The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-03-23
WASHINGTON,
Extraordinary Scene in
the House. a
GEN. BUTLER's ATTACK ON SPEAK
ER BLAINE.
SeathinE Reply .F~sm BIaIne-A
Fierce and Bitter Debate. .1
WAsHINaroN, March l6, 1871
N EXCITING SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

AN EXCITING SCENE IN THE HOUSE.
The disintegratioa and Decentralization
which have been going on in the Republi-
can party IN Congress since the 4th of
March received a most forcible illustration
to-day IN one of the most exciting and ex--
traordInary scenes ever enacted in the
House OF Representative. Not only was
the Speaker compelled to leave his chair
and defend himself on the floor of, the
House from a severe assault made upon
him by General Butler, but five RepuOl-
can members arose in their seats and de-
clined to serve on the special committee TO
investigate the South, wich chad been
appointed yesterday. For two hours there
was storm of bitterness, invective, GRIM
inaton Tand recriminatien, charges of
trIckery and falsehood, of corruption and
slander, between the Republicans who
have split on the policy to be pursued in
Legislation, that has never been equaled in
the party ranks IL Congress. Phe Demo-
cratic members poured into the main aisles
and viewed and listened with astonish-
ment 1t was a scene 50 remarkable that
liGeneral Butler even denounced 1t as dis
graceful W the party, the House, and the
country. The Democrats, however, did not
participate IN the debate, but seemed will
lIng that the Republicans should fight II
out on their present line, even if II pro-
tracted the session all summer. The gall
leres were. quite full and enjoyed the dis
play by bursts of applause and roars OF
laughter. he occasion was on a letter
| which General Butter had addressed 10 the
Republicans of the Forty Congress
giving eight reasons why he should not
abide by the decision Of the House yester-
day on the Southern question, and de-
nounclng that action as being the result
of legislative trick, planned by the
Speaker and carried into effect by thirty
or forty Republicans, who acted with the
Democrats for that purpose This letter
was not only published In the Admins
tratlon paper here this morning, bit p~in-
| ted in circular form and distributed on the
! desks of every member and Senator The
4 feeling among the Republicans at this
step was very bitter, as it contained 81
| many mis- statements of facts that 1t was
! very generally assailed. Butler, however
| was not content with writing the letter
| but IN pursuance of his purpose to break
| up the committee of which he had beer
made Chairman, came into the house. anC
taking advantage of personal denial O.
the charge made by General Kelley
! launched into debate to reiterate every
4 one of the eight propositions which he haC
! made in his letter. Finally the Speaker
| took the floor to answer Buffers charge
| against him, and he proceeded with muct
| feeling and great force to give the Massar
! ehusetts member a severe and caustit
soathing. He not only convicted Butler
! Of falsehood out of his own mouth, but
| proved to the satisfaction of all presen
/ that Butler had altered the record t.
/ serve his own purpose. On the first poin
he inquired of Butler if he did not know
that the Speaker wrote the resolution fo
the Special Committee. Butler replied
that he had no such information. Tht
Speaker replied: "Why, sir, wrote it anC
showed it to you myself, and you sugges
ted an amendment that the expenses of j
! be paid out of the contingent fund of thu
I House Butler was the verY picture 0
rage at this announcement. On the sec
ond point Butler had charged in his lette
that only twenty or thirty Republican
had voted with the Democrats for thu
committee, whereas the record showed tina
fifty-eight, or more than majority Of all
had so voted. Butler had further charged
that the Speaker had coerced Republicans
to-vote for the committee, whereupon thu
: latter called on any member to rise anC
state if such was the fact, and if not, t.
forever hold his peace. Not a membe
rose but Butler from his seat, who spite
4 fully reiterated his statement The Speak
er, IN the. course of his speech, charges
that Butler would have prevented hl
nomination in the caucus, and if he coult
have obtained respectable minority to g
with him, he would have led them Just a
! he did the rebelsin the Charleston Conven
J ton of 1860. As to the Speakers haviDi
played trick upon the House, Mr. Blain
said: "I despise and spit upon the asser
ton, and denounce his insolence in ques
tioning my right to offer a resolution.
Butler snarled out from his seat, in rage
at was trick-I reiterate, sir, it was
trick" Blaine replied: "I consider thi
letter a covert Insult to the Speaker, an
as one of the meanest, most cohtemptiblt
and most unfair and unjust attacks tha
has ever been made" a roundof applans
greeted the sentiment. Butler arose, an
/ for moment seemed so enraged as to
| unable to speak. Order having been RI
! stored, he went ahead in fierce reply, d.
: claring lsr-o