The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-26

Won going to the House to hear Ben But
Ter on the moiety bill2" | told her that |
felt very well contented where | was, but
with an Il declare, LeNard, you are get
ting too lazy for anything. Come, you'll
enjoy it, know" she hurried me off to
the Capitol, where we found dozen or so
of NJ. C.'s and few gallery ornaments in
full possession Of the Hall. We took a
seat near the Speakers chair and patient
ly awaited further developments, while
gradually the empty seats began to be fill
ed until, by eight o'clock, every bench,
step and doorway presented one dense
mass of fastening humanity. had intend
ed to take a seat in the Reporters gallery,
but when l tried to carry out my design,
behold there was no possibility of NOV
ing even a step, and Madam LeNard found
herself wedged in between friend with a
tendency to faint upon the slightest occa-
sion, on one side, and gentleman who had
a delightful way Of digging his elbow into
her ribs, on the other. Well, the crowd
kept coming until even the corridors were
full, and finally the redoubtable B. B. be-
gan his speech, fully iustifying the expec-
tatiou Of his hearers, who looked forward
to as highly seasoned a dish of universal
Take that, and that, as he administered
on occasions to his fellow members.
Looking aroundupon the immense num-
Der of people who had congregated there,
could not help thinking how much more
readily people will flock to hear anything
savoring Of abuse-a genera! fsticuffs of
words-than a sound, sensible, even elo-
quent speech devoid of that element.
There had all these folks come to be
squeezed, steamed, almost suffocated, Just
because the worthy B. B. is known to hit
right and left, without gloves, when he en-
cages to do so, and on this occasion they
expected him to lift the scalp off more than
one Of his dear fellow Solons; which pro-
ceedng would, of course, give them unlim-
tied qualification.
He took up the Phelps Dodge X Co.
case, and under cover of that brought in
any number of statistics to show how un.
Gle Sam is defrauded Of his just dues in
the revenue line, planting his sharp sting
ing blows now on Beck Of Kentucky, then
on the Republican members Of the, then,
Ways and Means Committee, who, he said,
had out Of spite, played into Mr. Beck 5
hand and aided him in destroying the Cab
met officers Of their own party, whose
scalps he was now wearing at his belt.
Then he gradually launched forth in de
fence Of B. Butler, showing how his breth-
rem had tried TO catch him in some of his
little transactions and how disrespectful a
way Of speaking Of him they INDUCED in.
Among the papers handed by him to the
clerk Of the House for a reading, was a
private letter of Mr. Foster Of Ohio to
some friend and which, it is said, was
found in the streets Of Brooklyn. Now it
must be understood that the reading by
said clerk is a sort Of cross be.
tween a hoarse saw-mill and the
Speakers gavel so you may mag
inc the effect when, after reading
the points which were to be made he stop
ped short after the words and this is TO- -
until all were intently listening. when he
continued have a rap at Old Cockeye.
Such laughing, both on the floor and in the
galleries, | never heard before; and as
Mr. Butler seemed very sensitive in regard
10 that pet name, and repeated it frequent
ly, asking what he had ever done to injure
tie gentleman fHttfff nhie, tie occasions
for renewed laughter we're by no means
rare. AT some of the hits made the gal
lcries so far forgot themselves as to break
out in prolonged clapping of hands, and
Mr.. Blaine and his gavel were insufficient
10 keep down the noise, until he threaten
ed to have the galleries cleared entirely,
when they came to a realizing sense Of
their misdemeanor and remained more pas
siva.
After each of the gentleman opponents
had received his number Of lashes, Mr.. b
grew pathetic, and ended with a sort of APP
peal and prophecy, that the time would
come when the good in him would be rec
ognized, and people would remember that
he had always tried to do the good which
was in his power to do, to all who needed
his help. To judge by the expression Of
the people should think that he was not
a success in that particular department Of
the feelings, for, although his voice sound
ed full of tears nobody would weep witt
him, and when Mr.. Foster broke in with
Let us pray the shout which arose was
so loud that Mr. Buffers reply could no
be fully understood; most people insisting
that it was well you lead, while thos
near him, on the floor, tell me that it wa,
Yes aud spell it with an e." which, b,
the way, is little more Butlerian tina
the first.
by dint of pinching and tanning ! ha
succeeded in keeping my friend from in
dulging in her pet diversion of fainting
but when, after the conclusion of Mr.. B.
speech,a few sensible people went home,
pointed sternly at the clock which declare
the hour of ten as departed and insiste
on an immediate flank movement IN tn
direction Of home. Then we found tina
the members of the masculine persuasion
which were 10 escort us home, were We
wedged in somewhere among the thou,
ands sweating in the galleries, and despair