Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-04-06


| A very extraordinary scene took
place in the Senate between Garret Da.
Ivis and Ben. Butler, which while il
lasted, created profound sensation,
ESPECIALLY in the galleries. Garret had
been speaking for some time upon
Sherman's resolution instrcting the
judiciary Committee to report Ku-Klux
bill, and had worked himself up into
considerable passion at what he consid-
cred the unjust charges of disorders
made upon the South, when Ben. But
Ter came into theSenate. At this point
Davis was facing his Democratic col
leagues, and was apparently exhOrting
them. Butler, observing who was
speaking, marched over in that direc-
ton and took seat directly next to
the Kentucky Senator; then stretching
his legs out, he wheeled his chair
around, threw his head back and look
ed at Davis with an expression on his
face Ofmingled insolencea and contempt.
The galleries, thinking it a mere piece
of bravado, enjoyed the thing hugely.
Davis, whose back was still turned,
had reached that point in his speech
where he was claiming that the stories
of Southern outrageS were grossly eX-
|aggerated. "They are more" said he;
'sthey are the vile inventions of un-
principled adventures and heartless
scoundrels, made to continue their i'll
gotten hold in political power; they
are" and here turning around in the
warmth of his feeling, he beheld But
Ter almost at his very elbow, looking
straight at him with face immOvabiei
as stone. Davis Immediately paused
in his half-finished sentence, placed
both hands on his desk, and giared at
Butler almost with the ferocity ofa
tiger. Butler returned the Kentuck-
ian,s look unfinchingly, only growing
a trifie paler. This tableau continued
for several moments, neither of the
men changing his attitude particle,
while the galleries looked on in pain
full suspense, and surrounding Senators
held their breaths and affected an un-
concern which no one felt. Finally,
Garret drew himself up, thrust his
clenched fist almost in Buffers face,
and said, "Here! here is the man.
This is the class of men who concoct
the stories of diabOlical Southern out
RACES, and then asked for unlimited
power to suppress them. Look at the
scoundrel! here he is" and his excite
ment becoming too great for him, he
sank back in his seat, while the Speak
er promptly suppressed some threating
demonstrations which were attempted
in the galleries. It being one of those
things were interference was very
delicate matter, no one had attempted
anything of the kind thus far, and
those present breathed more freely
no~ Gr0Dvn1 s.,fo hic ooof
Still Butler never budged or altered
the expression of his face, although a
thousand eyes were turned upon him.
Garret was no sooner in his chair than
he wheeled it around and commenced
to draw it up in short jerks in the di-
rection of Butler, until the distance be-
tween them was almost imperceptlble,
when he burst out again with "Oh,
you scoundrel! you rascal!' with few
strong adjectives prefacing each of the
above epithets. ibid you come here
to insult me?" Butler replied, "Go
away from me. What do you suppose
I care about you? Go away.n Garret
was about to strike Butler, when Hen
ry Wilson. left his own seat, hurried
over to the scene of the threatened con-
fict, and placing himself between the
two men, stopped the disgraceful pro-
ceedings at once. Davis, on Icing APP
pealed to in a calm, considerate way,
cooled down at once, and retired into
one of the Senate ante-rOoms. Butler,
however, stalked aorund the Senate
for several minutes, laughing and talk.
ing to this and that one, as if nothing
whatever had occurred. When Davis
was asked, later in the day, why be
gave way to his preiudices in such q
conspicuous manner, he replied that it
was very evident to him that Butler
took his seat there for no other pupose|
than to insult him, and he would allow
40 man to do that. Butler, however,
says that he no more thought of Davis
when he sat down than he did Of the
man in the moon, and never had the
least idea ofinsulting him. The gener-
al verdict tonight seems to be that if
Butler must have rows, he had better
keep on his own side of the house.