The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-18
A LIVELY DEBATE.
That Between Gen. Butler and Mr.. Clymer
and Others Regarding the Election of a
House Doorkeeper,

n
4 That Between Gen. Butler and MIR. Clymel
and Others Regarding the Election of 8
Mouse DoOrkeeper.
Associated Press Report
General Butler continuing his remarks IN
! favor of substituting the name of Gen. Shields
[ in place of Mr.. Field as Doorkeeper of the
Housed said: Gentlemen of the other side,
ask you in the closing not to do this thing
I We are little sore. Up North there are 9
] great many graves dotting the hillsides OF
our villages with the grass hardly grown
/ green over them, and which we are going &c
I decorate on the 30th of May next-the graves
/ OF men who fought to save the Union. Do not
/ send sobbing widows and weeping orphans
l TO their husbands and fathers graves with
I the idea that their comrade has now been put
behind those who led the army that killed
those husbands and fathers. Do not press us
so fast; we will get along soon. Be a little
tender with us for while. We have not got
quite to that point yet. speak in all friend
illness. never have attempted to excite be-
fore, about this matter, any unkind feeling.
tell you, men of the North, that this seems a
small matter, but so was the first gun fred at
Sumter. 1t did not harm, but it lit up a
flame that almost destroyed our country, the
effects of which we are feeling yet. Men of
Pennsylvania, so true and so staunch to the
Union in the time of its troubles, let me say
to you that this will light up among the
glorious old hill tops of that State and among
her loyal citizens a flame, which, like the red
cross of ROder!ck, will spread from hill top
to hill top. This will be, after while, a po-
itical question. pray you in all sincerity,
in all spirit of friendliness do not do this
thing. You have shown by the election of
your Post master, in the regular course of
business, that you choose to give a recogni-
ton to the Contederacy and we bore with that
because in that matter you were organizing
your House in your own way at first, but now
by the visitation OF God (it the vote in this
House the other day can be called that you
have cut down a DoOrkeeper and Union
manned soldier, whom, If you do not like to
honor for what he did in the war of the rebel
lion, you must honor for that glorious charge
at Cerro Gordo. He is before you for that Of
flee. If you do not wish to stand by him on
account of the wounds which he received
from Stonewau Jackson's brigade, you can
stand by him on account of the copper bullet
which he received from the MeNicanS. / say
when such a man is presented to you do not
try to strike him down.
Mr.. Eden-Did the gentleman make any
complaint against the appointment of Gener-
al Longstreet to an important office by Gen
al Grant.
Mr.. Butler-I made no objection to his
appointment, and do not know that there
was any one armed Union soldier who was
seeking for the same office at the same time.
Mr. Eden-Does not the gentleman from
Massachusetts know that General Shields is
not seeking for this Office now?
Mr.. BuUler-I thank God that he is not, but
let me say further about General Longstreet
General Longstreet had repented for more
than two months. Sneering laughter on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Eden-His repentance, 1 suppose, con-
sisted in his joining your party. IL a Confed-
crate joins your party, he is fit for office, but
so long as he remains with the Democratic
party he is unfit.
Mr.. Butler-PardOn me; never knew that
General Longstreet had Joined our party. i
do not care whether he did or not; he not
only repented, but he gave works meet for
Laughter More than that, l
\ ork said, the other day, that | was growing
old when have lived to hear, in House of
ofthe American Congress, the
TACT that man repented OF his treason to his
country Sneered at and coughed down.
Mr.. Clymer said: The immediate business
before the House is the election of a Door
keeper to fulfill the responsible duties con-
nected with that office. Our experience in
the past has not been fortunate, and we are
here to endeavOr to repair past misfortunes.
The gentleman from Massachusetts would
have us elect person of his choosing. | will |
join with him in doing all honor to the man
who served in two wars; who was Senator |
rom two States, and who, in every relation |
Of life has performed his duties faithfully |
and well. Let us ask the gentleman who has |
spoken about the pension to be granted to |
General Shields, whether he knows the fact |
that within the last five weeks, while the mat |
ter was pending in the Senate committee, the |
pension was increased from $50 to $50 on the |
ground in proof before that committee that |
Shields was not only personally disabled, so
that he could not earn livelihood, but in |
addition he required the services of some one |
10 take care of him. Does he not know that |
that was the ground on which the pension |
was increased? Now, | say to the gentleman |
from Massachusetts, that when that bill shall |
come up | will join with him in granting the |
request of Gen. Shields to make it 500, and !
will go farther. will, if the gentleman will |
DIN me, vote for a bill to restore |
him to his place on the retired |
list of the army which will give |
him 5000 year for his life. will go farther |
md vote to pay him for services which he |
would have rendered in that Congress from |
which he was turned out, though elected by |
majority of thousands by the Republican |
party, headed by the gentleman from Massa- |
chuSetts. Applause on the floor and CALLER |
es.i l wish TO say to the gentleman that /
lear the Greeks bearing gifts laughter |
md do not propose as "A member of the ma |
ority that he shall dictate who shall be our
officers. When in the past history of tie |
gentleman has he honOred a soldier, when /
hat soldier was a Democrat? Did not you |
and those that followed you drag Mcclellan I
m disgrace and shame from the army? Did |
not YOU east Hancock into exile when all |
alone? The whole line of glorious men who !
suffered for the Union cause, have you ever |
IGNORED them il they were Democrats? Never |
in all our history; and never would you il |
YOU did not think that ut this hour you /
could drive a wedge into the Democratic |
party and rend it TO pieces. We are neither |
to be controlled nor frightened, and when |
.he gentleman appeals to me and to others |
rom Pennsylvania, l tell him that the red |
lag which he attempts to flaunt in our eyes |
has no terror for me or for the people which |
represent. Among them the war is ended. |
70 them peace has come and no agitation, |
such as the gentleman from Massachusetts |
would give rise to to-day, could drive them |
from their instincts. We are here to elect q /
proper person for DOOrkeeper. We will not |
elect one who is utterly, totally disabled to |
perform its duties, and we will elect one of |
The party who is capable as know, honest |
Is Ibelieve, and who will be faithful TO the |
high trust which this House shall impose up |
on him, uninfuenced by the threats of the |
gentleman from Massachusetts. [Applause.I |