New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-21
THE BUTLER CIRCULAR.

| other day:
To the Republicans Of the House of
| Having been appointed against my wishes
expressed both publicly and privately, by
the Speaker as chairman of the committee
to investigate the state OF affairs in the
South, ordered to-day by Democratic votes
against the most earnest protest of more
than two-thlrdS OF the majority of the Re
pubicans Of the House. and certainly
against the almost unanimous wish of the
Republican States. whom it most specially
concerns. my selt-respcct and Difference to
your Toed opinion requires me to explain to
you, and through you to the country, why
shall not serve on that committee. being
convinced that no good. but harm only, can
come OF it to the Republican party.
Flrst-Because this committee was forced
upon Republicans by nearly the unanimous
vote OF the Democratic party i'll the House,
aided by some twenty or thirty Republicans
only, against the decision of a majority OF
the party i'll Il duly called caucus OF the
members of the House.
Second-Because this committee was
raised by a combination of high tariff
Republicans with the Democracy, one class
willing to permit the slaughter and exter-
mlnatlon OF their political friends in the
South if the tariff could be saved. even for
nlne months, by an early adjournment of
Congress. and the Democracy acting with
them i'll pursuance of "a deliberate plan care
fully concocted. in my belief. to murder and
outrage enough Union men South to over
come by fear. intimidation and injury "a
Republican majority at the next prcsidcn-
tlal election, well knowing that this com
Ihittee can do them no harm, and that it
will furnish an excuse to tariff Republicans
to vote with them tor an early adjournment
without legislation to protect Union men in
rebel States.
Thlrd-Becausc for any good purpose. sit
ting i'll vacation. it can have under parlia-
mtntary law no power to compel the at
tendance of il single witness who does not
choose to come, or an answer from one when
he does come. as the only method by which
any witness can be brought before a con
gresslonal committee and made to answer
when unwilling. as, the House being in ses-
slon- by It's order may arrest and NAV i'm
prison him for his contempt during the ses-
sion only: SO that any unwilling witness
can not be compelled to testify to anythinr.
and witnesses willingly coming before the
committee to testify TO anything against
their kuk klux neighbors would be killed on
their way home from the committee room.
| do not. therefore, propose to make myself
accessory before the fact to the murder of
every faithful Union man at the South who
shall be brought before the committee and
give truthful evidence of the state of out
RACES and wrong which | know to exist
there.
Fonrth-Because my service as chairman
of the committee would furnish the best
electoneerng documents that could he
placed Ill the hands OF the Democracy in
the coming contest. in this. that the report
OF the committee would be wholly nuua-
tory. llluSorv and useless to show the exact
state OF things at the South Whenever and
wherever the committee would 90 there
would be sunshine and peace. and We
should be compelled so to report. Where
we are not and could not be. banded mur-
der, robbery and arson would stalk abroad
at night to be diSbanded by the rising sun
| have not the slightest doubt that while
serving on vour committee in the Southern
states should be treated with the highest
and most distinguished consideration and
respect. That would he iii the turlheSt de
gree polite. and Southern men understand
politics.
| fully believe that could 90 anywhere
through any portion of the South alone and
unattended. and fortiori when at the head
OF the congressional committee OF investl-
CATION. without personal harm or insult.
Therefore. when Republicans should claim
III caucus that II was necessary to MAINTAIN
the Repubiiran party in power ~ have peace
at the SOUTH and protect our loyal friends
there, they would be answered III every
Democratic husting. You are not to he be
lieyed when YOU saw that laws can not bc
executed at the South. and mems lives and
property are in danger; for you see that
General Butler the man who hanged one
Of their white brethren, the man who
brought New Orleans into suhiection. the
man who is more hated and villi.ied in the
South than any other, can go through it
untouched and unharmed."
tltth-Becausc | have no intention of
aiding the Democratic cause and breaking
down the Republican party by furnishing
in my own self such an argument. because
with these means the efficiency and power
of my services would be useless, and am
not accustomed to undertake to do that
which feel that | have no power success
fully to accomplish. and it is a parliament
tary practice which has lately been illus
trated III several instances in the Senate.
that the chairman of a committee should be
III harmony with the majority who consti-
tute 1t, and there is no element OF harmony
between me and that Democratic party.
largely composed of ScccssionistS, old
W ngs and knownothings, who a:e the
that constituted this committee.
SlXth-Because this committee WAS
brought into being by a legislative trick,
and not Il creditahle one at that, by which |
the wishes of a Republican majority have |
been thwarted by a Republican minority. |
by the aud of Democratic votes, with which |
proceedings. a> a Republican,, desire most |
To divorce myself
Scventh-Because the very resolution |
which authorizes this committee was so |
framed III my belief. purposey iE the IN |
tercSt of the Democratic party, that |
such committee could report, under the |
rules of the House, III the face of Demo |
cratic opposition, and by their position in |
more than year from this time. penal |
power not being inserted in it. To report |
at any time, and being a special select com |
nnttee, II can not. under the rules of the |
House, be called in its turn until all stand |
ing committees have been called, which. in
the last House of Representatives.. took |
more than year, so that without the leave
of Democrats such committee could not |
even make a report and have it printed |
until after the end of the next presidential
canvass.
Eighth-Because the passage of the reso-
luton is a seeming discourtesy to the other
branch of legislation, the Senate having
gotten up the investigation through its own
committee. and having proceeded to very
extent in it and made a report |
n part, which certainly, to every Republican
mind, shows a state of crime and horror
sufficient to Justify legislative action.
The House is made to say to the Senate
You are not competent to perform the work
gou have undcrtaken; we will take it off
rour hands"
| have no tear that your many Republican
friends will think Tor a moment that any
considerations looking t" the lao"r and
atigue OF such an Undertaking Ill sh., heat
u summer and the height OF the yellow
"Fer season in the Southern States, or the
&C that should be drawn from my home
/" carry on an investigation during those
nohtIs after la bOrlou, and ar;luou- service |