Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-02-13
Radical Impartiality!


tycoucert 70 make a gross attack on the peo-
pie Of the South, portion If whom he as
sai.vl as "murderc,s, awicss meu. blnii,ti,
AMI horse thieyvs-mea who ride at night in
uniform and murder negroes" lie was not
called % order or Ia any way restrained by his
roli,ica, friends or the Speaker.
The next day Mr. Browa Of kentucky. in
describing an imaginary character, said
d" In scotland years ago there was man
whose trade was murder, and he earned his
livelihood by selling The bodies Of his victims for
no,l. Tie linked bis name to the crime, and
to-day il IS known throughout the world as
Bw&ius.
As soon as he rcachcd this point the Speak
or, who was evidently on the lookout for a eli
max. stopped him abruptly in these words.
The Speaker-Does the Chair understand
TIE gentleman % be referring in this manner
to member Of the House?
Mr. Brown-No, sir; AN describing an
individual who is Boo my minds eye.
The Spaakcr-Vhe Chair understood the
gentleman 70 refer 20 q member Of the House.
Nothing had been then said which justified
this interference, and the Speaker had no right
to anticipate what nigh: be said Then
Mr. Brown concluded:
"If wished 70 describe all that was pusil
/ luminous in war, iuhuman in peace forbidden
I iu morals, and infamous in politics, | should
cal! il Bu;l,r.z.ns.
This puugont description startled the pro-
prie,y Of Dawes and his set, who had beard
Blaine and DonucIly and Butler, and Bingham
aud Stevens denouuce each other with charges
and epi,hs,s o; The blacklist stamp, without a
murmur Of disarproba,jou.
On Friiay Butler hal the floor Every
body expected a violent sceue Of personality
The rules expressly forbid any allusion to
members by name, aud that was the alleged
reason Of the ccusure inflicted on Mr. Brown.
Now mark the conduct Of the Speaker on this
: occasion, ana contrast iswi.h the experience
twenty four-Aours before After drawing a
picture Of John Brown, in which he purposely
reflected on the member from Kentucky, But
Ter proceeded: " dare not trust myself to be
a cu,ogist Of that john Brown, the younger Of
that name Therefore pray the clerk to read
It from the report Of the committee on Flee
tons Of this House "--reicrring to letter Of
Mr.. Brown written at the outset Of the rebel
lion. Objection was male TO this personal al
fusion and TO the use Of a members name, as
the basis for 4 prepared attack. Mr.. Blaine,
who had been So quick to anticipate in the
other case, sal mildly:
IT is not fvr the Chair to dictate the line Of
debate f1ra member. The gentleman from
Massachusetts, &C course wW eRisIr0r to keep
himself within the limits Of ProprIety."
Thus encouraged, Butler went on and pro-
lucel newspaper comment on John Young
Browns position" Another poiut Of order
was raised and then the SpcaSer slii:
1.-The Chair hopes the gentleman from Mas
saChuset,s will accept lsJm the Chair q Slyges-
ton tha, the liUo u comment on which be Is
about % enter has more direct reference aud
relevancy 90 the painful occurrences Of yester-
DAY than 81 tie general discussion Of the Civil
Rights BILL Il IS l7doHy and entirely persona!
90 Us nature
AT the same time the Chair repeats that
nothing Is more difficult aud nothing would
De productive cf more mischief than for the
/ Chair o. assume TO rule strictly upon the line
which ANY gentleman may follow in his argu-
meat Iult, e course, must be guided Ia a
large degree by the view Of the gentleman
speaking as - rs proPric'y and peril
lcuco
Sustained 10 this way, Butler went on in q
verse strain and was again called to order,
VIXEN the Speaker held:
" The CHAR ~ course cannot BE- a censor
oa Zee Irlr.sy # TIE llHgrage used here"
Further objection was useless, aud he flush
al one Of ,hc most indecent harmngues ever
delivered 10 Congress, to the confusion Of the
ladies gallery and Of every proper man in the
/. hall. As far as Butler could make /, 50, the
personalities were gross throughout, and yet
I he was upheld By the Speaker and DO word Of
ccusure was Ii,pcd. This uufaiTuess ought 70
be remembered at tie end Of the session, when
complimentary resolutions may be proposed.
Mir Blaine deserves the sterucs.rcbukc forthe
most shameless Partially, aud that toward one
; who has no claim to the public respect.