The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March Ii.
SENATE.

Mr.. Sherman was temporarily Iaiu on
the table.
Mr.. Sherman offered the following
resolution:
That as organized bands OF des-
perate and lawless men, mainly com
posed of soldiers in the late rebel army,
armed, disciplined, disguised and bound
by oaths as secret organizations, have
by force subverted all civil authority in
the late insurrectionary States, thus
overthrowing the safety of persons and
property and all those rights which are
the primary basisand object of all civil
and as the courts are rem.
dered powerless, by organized perjury
to punish crimes, therefore the Judiciary
is instructed to report a bill
or bills that will enable the President
and Courts of the United States to eX-
ecute laws to punish such organized Vi
olence and secure to all citizens the
rights so guaranteed them.
Mr.. Sherman asked for the lmmedl-
ate consideration Of the resolution, for
which unanimous consent asked.
Mr.. Blair objected, and the resolu-
ton was laid over under the rules, and
upon the request of Mr.. Sumner, was
ordered to be printed.
The following were introduced and
referred to committees
By Mr.. Wright-Repealing the act
fixing the times for regular meetings
OF Congress, approved January 22d,
1867.
By Mr.. Wilson-For the protection
of persons resident within the United
States against unlawful combinations
and conspiracies. Referred to the Ju-
dietary committee. 1t provides for the
punishment of unlawful acts of men,
bers of the Ku-Klux-Klan organiza-
ton by the United States Courts as tcl-
ons; authorizes the President to employ
the land and naval forces Of the United
States, and call out the militia OF any
State in which the unlawful combina-
tons exist, in order to bring the offend
ers to trial, and requires grand and petit
Jurors to swear that they have never
counseled, advised, or aided such com
binations or conSpiracIes.
Mr.. Davis introduced a joint resolu-
ton proposing an amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States for
the establishment OF constitutional
tribunal consisting Of one member from
each State with power TO decide all
questions Of conflict and jurisdiction be-
tween the United States and the several
States and the constitutionality OF all
bills passed by Congress or any Govern
ment officer, and TO open and count the
electoral vote for President and Vice
President. The proceedings before the
tribunal may be on petition or appeal
from all Courts of the United States
and States. A majority of the mem
bers of the tribunal shall decide all
questions brought before them.
Upon. 'piration Of the morning hour
House bill making appropriations for
the payment of additional clerks and
in the Pension office and
for other purposes, was taken up.
Pending action on the bill the Senate
at ll5 went into executive session and
soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
There was an exciting scene in the
House to-day just after the reading Of
the journal, arising out of letter ad
dressed by Mr.. Butler TO his Republican
colleagues on the floor Of the House,
explaining his reasons for not serving on
the special committee TO investigate
Southern outrages.
Judge Kelley denied the truth Of the
letter, which charges that the high
tariff men were united with the Demo
Gratis to pass d resolution.
Mr. Butler said that he did not in his
,etter refer to Mr.. Kelley, because he
kelley had always stood with his
party and attended the caucus, and felt
himself bound by the caucus decision.
He referred to other Republicans who
we're tariff men and who had fought all
bslls introduced TO suppress the Ku-
Klux.
While Mr.. Butler was speaking, Speak
er Blaine called Mr. Wheeler, of New
York, to the chair, and came down
himself to the floor, and as soon as Mr.
Butler finished, Speaker Blaine was
recognized by the speaker pro tenn. and
proceeded 20 deliver one OF the most
scathing speeches made in the House
for many years against Butler. He
denounced the letter Of Mr.. Butler as
false in its statements and mean in its
and inferences. Mr.. But
Ter, he said, had spoken of tricks. The
whole country knew that the gentleman
from Massachusetts, was the embodi-
ment OF trickery. At this re-
mark the Democratic side of the
House started TO applaud, and
it was some time before the Speaker
pro tenn. could restore order. Mr.
Blaine became more aud more
excited. He charged Butler with in-
as party man, and intimated
that if it should further his personal
he (Butler) would 20 over to
the Democratic side and lead them az
as he did at the Charleston
convention, when he voted fty-six
times for Jefferson Davis for President.
Republicans who did no, ike Butler
started an applause, which communi-
Gated to the galleries and for some time
the House was a scene Of uproar and
confusion
Mr.. Blaine resuming, said Mr. Butler
was Chairman Of the Reconstruction
and had refused to report
when he should have reported, other
wise We might have had a bill passed
for the relief OF the South long ago.
Mr.. Butler got the floor TO reply.
He said he was not responsible for the
disgraceful spectacle which the House
haA ritpaoaaI T.