Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-06
HOUSE

had been made, the most noticeable {
which were these Of Messrs. Phelps an
Shanks, Gen. Butler called the previou
question.
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Shank
caused the equal rights p.ank of the Dem
Ocratic platform of 1872, to be read, Whicl
created a burst Of laughter all over tn
House, which was again and again renewed
when he announced he would offer il as
preamble TO the bill.
Mr.. Butler accepted the amendment.
at twenty minutes to one O'Clock, Mr.
Butler rose to close the debate on the bill
The scene presented in the House hal
rarely been surpassed. Every gallery. in
Guiding the diplomatic, the ladies' etc.
is crowded, and nearly a Thousand
persons crowded around the doors en-.
deavOring to obtain admission. Before Mr.
Butler commenced his speech a motion wa:
made to admit the ladies to the floor, bui
objection was made by Mr.. Niblack. Mr.
Buffers speech was very moderate, con.
| tanning no personal allusiOns whatever. In
the course Of his speech, MIR. Butler caused
to be read a petition to the Mississippi
| Legislature, in which a white man asked
that seven different children by six different
cOlOred women be legitimitized. The read
ing Of the names was greeted with bursts
of laughter. He followed up this point by
| asking the clerk 10 read a letter received By
/ him from a eOlOred man in Richmond, in
| in which he declared that cOlOred children
| twelve years old, and even under, were out
/ ragged in that and other States by white
men and boys, and no redress could be
obtained in the court.
Mr.. John Amber Smith, Of the Rich.
mOnd district, pronounced the statement
utterly false, which drew forth applause
| from the Democratic side Of the House.
Mr.. Butler maintained that the passage
Of the Civil Rights bill was imperatively
| demanded to correct this condition Of so
! ciety. Under the guise Of showing the
! struggle through which the question Of
| equal rights for the cOlOTed people has
/ passed, Mr.. Butler, in his speech, endeavUr-
ed to square accounts with john Young
Brown, who assailed him yesterday. He
pronounced a eulOgium On old John Brown,
and said he was brave man, who had
never done a cOwaTdly act, never struck at
man behind his back, and never told a
lie. And then he went on to contrast hin
with another John Brown, the Younger
Of that name, (referring to Mr.. Brown, OF
Kentucky, and sent to the clerks deskto be
read a communication TO the Louisville
Courier in 1861, in which he admits
having declared at a public meeting that
not one man nor one dollar would Ken
tucky furnish to Llncoln to aid him in his
unhOly war against the South, and that if
the Northern army should attempt to cross
the borders of Kentucky, it would be re-
sisted TO the death, and that if one man
were found in the commonwealth to vol
unteer to join it, he ought to be and would
be shot down before leaving the State,
Before the clerk had completed the read
ing of the letter, a pcint Of order was
raised by Mr.. Hale, Of New York, who in
sisted if it reflected on a member Of the
House it should not be read.
ST.. Butler, on the other usnd insisted
II was the ofi+lcclla report made BY the Elec-
'iOi committee to the House Of Repre-
sentatives,
The Speaker represented the difficulty Of
deciding on points on debate, but held if
the gentleman from Massachusetts asserted
It was pertinent to the subject before the
House, 1t could not be excused, if it did
reflect on a member, because it was con-
tanned in an official report.
Mr.. Hale then aid he trusted the gem
tleman 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
distinctly, asked Mr.. Hale to repeat it,
which the latter did, strongly emphasizing
the word shame.
Mr.. Butler-I cannot understand it. sat
Nflra vr-ifh mn larsc eaolad for hons
day and heard every hard word spoken
against me, and there was no objection Cd
the part of the Objecting member from New
York.
Mr.. Hale-The gentlemen is in error. l
did raise the objection.
Mr.. Butler-Yes, when your own re-
marks were quoted against you.
Mr.. Hale-No, sir.
Mr.. Butler-I have lived to see many
things and l expect to live TO see many
more, barring accidents, but l never ex-
pected to live 70 hear in a House Of Repre-
sentatives that public report adopted by a
former house could not be read over, out of
kind consideration for the feelings Of some
man who put himself in rebellion against
the country.
After a long discussion on the point Of
order, and after the reading of the letter,
Mr. Butler resumed his remarks. He said
the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. BROWN
made a speech against the Civil Rights
bill, and | have endeavOred to put before
the House his published sentiments to show
how little heed We should pay to anything
he says on this subject; to show how little
we should take his advice, how little we
should hear from him at all, unless he has
repented, and / have no knowledge of his
repentance Again, have been accused
here of being the only murderer
on this floor. l produce the
solemn report Of a committee of the House
and this mans own letter, to show there
were men who cOunseled murder in the
South; not only murder, but assassination,
and instead of my being his accuser, he was
an accuseT, and that this state of things ex-
isting shows how completely the negro. if
We do not protect HIM in his rights, is at
the mercy Of the same men who would
shoot down the gentleman himself (Ir.
Brown if he had ever dared to step across
the line Of Union bayonets during the war.
[Applause and clapping Of hands on the
floor and in the galleries.
Mr.. Grassland, Of Kentucky, called the
attention Of the Speaker 10 this violation
of order.
The Speaker tbereupon directed the Ser
geant-at-ATms, on the recurrence of any
such manifestation, to clear the galleries.
Mr.. Butler-The reason why we desire
to have this bill passed is the fact which
has been so often put before us, that we are
about passing from power. We are to sur
render the power of one branch of the
Government at least into the hands of the
gentlemen who entertained the sentiments
toward Union men and Union soldieTsth that
l have had read, who have avOWed them on
the stump, and who have never, to nv
knowledge, retracted them. If was wrong
the other day, and went too far in saving
there was a minority Of murderers in the
South, here is my justification. The House
of Representatives has sOlemnly said it bv
adopting that report. Not only murderers,
but assassins, and therefore | was right in
saying the minority were so.
Mr.. Eldridge made a point of order on
Ar. Butler's last remarks, which were re-
duced TO writing.
The Speaker ruled there was nothing in