denounce the
letter in all its essential statements and
and in all its missatements, and all its mean in
fiuence, and mcaner inuendoes. / denOunce the
letter as groundless, without justification; and
the gentleman himself, trust, will live to see
the day when he will be ashamed of having
written it."
Mr. Butler, in reply, criticised severely the ac-
n fba in axyiu oh =;
cuss, not question Of great public policy, reve-
nue. reform, reconstruction, or measure of ma
tional Importance, but, solely, to mingle in a
personal quarrel, and continued: 81 know
man, and
For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain'
name the speaker; and that dare maintain.
felt all that, knew all that and, therefore,
was scrupulous not to use a word in my letter
that was supplementary or could give just
cause for Offense. | am aware of the new
fedged hopes OF the highest place in the future
OF the speaker, arising from the quarrel which
has been, unfortunately, forced upon the rcpub-
lean party at the other end Of the capital,
of which he wants to take advantage. will
state what | said when he came to my seat yes
terday, and showed me the resolution and ask
ed me to tgo for it, and said should be chair
man of the committee under it, | said, | will
be damned if | will! (Great laughter.) will
have nothing to do with it'll That was my answer.
pNiANNCu hS ouSgCobGu u Iit lTOu
New York, Mr.. Cox, to make point of order
against the bill of the majority of the house,
which carried it over, under the speakers rul-
ing"
Mr.. Cox-"Mr. Speaker, that is not true
Mr.. Butler-T did not say it was true. said
believed it at the time. Uaughter.) believed
it for tbs reason that saw the speaker 90 over
there on the democratic side of the house, get
ting democrats to agree to support the resolu.
ton.
Mr.. Butler-T knew very well what was to
come. And so this resolution to appoint re-
publican committee, by action of the speaker in
league with the opposition, passed. Now, no
body deprecates this unhappy scene on this floor
more than do. | felt, if came into this house
and undertook to make statement of reasons
why could not serve upon the commit
tee, l should be accused of having brought
personal matters into the house of representa-
lives, and therefore l exercised my. right, as
citizen, to address public letter, in public
newspapers, and in pamphlet FORM to my re-
publican associates, in explanation of my posi-
ton. hoped, if anybody had anything to say
inlreply, INSTEAD of forcing upon me quarrel in
this house, to the disgrace and disruption of the
republican party, they would take the same
channel of communication to the public, which
was open to them, and especially as one of them,
who had arraigned me, belonged to the press
gang. (Laughter)
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