Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-05
SENATOR BUTLER'S SPEECH.


having the floor, the discussion arising on
the statement incidentally made by Senator
Butler that a corrupt bargain had been
made to secure Mahone's vote on the Repub-
lican side. The Senator from Rhode Island
considerable excitement in the
debate on the 10th, but Senator Butler re.
manned cool throughout, merely promising
that in due time he would address the Senate
upon the disputed point, and make good his
charge. This he did on Thursday last, in
speech of over two hours, presenting seven
teen reasons to prove the charge Of corruption
between the Republicans and Malone. The
speech received the undivided attention of
full chamber and crowded galleries. The
proceedings of the day are reported as fol-
lows:
The Vice President having laid before the
Senate the unfinished business, being the
resolution for the election of Senate officers,
the usual motion was submitted by Senator
Pendleton to 60 into Executive session, and
met with its unvarying fate, being lost by
vote of yeas 20, nays 81.
Senator Butler then took the floor, -premis-
ing his speech by reading from the Record
the report of the colloquy which occurred be-
tween himself and Senator Burnside on the
2Oth, during the course of which he had
stated that if he did not, by irrefragible evil
dence, establish the fact that there had been a
bargain, he would resign his seat in the Sen
ate. In endeavoring to do 80 he desired it to
be understood that with the motives and pur
poses and intentions Of senators as individuals
he had nothing to do. He was not here to
impeach the motives or to cali into question
the individual integrity and honesty of sena.
tors. The senator from Virginia (Mahone)
had said that no man could search the hu.
man heart. That was true; but men were
held responsible for their acts to society, and
it was his duty as senator to crltlcise the
legitimate public acts, public votes and pub
lie utterances of all men who belonged to the
public. He made no charge against the SEN
ator from Virginia. He had nothing but
the kindest feeling for that senator, but
when that gentleman and his friends rose and
charged the Democrats with revolution and
treason, it was his CButlers) duty, in vindi'
cation of himself, to account for the course
which he was taking.
What we're the evidences of the bargain
First. The senator from Virginia (Mahone)
was elected to the Senate as Democrat.
Second. His purpose to vote with the Re.
publicans had never been announced until
his vote had disclosed that fact. Third.
Following that vote, he had been assigned to
the Craftsmanship of an important committee
by the Republican caucus. Fourth. This
had been followed by the nomination of
Riddleberger for ergeantat.arms. Fifth.
George G.. Gorham, an earnest friend of the
senator, bad been nominated as secretary.
Sixth. He (Mahone) had appointed Cor
hams brother.in.lau as clerk of his commit
tee. Seventh. The nomination by the Pres
sident of Mahone's political friends to FEEDER.
al offices. Eighth. The senator had voted
on every motion with the Republicans. Ninth;
By such votes he was carrying out the will
of the Republican caucus. Tenth. He had
moved his seat to the Republican side of the
Chamber. Eleventh. The Republican eau:
Gus refused to transact public business until
Gorham and Riddleberger were elected.
Twelfth. The senator still claimed to be q
Democrat and voted with the Republicans.
Thirteenth. Riddleberger was heretofore Of
fensive to the Republicans. Fourteenth. The
senator from Ohio (Sherman) avowed that
anything that would beat down the Demo
cratic party was justi6able. The Democratic
senator's had been assailed because they voted
as their consciences dictated, in order to
divert the attention of the country from the
unlawful alliance. Sixteenth. Instead OF in
viting an investigation Of the charges, the
senator from Virginia and his friends sought
to prevent free speech and legitimate discus
sion by threats and denunciations. Seven
teenth. The reason ass gned for the coali
ton was that the senator from Virginia was
in favor of free ballot and fair count
Free ballot and fair count, continued Sen
ator Butler, when at the last election the
State of Indiana WAS colonized with negro
voters from the South, in order to nulify and
neutralize the Democratic vote of that
State!
He then proceeded to reply to portions of
Mr.. Frye's speech, regretting that gentle
mans absence. He repelled the assaults
made by that senator upon the State of South
Carolina, asserting that the people of that
State were living in peace and harmony.
Was this insatiate crusade upon the South
never to stop? If secession had been mis-
take and crime, how egregiously had the
South suffered for it. If the maintenance OF
slavery had been crime, bow the ravages OF
time had settled with her for it. Was there
never to be stop to tantalizing, misrepre'
senting and eliminating people who had a
problem to deal with such as no people ever
had before, since civilization had daWned
upon the earth? Instead of helping to solve
that problem, the Republican party had
thrown obstacles in their way, and then cursed
and mathematical and misrepresented them
because they acted with the Northern Demo
cracy. There was not in the heart of any
Southern man a scintilla of hostility to the
colored race. He trusted that God would
strike him down and paralyze his right arm
if he ever had particle of hostility to that
kind hearted race, which had protected his
wife and children during the war. 1t was
base calumny on the manhood and honor OF
Southern men to say that they oppressed the
weak and lowly and humble born:
Senator Hale said that he would not answer
IN detail Senator Buffers speech. His col
league (Frye) would, when he returned, be
am ply capable of taking care Of himself
Senator Hale replied briefly to some points
Of Senator Buffers speech.
On motion of Senator Malone, resolution
vas adopted calling on the attorney general
for co opy of the report of special agent Z; |
y. Lancaster to the United States marshal
ior the Western District of Virginia.
ILL., Gn,ato thor, fnL,tian of SHQ1tQc |