New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-17
TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUSE.I

COME BEFOkE IiiE oL-','' 80
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUSRi
WASHINGTON. Thursday, May l6. 1872.
Mr.. Butler brought forward to-day, according to
the notice he gave yesterday, Lis resolution TO OK
tend the operations of tho KuKlux law until aiter
the Presidential election by providing for recess
Of Congress until the last week in November. he
changed the date for the beginning OF the recess anu
made it the Cd of June instead of the 10Th OF May.
He did not attempt to conceal the real purpose oil
his resolution and frankly avowed that he had Of
fered il as the only feasible way OF. getting vote
upon the extension of the Ku-Klux law He was
proceeding to give reasons why that benefcent
measure.D as he called the law, should
be kept in force until after Grants
reflection and had begun to read from pamphlet
some details Of the dongs of the Ku-Klux. when no
was called TO order and "snufled ont" by decision
of the Speaker that he could not discuss statute
upon motion for recess. He rebeled against this
decision and persisted in going on, but was finally
extinguished after repeated calls of order and
loud clatter from the Speakers gavcl. Mr.. Beck
attempted to say few words against Buffers reso-
luton, but was compelled to desist by cries of
order from Butler and Dckey. Mr.. Butler then
demanded the previous question: but the House re-
fused to second it by vote of "a to 49, This cost
Butler the floor, and Mr. Dawes was recognized TO
offer resolution, agreed to by his Committee liking
the third day of Juno for sine die Adjournment
This he moved as substitute Tor Mr.. Buffers
resolution. Mr. Butler would not give up the strug-
gle although it was clear that he was badly beaten
from the start, and he insisted upon the Yeas and
Nays, with the hope, apparently that not many Re
publcans would dare to go upon the record against
measure which he, in his capacity OF Adnlnlstra-
ton leader" had introduced. He was grieyously
disappointed however, as the roll-call made nm
figure in a ridiculously small minority-142 votes
being given for Mr. Dawess substitute to 81 opposed
The attempt, by digging up the Ku-Klux skeleton
and rafting its bones before the House, to frighten
that body into giving the President power to re-
elect himself by putting the country under martial
law and suspending the habeas corpus during the
whole Of the coming political canvass, thus turned
out to be miserable failure. The scheme
will probably be abandoned. Certain Adj
ministration Senators asserted yesterday that
no adjournment would be permitted until
their bill to continue the Ku-Klux act had been put
through the Senate and had been brought to test
vote in the House. If they are wise they will accept
the vote of to-day as a complete test and allow the
project to drop as quietly as possible. An hours
talk with members Of the House on any day within
the past week would have convinced the most san
quine Administration man that majority could not
be got to vote for keeping the law alive for evident
political purposes; but, with the faulty which con-
stantly impels the partisaps Of Grant to commit
egregious and damaging blunders, Butler precipi-
tated his resolution upon the House without making
this preliminary inquiry. and the result was NOR
tifying defeat small amount of sagacity would
have saved the Administration from the odium it
must now bear of attempting TO prolong the life OF
tue expiring Ku-Klux act and from the ad;li-
tionai disgrace of making a wretehed failure in the
attempt.
The Senate took up their Ku-Klux bill this even
ing the last Thing before the recess so it comes up rs
unfinished business tomorrow morning Ii will
then be seen whether the party managers Will have
the good to drop the whole business. 1t is not
probable that they viii, but, with many of the Ap-
preparation bills pending and nearly all of the oheI
important legislation of the session not yet acted Oh
will insist on wasting three or four days on this bill
The House has full control OF the adjournment ques
tion IL the Senate does within two days agree d
the Dawes resolution to terminate the session on the ID
OF June he intends bring UP the old Senate resolution
adopted in March, for adjournment en- the goth Of
Nav and have IL passed. This would bring the Senate
20 terms and II there should be disposition III tina
body to prOong session. in order to get action upon
THE Ku-KIux bill it would be impossible 20 do so. The
only means Of avoiding adjournment on the 2sti
would be for the Senate let the House have its way
and concur in fixing upen the Sd OF June.