Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-20
Hon. Chas. Foster scalps Butler.

All accounts from Washington on the
10th inst, agree concerning the scathing
rebuke that BEN. BUTLER received at tn,
hands OF Hon. CHARLES FOSTER, of the
10th Congressional District of Ohio.
On the above date, the House In Com
mittee of the Whole, were considering
the Appropriation bill. FOSTER and
BECK, who were working in the interest
of retrenchment, had unearted some
frauds ia connection with SANBoRN' s
contracts, whose cause BUTLER hat
warmly espoused. BECK made a strong
speech, followed by BUTLER and others,
when finally FOSTER took the floor. We
have not seen NJ. FosTER's scathing
reply, but slbjoin special to the Chica
90 Tribune concerning it:
Mr., Foster followed in FIVE minutes speech
In answer 20 Buffers defense OF SanboTn and
the CONT acts in tbs course Of which he said he
felt justified in asserting that three -lourths OF
the collections upon which SanbOrn had re.
Ceiyed his 90 per cont. were made by the Iutsr-
nal Revenue officers, and that many of the cases
were in process of collection by the Internal
Revenue Bureau at the time that the Secretary
Of the Treasury made a contract with San born
authorizing him to take hfty per cent. of the
collection when made. Instances in proof
were cited by Foster, aBd under his deliberate,
scatbing statements, made with unrufl. I'd com
posure, Butler grew pale and fairly writhed in
his seat.
Joe Hawley then got the floor to tell of the
manner in which SaHbon collected money from
a Arm in Hartford, COnu., which he denounced
as blackmailing.
Here Mr. Butler attempted to be satirical
and avowed that he did not understand how
this could be Infamous.
As General Hawley felt unequal to the task
of making Buffers nature fine enough to enable
him 10 discern infamy in any of its forms, he
did not undertake the task. The DEBATE grew
spirited, and was carried on principally bv
Butlsr and Foster, TO the Intense astonishmen;
and delight of nearly all who heard It, and the
House and galleries were quite full. While
everybody else shrunk back from the Massa-
shusetts bully, Mr.. Foster boldly came to the
front aud although be never spoke more than
Ave minutes at time before to-day, with per-
feet compesure and undisturbed nerve, and
without descending to slang, or forgetting that
he was a gentleman, lashed the braggarL until
the suffering depicted on hs face became really
pitiable. As Foster proceeded, excamaiions OI
approval and delight were heard all over the
hall, on the floor and in the galleries. In con-
etustou, Mr.. Foster rose and begged TO apologize
for having mentioned the names of persons in
their absence, referring TO Sanborn and his
tool, Lucien HawleY, Of New York, and stated
that he did not know. however, but that he wa;
justified in mentioning them, us they appeared
by attorney. ft
At this Butler changed from pale to a chalky
blue color, and, rising, could scarcely command
breath to deny that he was their attorneys bu
he gathered strength enough to do it finally. j
he could not lie promptly aud hdently, he would
not be Benjamin Butler.
Fosters unexpected burst of courage and dis
play Of nerve apparently, surprised nearly
everybody. II certainly could not have sur
pfised Butler himself more IL he had beer
charged with being a gentleman, and incontest
able proofs 10 sustain the charge had been ad
vauced. lie pulled and blowed and rolled hii
haad about on his shoulders as though ht
eouh not control himself. lie has browbeater
Garfield, Dawes and nearly every one OF the
leaders Of the Republican side Of the House
Just as he was congratulating himself that h'
had bulliod all into submission, he is met by
country member, a yuuug man who has passeC
his life in mercantile pursuits in an obscure
ck-country hamlet, who comes oalmy fer
ward, and, with wonderful confidence, stops biz
way, and more than that, nnh0ses him--hold,
him up, as he was never held up befnre, TO tn,
scorn and contempt 0f tho country III,
shock was terrific, and all felt its full fore,
except Foster himself, who gave no sign Of ex
citement OF any sort. This days work is
good one. Testers courage had the effect +
embolden others and Hale, Of Maine, Dave
and others followed in the same strain hut no
one Of them brought the blond NTH every lasl
OF the whip as did the young man from Obi
who will yet gain national fame.