The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-06
Forty Third Congressional Session.
SENATE.

OLNAlL
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.
The Chaplain, in his opening prayer, alluded
to the death of Senator Buckingham of Con-
necticut, saying: We come before Thee, .
Lord, admonished by the tidings of the morn
ing that in the midst of life we are in death.
Another member of this body has been called
from the scene of his earthly labors Bless and
uphold the members of his family and surviv-
ing friends.
Immediately after the reading of the journal
Mr.. Ferry of Connecticut. said:
Mr.. President rise to the performance of
what is to me the saddest duty of my public,
life. 1 announce to the Senate the death of
my colleague, on this 1e or, which occurred this
morning in Norwich, Conn, at 20 minutes of
IL o'clock. just as night was turning into
morning Gov. Buckingham died. hope on
another occasion to be able to say something
befittng his memory. At present [ offer this
resolution:
Resolved, That a committee, to consist of
five senators, be appointed by the chair, to at
tend the funeral obsequies of William A, Buck
ingham, at Norwich, Conn.
The resolution was seconded by Mr.. Anthony
and unanimously agreed to.
Mr.. Ferry also offered resolution that as
further remark of respect for the deceased the
Senate do now adjourn.
The Chair appointed committee to attend
the funeral as follows Messrs. Ferry of Con-
nectcut Sherman, Stevenson, Fenton and
Washburne
Mr.. Ferry said the Senate was aware that in
his nfirm condition Of health, it would hardly
be possible for him to 60 to the home OF his late
colleague and return here without great risk to
himself. So far as he was concerned, he would
not decline t9 go on account of his physical in
disposition, but there were others who were in
terested in his health, and he must prefer ask
ing to be excused.
The Vice President appointed in his place
Mr.. Hamiin of Maine.
The Senate then adjourned till tomorrow.
HOUSE.
The attendance in the House to-day was
fully as large as yesterday. The House met at
ten o'clock, but long before that hour every
seat in the gallery was occupied, hundreds
standing around the doors in hopes of getting
inside the chamber. The mems gallery was
entirely occupied by coored men.
The civil rights bill was taken up abont half
past ten, and three or tour uninteresting ten
minute speeches were made up to eleven
o'clock.
At quarter after twelve, several speeches
having been made, the mos. notable of which
were those of Messrs. Phelps and Shanks, Gen.
Butler called the previous question.
In the course of his speech Mr.. Shanks
caused the equal rights plank of the Demo-
a burst of laughter all over the House, which
was again and again renewed when he an.
nounced it as preamble to the bill.
At1240 Gen. Butler rose to close the debate.
The scene presented has rarely been surpassed.
Every gallery was crowded, and nearly a thou
sand persons crowded around the doors trying
to obtain admittance before Butler commenced
A motion was made to admit ladies to the
floor, but objection was made by Mr.. NIblack.
In the course of his speech Mr.. Butler caused
to be read petition to the Mississippi legisla-
ture, in which white man asked that seven
different children by different colored women
be legitimatized The reading of the names
was greeted with bursts of laughter
Mr. Butler then had read a letter written by
Mr.. Brown of Kentucky during the war, and
contained reasonable sentiments
Before the Clerk had completed the reading
of the letter point of order was raised by Mr..
Hale of New York, who insisted that if it re-
tlected Oh member of the House, it should
not be read.
Mr.. Butler, on the other hand, insisted that
it was an official report made by the Election
Committee to the House of Representatives.
The Speaker represented the difficulty Of
deciding on the points in debate, but held that
if the gentleman from Massachusetts asserted
that it was pertinent to the subject before the
House, it could not be excluded, even if it did
reflect upon member, because it was con-
tanned in an official report.
Mr. Hale then said he trusted the gentleman
from Massachusetts would not shame the
Republican side of the House by such an attack
upon a member when no response could be
made.
Mr.. Butler, not having heard the remark dis
tinctly, asked Mr. Hale to repeat it, which the
latter did, strongly emphasizing the word
"shame."
Gen. Butler closed his speech at Is minutes
to 2. No demonstrations, either of approval or
disapproval, took place, either in the galleries
or on the floor