The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-03-13
Blaine and Ben Butler.

There was very exciting pas
sage of arms between Speaker
Blaine and Ben Butler in the House
of Representatives Saturday night,
while tho vote on the caucus force
bill was being taken. A cores
pondent of the Louisville Courier
Journal thus describes the scene:
While tho roll was being called
the most intense anxiety was mani
tested on the floor as TO the result.
The Speaker had placed Mr.. Cessna
in the chair, aud had come down to
the desk OF the journal clerk,
where he watched the names As
they were marked of. A large
mum Der of members collected
around the clerks desk, among
whom was Butler, who seemed to
resent the keen interest Mr.. Blaine
was taking in the result.
Presently point of order was
mado by a member ON the Demo-
cratic side of the House that men,
hcrs should not stand around the
clerks desk while tho roll was
being called. The point Of order
was sustained, and tie members
were directed TO take their seats.
Every one left except the Speaker.
In q few seconds Butlcr left his
seat and marched up to within u
few feet of where Blaine was stand
ing. A member said To him, in =
tone audible in the immediate vi
entity of the chair, " General, you
have been turned away from there
once why are you going again !"
Butler replied in q loud and in-o-
lent manner, " have Ms much right
TO he there rs tho Speaker.
As if struck by cannon ball
Blaine jumped up, aud in the most
passionate. tones demanded by what
right the gentleman from Massa-
chusctts decla, cd that he had the
same right As the Speaker, to
which Butler, walking out in front
Of him, answered, " My right as a
member of the House. When the
Speaker leaves the chair his place
is on the hoor."
This seemed to enrage Blaine
still moro, while it riveted the st-
tention of the whole House. A pin
might almost havc been heard to
drop, and the occupants of tho gal
leries strained forward to wa'ch
every incident in the strange and
extraordinary scene that was taking
place beneath them.
Butler then went to his scat, and
made from it the point Of order al
most in the identical words he had
uttered IN response to Blaine's per-
sonal interro.atory.
Some confusion followed, and
Blaine bounded into the chair and
nervously raped for order. Com
ing down again, he gave the gavel
to Cessna, and resumed his position
near the tally desk. Butler again
strobe across the floor from his scat +,
and took tho place from which he
had been driven.
Blaine, at this fresh auda..ity, be-
came furious, and turning around
to Cessna, demanded that no rulc
Butler down, saying in hoarse and
angry undertone, intended for
Cessna's ears, but which WAS plain
~ heard in the reporters gallery
above, I" will not be- insultrd in
this way. will have = settlement
with him."
Cessna then refused to sustain the
point Of order made BY Butler, and
Blaine remained master of the stu
alton, Butler going to his seat. The
whole scene did not las: more than
Eve minutes, but it was absolutely
thrilling while it continued, and it
really looked ut one time ~ If it
would be settled with . blow in.
~tead Of the moro peaceablc manner
OF parliamentary rule aud prccc-
dent