Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-18
Mr.. BOutelle Raises a Breeze in
the House,

A special in the Boston Journal Of Satur-
day, says: Congressman Boutelle of Maine
caused two things to be done ia the House
to-day which shows, at least. that his repub-
licanism has no uncertain sound. The other
day when the resolution of Hewitt, the leader
of the democracy, calling upon the President
to interfere in the case of O'Donnell was
submitted to the House, Boutelle Immediate
ly drew q very apt paraphrase of it, adapted
to the Danville massacre. Boutelle thought
that il the United States House of Repre-
sentatives on the first day of its meeting, be-
fore it was fully organized, could request
the President of the United States to inquire
whether an Irish assassin was an American
citizen, and whether. having been condemned
to death for murder, he had been tried in ac-
cordance with the municipal laws of Great
Britain, il would not be very extraordinary
justice II the same American House of Rep
resentatives should ask the question whether
the victims Of the Danville massacre were
citizens of the United States, and whether
any municipal law Of Virginia had been vio-
lated BY their taking off. Accordingly, Bou-
telle drafted the following resolution, which
he asked Mr.. ,fIorr Of Michigan, an older
member, to present:
"Resolved, That the House bring to the
notice Of the President the case OF the recent
murder of several persons. claimed to have
been citizens Of the United States, at Dan.
vile, in the State Of Virginia, in the hope
that the President may ascertain whether
said persons so murdered and injured were
citizens of the United States, and, if so. wheth-
or the killing of said citizens. if they were
such, were in contravention of the provisions
Of the municipal law of the State of Virginia
or Of any Law of the United States"
The reading Of this resolution raised tenn
pest on the democratic side and twenty men,
bers sprang to their feet at once to object.
Morrison's objection was heard and enter
tanned, although Cabel of Virginia, who re-
presents the Danville district was vociferous-
ly demanding a hearing. Cabel tried to say
that he would not object to the resolution, but
the Chair put HIM down as being out Of order,
and the resolution Of course fell.
Representative Bouteile also gave the
House to understand the quality of Maine
republicanism in another matter. Sunset
Cox in his breezy way came forward with his
annual resolution proposing to repeal the test
oath, and asked immediate consideration.
Boutelle not considering it essential that the
House, which had just refused to inquire
into the Danville massacre, should consider
out of its order proposition to repeal the
test oath. when none of the men affected by
it requested that il should be abolished
promptly objected, and his objection defeated
its consideration. Mr.. Boutelle said afterward
to the Journel correspondent that no one in
the South at least demanded any such action.
and that for his part he did not think the time
had come to wipe out every distinction be-
tween loyalty and treason to the Government.
1t 10 very true that the Southern men care
nothing for this distinction, and they consider
the taking of the modified oath upon their
entrance into the House a. rather a badge of
honor than otherwise. One of the youngest
members Of the House 10 Robertson of Ken
tucky, who. when the war closed, was less
than dozen years old. When he qualified
- representative last week he took the mod
lied oath. Being asked BY friend after
ward Why he did 90, he replied, .Oh, 1 did
not mind It. I may have given loaf of
bread to . rebel soldier sometime. We
were all rebels in my country. Besides,
think my people would rather prefer that
should not take the ironclad OATH" Boutelle
thinks that If this 10 fair indication of the
sentiment among Southern representatives
and their commitments, there seems to be no
reason Why the ironclad oath should not still
- required. Il any whatever 10 to be used.