The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-27

the report in the Kellogg case came up would
stand by that report until it was settled
and have never told a Democrat on
the other side of the Chamber except Gen.
Butler, that if this motion was made in thus
case that would vote for it in preference to
voting on the Kellogg case. 1 told Gen. Butler
and they should delay it and his friends should
bring up motion for bis admission L would
stand by the motion. Now if that is corruption
call it corruption and make the most of it, 1
propose do my duty, and there is no power la
the Senate or out of it that can drive me from
what BIT lieve is right [ am prepared to give
the Senate and the country the reasons wby /
vote for the admission of M. c. Butler as
Senator from South Carolina, and am ready to
stand or fall upon the verdict of the public
when L give these reasons. | would soonar
lose my right arm than do anything to endan-
ger the supremacy of the Republican party. Ii
voting for M. @. Butler because he ia honestly
and fairly elected is to destroy the Republican,
party, God knows it ought to be DESTROYED very
soon. Inc Kepubllcan party cannot be affect
ed by question of right, but the gentlemen
ask me to do wrong. Seating Gen. Butler
makes one more Democratic vote on the opno.
site side of the Chamber, but it is not nv fault
that the case of Kellogg is not before the Sen
ate and that his case was not voted upon be-
fore the case of Gen. Butler was brought IN.
The conrts have decided that the legislature
which elected Gen. Butler is legal and lawful
body, and am bound to obey their mandate
and l propose to do it.
Mr.. President, some people affect surprise
at my vote. There is not Senator on this
side of the chamber who does not know that it
was published all summer that would vote
for the admission Of Gen. NJ G. Butler. [
think there are around me some gentlemen
who stood by the President and who advised
the President to commit what think the
GREATEST hlundpr of his administration and
that was to remove the troops from the state
house in South Corolna. L fought that policy
as long as l could and L wish could have con-
tinued to fight it until this day, but was
stricken down and my party went down with
me.
My friends assembled in Columbia after the
legislature was organized. | took their advise
upon this question-lawyers, members of the
house who had voted for me. 1 submitted to
them the question, snow what must I do'' and
they told me with very few exceptions that all
you can do now is to vote to seat Butler. They
say the Hampton legislature is legal, lawful
and constitutional. We.think it is better for
the peace and quiet and protection Of our peo-
pie that you should not aDtagonize them on
that question and that you should vote to seat
Gen. Butler. have plenty of witnesses here
to the truth of that statement
After what have passed through in South
Carolina in eight years in political campaigns,
do not propose to be bull-dozed in this Senate
South Carolina, mention that on last Thurs
day, when the subject was before the Senate
and before had voted upon it, received a
despatch which L shall read, from friend in
New York, citizen of South Carolina and one
of the most prominent Republicans we have
there, man who spent as much money in the
campaign last year as any man in the state to
secure you your seat, Mr. President, and Mr.
Hayes his seat. He telegraphed from New
York to me as follows:
"New York, Nov. 22-Hon. j. j. Patterson, Sen
ate,-Stand firm by Butler. 1t is the only hope we
have got"
My friend from New York, (Conkliug) for
whom l entertain as much respect as do for
any man in this chamber, ia his good natured
way talked about holy or unholy alliances.
Well, do not know whether he referred to me
or not, but am voting TO seat M. G. Butler.
and suppose that gives color to the idea that
have formed some alliance with the Democratic
party. l have no doubt it is surprise to the
Democrats, because this is the first time they
have ever got any such aid and comfort from
me. never voted to lower the flag, some 9TH
ers did, did not l do not know what my
friend from New York refers to by ''holy or un-
holy alliances" have stated all l have had
to do with this question II that is holy ALI
ance or an unholy alliance, or if it is corrupt
bargain, lee the world know it and will take
the responsibility of my action before my pee
pie and before the country.
am hrst responsible to my people in So nth
Carolina for my action here and will let tn EN-
say whether it is corrupt bargain. L will let
them say whether it is holy or unholy ali-
ance for me to vote for the man of their choice
when he was fairly and honestly elected. | call
upon the Democrats on the other side of the
Chamber to say whether L ever offered any
terms to them or proposed any. L say right
here to the Senator from Vermont that / hope
be will ask the Senate to appoint committee
of Investigation and let US see whether there
has been formed a corrupt bargain and want
the world to know whether [ am party to it..
challenge such an Investigation.
The Senator from Vermont voted against the
admission of Pinchback, why? Because he
thought it was right to vote that way. Did
who voted for Pinchback's admission because [
thought it was right to vote that way, get up
in this body and charge corrupt bargain? No
have too much respect for him, and too much
respect for myself to do such thing.
Right here now, Republican Senator'S (be-
cause 1 am Republican Sena.or,l bring up
any question OF party if you dare before this
body, any question that is legitimately party
question it you dare aid will vote as square,
ly as any of you. L have been read out of the
Republican party because l am casting this
vote. have been consistent member of the
Republican party since its organization, but if
voting on my oath and on my conscience and
on my full responsibility as Senator for a
man who is honestly and legally elected is
treason to the party because that man is a
Democrat, L say the men who make that
charge are not the formers of the Republican
party. The Republican party of this country
is the party of the right. Let every member of
that party do that and maintain the proud
character of that great party winch [ love as
dearly as love my life. Let me say to nv
Republican friends on this side of the cham
Der, Possess your souls in peace, the star of
the empire to which my friend from New York
referred the other day is not going westward
by nv vote. Oh no, there is no danger of
that"
There is one personal matter that I propose
to refer to since L am on the floor and I make
the reference to the matter more to do Justice
to the gentleman who is asking seat on thus
floor from my state than to myself. 1t was
published IN newspaper the other day tn at
Gen. Butler met me in a private corridor of this
chamber and ordered me to come in here and
vote upon motion. l wrote card to the
newspaper, l hoped it would be satisfactory,
but any person who will read the newspaper
will find it was not The editor of the news
paper pretends that he has reliable information
that the statement he made is true and that the
statement made is untrue. 1 have this to say
in regard to that statement When the Sena-
tor from Vermont tEdmunds) moved to strike
out the name OF nj. y. Butler of South Caro-
lima, and insert the pane of VIM. Pitt Kellogg
of Louisiana, went into the corridor and there
met Gen. Butler and he said, Senator, that is
party question, cannot ask you to vote
against that motion, it may place you in a false
tor Conover. Senator Conover has gone to his
committee room and he is not going to vote and
the motion will prevail by the casting vote of
the Vice President"
Gen. Butler demonstrated with me and did
not want me to vote, but came in and voted.
AS to the language that the newspaper was
used by Gen. Butler, it is simply untrue Isay
today that am representing the best interests
and wishes of the Republican party in South
Carolina when vote to seat Ger. M. G. But
Ter.
After the conclusion of Mr.. Patteerson's re-
marks Mr.. Conover spoke at some length.
MIR. Edmunds said he felt it an unpleasant
task to test the sense of the Senate ia order
that the honor of all the Senators would be
indicated aud that the truth might be known
by having an inquiry into this whole business.
The Senators saw Thursday last and the peo-
pie of the country. saw some scenes which oc-
CURED in the Senate chamber respecting the
conduct of persons claiming seats, and Sens-
Tors as well, which caused shock, sense of
shame and humiliation on both sides of the
chamber. That was followed by statement
in the public press that che of the members of
the Senate beng under an Indictment in one of
the states in the Union for alleged crime of
bribery in securing his election to the Senate
must either vote for the admission of certain
applicant or go to the penitentiary.
Mr. Patterson said that if Senator Edmunds
GnId ta.( De- 49,. a. L