National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-04
Curl, tENr CAPITAL TOPICS.
tCOntfREsd from First Pa0e.)
The Scene in the House.


The fact that the civil rights bill was to be
brought up for discussion in the House had the
effect Of croWdiDg the galleries with an interested
audience. Attic proper time Mr.. Butler got the
floor and proceeded TO call up the civil rights
bill, and announced that be would divide the
time equally between the two sides for debate,
and call the previous question at o'clock to-day
He then proceeded to discuss the bill up TO the
point in regard to substituting the Federal for
the State courts. Here he was interrupted by a
question from Mr.. Niblaek, upon which running
both sideE. ensusd. At one point Of the debate
Mr.. Niblaek suggested that II the power was to
pc tekea from the State courts they might as
well abolish the State governments. To this MI
Butler responded by saying If banditti, horse
thieves and murderers who went about at night
committing murders, were in the majority, the
About this time Mr.. Mclean, Of Texas, who
had probably been taking little strong tea, iu'-
aelfed tnat Mr. Ntbisck was not able to take
care OF himself and he interpreted an inquiry IS
70 whether Mr.. Butler had charged the majority
1sS,ts PeopLe as ABOVE. THIS the Massa-
style. But the Southern blood Of the Texas gen.
tieman was not, and he made 3 further answer
as he had hung man In New Orleans" The
remark was not heard by Mr.. Butler, and he
Sleiaed me moor to Mr.. Lynch, Of Mississippi,
had been informed Of the remark and rising In
his seat called attention to it, and by way Of re-
ply informed the House that IL did not worry him
much, as the day for such rufianIy language had
passed. The mem bers at this point len their
seats and CROWDED IN Iront OF the Speakers desk
in greatest confusion Several points Of order
were made, but before they were decided It was
agreed that the language as taken by the report
ers should be read from the Clerks desk and this
was done. Mr.. Butler then said, 1t was true
that he had hung a man In New Orleans and
he glOrfed in it. The only trouble was, that he
had not hung enough OF them.n At this point
the confusion became great The audience in
the galleries applauded, the members all sprung
to their feet at once, and Mr.. Mclean made
movement as II to cross over to where Mr.. Butler
sat, but was prevented by one Of his Texas COL
leagues and Mr.. Lamar, Of Mississippi. Mr..
Lynch was again recognized, and was about to
proceed, when he yielded to MIR. Lamar, who
made parliamentary inquiry whether the Ian
Butler replied that he had measured his words
well, and characterized the language used and
not the member who used II as rut1lanly Con-
fusitn at once followed, and it was next to i'm
possible to hear anything but the sound Of the
Speakers gaVel. Mr.. Mclean made a qualified
re raction, and talked about Mr.. Butler sending
his Sons along If he didn't like 1t. Mr. Butler
again denied that he had said q majority but
half-a-doZen Of the Democrats insisted that he
had. Mr.. De Witt walked exactly to
where Mr.. Butler stood, and, shaking his
finger In his face, exctedly addressed him. Mr.
Butler sat quiet; in fact, he was about the only
quiet man on the floor. Mr.. Pelham thought things
looked little serious, and in an audible tone
suggested that fight might begin, and 1t looked
that way for moment longer, but by the yigor-
Gus use of the gavel the Speaker secured order
and Mr.. Lynch began his speech. The debate
continued until about 10 O'Clock p. m, and during
the entire evening the galleries were packed