Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-04-17
Our Washington Letter.

oi tne real business OF the session has been trans
acted the proceedings in both houses Of Congress
have been decidedly interesting. The interest be-
gan on Monday over
THE DooRKEErERsHIr CONTEST
In the House. and throughout the day the fun
was fast and furious. 1t will be remembered as
stated in our last, that the position had been de-
clared vacant on Friday, and the matter of ap-
pointing another doorkeeper had been postponed
until Monday. General Butler had nominated
General James Shields for the place, but the de
mocracy proposed to go into caucus before voting
for anybody This they did ON Saturday, and
nominated General C. W. Field Of Georgia-a
confederate general-as their candidate for the
place This brought matters to focus, and on
Monday the galleries of the House were crowded
to suilocaton in anticipation Of the contest I'm
mediately after the reading Of the Journal the
ball was opened by the irrepressbe Ben who had
seen an opportunity for little personal glory
several days before, and was now eager to follow
tup The House voted to 90 on with the cleo
tion Of n doorkeeper, and Butler at once nomi-
mated Shields This he did with u flourish of
trumpets, peculiarly his own, which was especially
gratifying to the lookers-on in the gallery Hester
Cymer, the chairman of the democratic caucus
and one of the ablest Of the party in the House.
followed with the nomination Of Field and an an
| mated tilt occurred between him and Butler
The latter took up his position In the area in front
of the Speakers desk, and hamngued the House
as II il were jury. lie had read letter written
| by General Shields to him from Boston, asking
him to use his influence to get his pension Of fifty
dollars per month increased to one hundred dol
lars. Butler said he had kept the letter till he
found a vacant office, and the opportunity was
now presented to give him an Office worth two
hundred dollars per month. As to Field he had
given allegiance to the Sultan of Turkey and be-
sides was a traitor to his country The penalty
of treason was death, "and, +" said Butler, 81 be-
lieye am the only man who ever strictly enforced
that penalty" This remark created a sensation,
and after Butler sat down he was, fguratively
speaking, torn to pieces by the Southern members
Hutton Of Virginia, Blackburn of Kentucky
and Mcmahon Of Ohio made ringing speeches Of
political character, which were, by turns, anus
ing, denunciatory, eloquent and bitter Black
burn was especially severe upon Butler and re-
marked that the helpless, wounded prisoner whom
Butler hung Mt New Orleans was the only in
starce known where anyone had been hurt by the
warrior from Massachusetts. Blackburn was
suffering from carbuncle on his right hand,
which was done up in a sling, but his left hand
did double service in emphasizing his remarks,
which were at times quite eloquent Butler at
tempted to deny his remarks concerning his hang
ing Of the confederate prisoner, but was finally
obliged to remain seated and take, as calmly as
possible, the castgation which was administered
Anent the spat between
BUTLER AND BLACKBURN
an amusing. and somewhat dramatic, incident
occurred. When Blackburn had finished his
speech, and while the members and galleries alike
were applaudng him, Butler marched over to
Blackbnrn's seat, and in rather sharp tone said,
" Can see you, sir p " Yes, sir, you can re-
piled Blackburn. "When p Now or any
other time :" Follow me, then" Blackburn
followed the General, who led him to the District
of Columbia committee room When Blackburn
had entered, Butler locked the door, and without
changing his severe expression of countenance,
placed his hand in his hip pocket and drew there
from a-bundle of papers, and proceeded to argue
with Blackburn on the merits of the Washington
market company question. Blackburn is menu
Der of the district committee while Butler is at
torney for the market company Blackburn says
he expected by Buffers stern demeanor that he
was to meet him in sanguinary contest, and that
arm was done up in sling.
The result Of the days doings was the election
of Field AS Doorkeeper by some fourteen majority.
The democrats attempted piece of political clap
trap by voting that General Shields should be
placed the retired list of the army as brigader-
general When the bill reached the Senate the
next day Mr.. Edmunds opposed its immediate
consideration by saying he saw no reason to pick
..t,tt II II.
thousands of as brave and patriotic men and vote
him large pension to get political party out
Of II very uncomfortable dilemma"
One of the important events of the week was
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
On Wednesday evening for the election of the new |
Congressional committee. Eugene Hale presided
and Conger of Michigan acted as secretary Colo
mel Joyce was appointed as the Vermont member
of the committee. There was full attendance
some twenty-five Senators and over one hundred |
Representatives. Senators Conkng and Blaine
were made conspicuous by their absence, which |
fact however did not detract from the harmony |
of the proceedings or the wisdom displayed in the |
business transacted Senator Sargent, of Califor. |
mia, attempted to have a committee appointed who |
should wait on the President and request him To |
rescnd his civil service order, prohibiting govern |
ment employees from taking part in elections
Senator Edmunds, however, gave this move a |
quietus by having it referred to the Congressional
committee, with power to act in the matter or let
1t drop AS they might see fit. The makeup of |
the committee is such as to bring all the different
factions of the party together. The friends of the
are well and strongly represented
by Charles Foster of Ohio Eugene Hale of Maine,
General Burnside, Senator Cameron of wiscon-
sin, Wait of Connecticut, Colonel Joyce, Grape of
Massachusetts, and others. The only pronounced
opposers of President Hayes and his policy upon
the committee Senator Spencer of Alabama,
Senator Dorsey of Arkansas, Senator Rollins of
New Hampshire, and one or two others of no par-
ticular prestige or influence in the party The
election of Jacob Campbell as the member from
Pennsylvania is disastrous blow to the Cameron
clan in that state
THE VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR PARTY
held here on Wednesday evening was a social
success. Some two hundred were present mostly
Nermonters; the entertainment arranged was in
terestng, the sugar excellent and greatly en-
ioyed by all. while the dance which wound up
the evening, was INDUCED in by both old and
young until the " wee sma " hours Of the morn
ing. Mr. John r. Thompson, president Of the
State Association presided and introduced the
different speakers in happy manner Colonel
D. e. Smith, prominent patent lawyer Of this
city, and Il native of Franklin county, was the
first speaker, and entertained the audience with
numerous amusing anecdotes Of his early life.
5. b. Perry, Esq, prominent legal gentleman
OF Chicago, and a native of Vermont, made very
speech, relative to the Sons of Yer
mont in Chicago the eminence attained by Yer