The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-05-20
A WORD FOR BUTLER.
n DEFENSE PROMPTED BY
THE ANIMADVERSIONS
OF Il WRITER IN
THE GAZETTE.
WASHINGTON D. c., May 5.

WASHINGTON d. c., May 5.
To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette:
In a recent number of your paper,
over the signature Of Granger" /
saw what 1 consider a very unjust
reflection on the public service, &c,
of very worthy gentleman and pub
lie servant, 'he Hon. r. r. Butler.
l dc not care which side Of the con-
troversy you are on, you seem dis
posed to open the ''temple of jus
tice" TO all, and would, I am sure,
open your columns to even a politi-
cal enemy, that he might correct an
error or erase an injurious impress
ion created by publication in your
paper. / therefore presume to tres
pass on your time and patience one
moment.
AS lam from the fifth District of
Tennessee, and do not ask. nor
would accept az Office of any kind,
I can have no personal interest in
the political complications in the
first District-hence no sinister mo-
tivcs can be attributed to what say.
1 have been in Washington almost
continuously for four years, have
been by my business and social re-
lations. thrown in contact with men,
bers of Congress and other officials
of the Government, 50 as to become
by personal knowledge, observation
and public reputation, familiar with
the merits of members of Congress.
l do not believe l exaggerate, nor
do I stand in fear of contradiction,
when assert, there is not in Con-
gress harder working man than
your r.. r. Butler.
/ appeal to your readers, and the
good people of his district, if he ever
turned deaf ear to any of them,
without regard to politics, personal
friendships or other relations.
There is not claim or complica-
tion in Washington that they write
him about that does not receive his
spersOnal and prompt attention; he
responds to all calls, all demands
and all requests made upon him, and
at once. He is thoroughly familiar
with the departments, and their va
rious duties-knows how far he can
go. whatto ask and:expect-and can
in consequence, get more than nine
out of ten of the members here to-
day. There is not seed, plant or
shrub received at the department of
Agriculture that can he used or
grown in Tennessee, that lie does
not secure for such of his constit-
uents, as will attempt to grow it.
There is not a book, or other dOcu-
ment published. that he does not
secure his full quota and send them
to his people who will take them
he works early and late, in and out
of honrs-in short, he does more
work for his home people than any
man know of here, and yet, he is
always at his post in Congress.
o dehater in Congress, he has done
better. he makes himself felt in the
committees and in the House, where
most OF the work is done, where
more can be accomplished than by
these highfown speeches--few MEM
bers of Congress pay attention to
the speeches. as they are delivered
and fewer of the speeches published
at an immense expense TO the Gov
ernment. are actually delivered in
the House. They are usually writ
ten out, partly read to the House,
then the whole printed, corrected,
published and sent out to the peo-
ple- While these windy orators
are writing. correcting and revising
speeches, that are not deLiUered schere
they pssypOrt to be. and putting the
Government and tax payers to ex-
pense 20 publish them, Mr.. Butler
hammers away at his anvil. pounding
out the pure metal-he is doing
something for his constituents or the
Government.
Mr.. Butler cannot be accused of
Inconsistency, nor with attempting to
shirk the responsibility of any of his
acts. What he does, he does from
an honest conviction Of right, and
adheres to it until convinced to the
contrary.
1 will venture the assertion that
ne has done as much in the interest
OF Agriculture in his District 40 any
other man in it, not excusing he who
hides behind the signature Of Gran
ger. and IL the Grangers require a
champion, who, though . straight out