The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-03-20
Potter and Butler,

I
that We copy his report:
Butler made long and ingenious
| ly Worded defence Of Sanborn anC
the Sanborn contracts. He denied
that he had any theing to do will
the passage of the law authorizing
the contracts, and was at great pains
to defend his faYorite. In the course
of his praise of Sanborn, Butler stat.
ed that, among other caess of delin-
quent taxes which he said would
never have been discovered and col
lected, but for Sanborn, was that of
the Erie Railroad, in the amount of
half million dollars. Mr.. Foster.
of Ohio, asked how much had been
collected Of this delinquency from
Erie Road. Mr.. Butler quickly re-
piled that nothing had been collect
ed, and that the reason of the delay
was simply that the corporation had
set the newspapers on the track of
the contracts to create the impress
ion that there was something fraud
lent and wicked in them, so the law
authorizing them might be repealed.
Mr.. Foster followed in a five man.
utes' speech, in the course Of which
he said he felt justified in asserting
that three -fouths of the collections
upon which Sanborn had received
his fifty per cent. were made by the
internal revenue officers, and, that
many Of the cases were in the pro-
cess of collection by the Internal
Revenue Bureau at the time the Sec
retary of the Treasury made a con
tract with Sanborn authorizing him
to take fifty per cent. of the collee-
tion when made. Instances in proof
were cited by Foster, and under his
deliberate, scathing statements, made
unruffied eomposure, Bntler grew
pale and fairly Writhed in his seat.
The debate grew spirited, and was
carried on principally. by Butler and
Foster, to the intense astonishment
and delight of nearly all who heard,
and the House and galleries were
quite full. While every body else
shrunk back from the Massachusetts
bully, Mr.. Foster boldly came to the
front, and although he never spoke
more than five minuaes at time be-
fore today, with perfeeG composure
and uudisturbed nerves, and with |
out descending to slang or forgetting |
that he was gentleman, lashed the |
till his suferings, as de-
picted On his face, became really pit
liable. AS he proceed, exclamations
Of approval and delight were heard
all over the hall, on the floor, and in
the galleries.
In conclusion Mr. Foster begged |
70 apologize for having mentioned
,he names Of persons IN their alb
lence, referring to Sanborn and his
DOL, Lucien Hawley, of New York,
jtating that he did not know, how
.ver, but that ne was justified in
mentioning them, as they appeared
" attorney. At this Butler turned
rom pale to a blue chalkey color,
nd, rising, could scarcely command
ireath to deny that he was their at
orney. But he gathered strength
nough to do it indly. It Fosters
Unexpected burst of courage and dis
lay of nerve apparently surprised
early everybody, it certainly could
OF have surprised Butler himself
lore if he had been charged with
eing gentleman, and incontestable
roofs to sustain the charge had been
dvanced. He pufed and blowed,
nd rolled his head about on his
as though he could not
ontrol himself He had. browbeaten
fairfield, Dawes, and nearly every
ne of the leaders on the Republican
ide Of the House, and just as he was
ongratulating himself that he had
ullied all into submission, he was
let by country member, young
ian who had passed his life in mer-
antile pursuits, in an obscure, back
ountry hamlet, who comes calmly
1rward and with a wonderful conf.
ence stops his way, and more than
nat, unhorses him, holds him I'D as
e never was held up before, because t
was done deliberately and with f
ut passion, to the scorn and con- I
'mpt of all the country as the apol- T
gist and advocate of the meanest s
ring Of scoundrels that has 4
'er been exposed in this country, il
Mess indeed the reformers' ring in Il
ew York. Mr.. Buffers other pre- n
Gus possessions, he excepted. The t,
.ock was terrific, and all felt its full e
rec apparently, except Foster him
If, who gave no signs of excite c
ent of any sort. This days work ?
a good one. Fosters courage and
ccess had the effect to embolden u
hers, and Hale, of Maine, Dawes =
d others followed in the same 9!
ain, but not one of them brought ~
: blood with every lash of the ~ ~
lip as did the young man from N
no, who will yet gain National n
ne. -
When compared with the report of
the Congressional Record, the HI