National Republican., 1878-04-06
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
[continued ftom Nra Rnae. |

when he was fairly elected. Tho gentleman
should recollect that Il was neither grateful
nor honorable TO give this man the crumbs
when he should have received a feast. Gen
eral Shields was Democrat, and the gentle
man should not attempt 10 make little clap.
trap by offering him this humble office. II
was too late for the gentleman from Massacbu-
setts TO pretend that ho was not a partisan.
The gentleman has recently helped to seat two
Democrats on this floor and he seemed to he
gravitating again to the Democratic side. To
change familiar quotation, he would say that
While tho lamp holds out to burn
The Hobies sdiesrldn may roturn.
tLaughtcr.l For when the gentleman ap.
proarhos the Democratic side even In a par
allel lire. as he did In tho DEAN case, he
would he the last to call him the "vilest sim
ner.' tIaushter.1 We were too pure on tho
Democratic side to do that. The gcntleman's
course looks much as though he intended to
injure and damage General Shields. Oh the
devious. dcceitful ways Of politicians IL
might bc that the party In caucus might So.
lcct General Shields for the Office and, II So
he would he glad to give him his vote. But
no felt hound to follow his party in the mat
ter. When he saw the gentleman from Mas.
sachusrtts, who was growing gray, about to
return to his early love he would not reproach
him. I.aughter
Mr. BUTLER said that when he left the
Democratic party II was Nh honest party, aud
II never put its sins. ms II did yesterday in the
House, on one poor man and make of him
scapc- goat, and thus save themselves. When
tho other side Of tho House rcdcems itself he
may return to them. [Laughter1 The gen.
tleman said II was clap-trap for him to offer
this resolution. General Shields was poor
man and Union soldier and he wanted 10
mako provision for him In his old age. When
the House voted that General Shields was not
entitled to seat he was In good condition,
and besides, these election cases were partisan
questions, disguise II As we may. He did not
expect an attack from tho gentleman from
New York (Str. Cox. He supposed that gen
tleman had learned enough not to attack him,
and he (Mr. BuTLER) would grant him the
mercy Of his silence.
Mr.. cox IN. W said the gentleman had
often said the same thing, and he did not ask
him for any mercy.
Mr. BUTLER. "Shoo 6y; dou't bodder mo !"
tLaughter.l Continuing Mr.. BUTLER said the
gentleman had said that the Republicans did
not take care of Shields when they had the
power. lie answered that the Democrats had
had two Congresses, the last one and this, aud
why has II not occurred to them to take care
of that gallant man instead Of tho man they
had destroyed yesterday? Why do they need
caucus to determine tho matter? Why not
take the present opportunity Now ia the
tLaughter.l
80 opportune an occasion may mover return
again. 1t is only while the lamp holds out
to burn" that "tho vilest sinner may return
Renewed laughterl The Hamo Of tho lamp
is hickering and it may go ont forever. The
opportunity may depart, and you will raise
your hands in horror, while you cry lost, lost,
lost! Laughter.l But tho gentleman says
this office Is not good enough for Shields, and
hr talks about following the party. lie (BuT-
LER) would not follow party In the wrong.
He had had the courage ~ q Democrat to Vp.
pose the advancement and extension of
slavery.
Ho always endeavored to do the right rs God
gave him to see the right regardless of the
mere demands of party, and he hoped the
other side would do justice. But if the party
held caucus and did not select Shields, he
hoped they would at least select manned SOL
disr, even though ho should be Confederate.
Now Us to the quection of order. He believed
1t WAS the right Of the House to proceed to an
election for Doorkeeper, and, as his resolution
stated he wanted to settle the question by
selecting the hero of two wars.
Mr.. COX IN. ". recognized the great sbil-
ity of the gentleman from Massachusetts, but
he never thought him so lacking in resources
M to be compelled to repeat old wit. lie
never knew the gentleman to be SO independ.
ent of party until after he was beaten in the
Salem district for Congress. As to his inde.
pendeDce on the slavery question, the gentle
man was o member Of the Democratic cOnyen.
tion at Cincinnati in 1856, and also OF that at
Charleston in 1860 both Of which said much
on the subject of slavery, and the gentleman
ndorsed their resolutions and platform.
lie should therefore be tolerant of those
who differed from him. He knew the many
good traits of tho gentleman from Massachu.
sets and admired them, and hoped he would
no more indulge in stale wit for the purpose of
creating amusement
Tho SPEAKER said that Mr.. BUTLER
claimed recognition as question of privilege
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cox
made point of order against 1t. Would the
gentleman state upon what precedent he
claimed this as question Of privilege?
Mr.. BUTLER replied that there was no
precedent, for no such case had occurred as
that of yesterday and the case OF last Congress
1t was certainly question of privilege to per-
feet the organization Of the House.
The SPEAKER did not think the election
of a Doorkeoper was actually necessary to the
organization.
Mr.. BURCHARD inquired how the subject
could be brought up except as question Of
privilege.
Mr.. BUTLER said one man had been put
out yesterday AS question of privilege, and he
could not understand why another could not
~
was no other way to reach the case.
Mr. BANKS argued that it was question
Of privilege.
Mr.. BEEBE moved that the determination
Of the question whether this was u question of
privilege be postponed until Monday next, I'M
mediately after the reading of the journal.
After some discussion on points Of order, the
SPEAKER ruled that the motion was proper,
aud that il was within the determination OF
the majority of the House,
The motion was agreed to by a vote Of l?5
yeas to liz nays
The regular order was demanded and
The SPEAKER called committees for reports
of private nature.
Mr.. TOWNSEND On. W, from the Commit.
tee on Indian Affairs, reported bill to amend
the act providing for the sale Of the New York
Indian lands in Kansas. Passed.
Mr.. SCAL.-> from the same committee, re-
ported bill for a survey of the Cattaraugus
Indian reservation. Passed.
Mr.. MORGAN, from same committee, re-
ported bill to authorize the Eastern band of
Cherokecs to enter suit In the Court Of Claims
against the Cherokee Nation. Referred 10 the
Private Calendar.
Mr.. MASH, from Committee on Military
Affairs, reported bill TO restore Captain
George A. Armes to the army. Pending its
consideration tho morning hour expired.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole OH the Private Calendar, Mr.. THOMP-
son iu the chair.
The following bills were passed For relief
OF Mrs Emma a. Porch OF Contraction, Mo-