Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-09
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
WAsHINGToN, April 8.
SENATE.


The credentials of Geo. H. Pendletou as Sens-
tor from Ohio, from March 4th, lS79 were pre-
sented and laid on the table.
\ large number of memorials and petitions
were presented and disposed of, and bill prov i'd
ing for public building ~ Topeka, Kansas was
taken up and amended Us to limit the cost TO
S2OOOoO, and passed
After Mr.. Sargent finished his speech. Mr..
Blaine formal y offered his amendment to the 18th
section Of the bill.
Debate was continued by Messrs Sargent, BAY
AID, Thurman and Blaine, and Mr.. Herman then
advocated The judiciary committee bin.
MIR Edmunds obtained the floor but gave way
to Mr.. Thurman, who said that number OF Sem
ators bad gone away, some of them not feeling
well, and he had said he would not ask a vote on
any of the propositions to-day, but would ask the
Senate to flush the bill tomorrow.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and when the doors re-0pened, adjourned.
HOUSE.
large crowd OF spectators were present, in ex
pectauOn of exciting scenes in connection W it'll
the election of door keeper.
Immediately after the reading Of the Journal
the speaker said the first question was whether
the resolution presented on Friday, by Butler,
presented question Of privilege, and the House
by viva voce vote manifestly decided that 1t
d |.
A long and exciting debate ensued upon But
lers resolution appointing Gen. James Shields as
Door keeper of the House.
Mr.. Butler opened the debate, prasing the
qualities of Cen She Ids, in whici he appealed to
the democratic party hot TO show the North that
they preferred to place IN an honorable position. a
Conf delate General who had fought against il.
country, than to place there a MON IN smed SOL
der, the hero of two wars.
Mr.. Clymer argued to show that Gen. Shields
was disabled, and would not be able to perform
the duties Of Door-keeper.
Mr.. Butler replied that Ten. Shields was phvsi
cally able to peIior those duties, and had read
letter fl ON that gentleman giving an account Of
his dlssb lities.
The previous question was moved, and not be
ing seconded, ITO to 40, the debate continued,
Mr. Cox of New York having the floor.
The Speaker stated that the House having de-
clded the res Jlutlon to be question of privilege
the resolution was before the House 1t is in the Sc
words
Res lived That the House proceed to the cleo
ton Of don keeper and that the true Union main
ell s.lder Gen. James Shields OF Missouri be
chosen to that office.
Mr.. ely me- asked Mr.. Butter to allow him to
offer substitute for the resolution, and offered
tue following
Resolved, Tat he House proceed 0 the cleo
ton OF a doorkeeper.
Mr.. Butler-l desire that the exact state Of the
question shall be before the House, and | suggest
to the gentleman from Pennsylvania that as We
are men of business we give attention to the mat
tel 10 hand | understsni that since the last adj
tournament there has been caucus OF the Demo-
cratic members and that the Candidate of their
choice is TO be put forward Why not insert in
the substitute the of that candidate and
let the House determine between the two.
Mr.. Clymer- Ii the General withdlaws the nom :
inatIOn contained in his resolution we can arrive
at this thing by single vote, but if be will not do
SO prefer is adhere to the substitute offered.
This Ill throw the question of the nomination
under the rule of the House
Mr.. Butler-l cannot withdraw my nomina-
ton. did not propose TO 20 into this matter
want to meet the question III the face aud there
fore sugges. that the name of the other caud j.
date be placed in the substitute.
Mr.. ely mer-lt the question Wells to me | viii
offer substitute aid demand the previous ques
ton.
Mr. Butler-Oh. pardon me did not yield fl r
that. That is y trick that wi rot do.
Mr.. Clymer-The gentleman has no right to &C
cuse me OF desiring to perpetuate fraud in the
House. 1t Is uuk ind to say the least of 1t.
Mr.. Butler-l Will withdraw it il you assert that
1t was not luteudt d.
Mr.. Clymer-Certainly not; there is 10 trick
about it.
Mr.. Butei-Nery well. them | withdraw the
proposition. A question was is,ed whether had
light to offer tue resolution on that point. | de
sire to submit a letter from zen. Shields.
Mr.. Butler then sent to the clerk desk and had
read letter TO himself from Gen. Shields asking
him (when the Senate bill increasing his pension
to fifty do liars a month should come before the
adding that others who had suffered less and had
not done were On the retired list and that this
Kind act would not iujure him Butter in New
England.
Mr.. Eden suggested that if Mr. Butler would
offer that amendment 10 the Senate bill all the
de mocrats would vote for 1t.
Mr.. Butler (scorufuly)-Oh, yes; hold that
letter as justification. If when | find an office
vacant instead of making the Old veteran of the
Mexican war eat the bread of pension and de-
pendence won Id give him $50 far rs was con-
cerned) Office in which he can earn his living,
and hold an honorable office. The only complaint
that | heard was from the gentleman from New
York (Cox) that Gen Shields was too good for it
that he was too zig aud too noble for it. Now
here is a Union Gem raj, n Mexican General,
twice wounded on the GLORIOUS road to Mexico, a
man without rep. zach, man not seeking the Of
fee (foI If he had written to me to present bis
name for dOorkeeper should have hcstated), but
man who is now travelling through New Eng
land to earn his livelihood by lectu1ing; aud
when such Il man presents himself before me ask
ing the poor plttauce of 500 a month The gets
but 500, aud When see place where he can
get 500 and earn it honotsby and fairly, have
not done right IN bringing his name before the
House.
Mr.. Stengcr-Does the gentleman not know
that this Off re VIII only last for one year, while
the pension will be for life 7
Butler-Paidon me; il he is capable. If some
body does not lie him down by stating him to be
81 years OF age when he Is but 81, he will remain
here for many years. This Office will last him 70,
Two years at any rate, and after that know thai
if we get into power we will give him a pension
besides. Applause on the republican side). And
| know that the other side viii keep him "unles.
some Confederate who is not hurt wants the office
more than he does. applause the republican
sde.)
Mr.. Eden-Does not the gentleman from Mas.
sachusetts think that Gen. Shields would be better
suited to fill the position Of Postmaster General
than that of doorkeeper Of the House, and does
not he think that with hi, great Influences with
this administration he could succeed in getting
him into that office
Mr.. Butler ironically oh! my great intlu-
ence with the administration! (Laughter) The
gentleman must certainly have hardly got over the
festivities of Saturday.
Tue debate WAS continued at great len.th bv
Butler, Itates, Hunton aud others.
Mr.. Butler moved the previous question, and il
beng seconded the final vote was taken on the
resoutiY Il offered by Mr. ely mer as a substitute
for Buters resolution
That the House do proceed to the election
OF doc keeper, and it was adopted yea. l23, nay 5
l09; strict party vote, with but tao exceptions.
On the announcement Of the vote Mr.. Clymtr
| said nominate Cnas. W. Field, citiz.n Of
Georgia. as dooikeeper of this House.
MIR. Butlel-I nominate the gallant Christian,
loyal, trIed and true Union soldier of two wars
James Shelds, bril- adler general oil the u. ).
army. (Lsnghter.)