Year: 1870

Yesterdays Excitement In Congress-Butler
Calls Farnsworth an Assassin and n Coward


The New York Worlds Washington correspondent
writes:-


There was fearful scene in the House to-day
among the radicals, wherein member called
another member an assassin and coward, and the
other retorted by calling the other thief 1t had for
its basis matter insignificant enough in itself, but
1t soon grew into exciting proportions. The House
had gone TO business on the Speakers table, and the
first bill reached was one for the relief of Rollin
White, patent pistol maker, over which impended
the first veto of President Grant In the OF the
debate General Butler took the ioor and advocated
the passage OF the bill General Farnsworth was
promptly on hand with an interection, and quoted
the rule Of the House which prohibits any member
from voting on question in which he is Interested
He thereupon declared that Butler had been first
employed as counsel for the opponents of White,
but had suddenly jumped on the other side and re-
ceived fee OF s200O This he proved by a
certified document from the Patent Office, and
added that, as mere pretense to cover his tracks,
Butler had filed brief in the Supreme Court, which
he had never argued, because the work was to be
before Congress. 81 therefore charge him." said
with being on both sides of this case-on one side
without fee and on the other side with a fee."
This aroused the whole House, and the Democratic
side came hooking into the central aisle to get full
view Of the scene. movement to shut off debate
failed ana Butler got the floor to reply. Farnsworth
more beard than brains," alludng to the
long gray beard ,oi OF the Illinois Illinois member mem who
from Massachusetts may curse my beard but he
shall not come into this House to steal under the





Order" The Democrats answered, "Good!"
"Good!" and nodded approval. Butler went ahead
and characterized Farnsworths statement as infa-
nous and maliciously false, and denying that he
had done anything professionally wrong, in violation
flaw or Incompatible with his position as member
Of IL House. as Farnsworth had charged. He ad-
mtted receiving the $4,000, but put it on the plea
that he had prepared brief in the case for the
Supreme Court, and then he went on to say that the
dealing Of blow to one who was unprepared and
without notice was the act OF a coward and an
assassin. FarnswOrth WINGED a little. Down came
a
Ter stopped quick enough. The whole House looked
first at the Speaker, then at Farnsworth, who sat
coolly in his seat and then at Butler There was no
call to order. "What is it a message from
the Senate?" inquired Butler, breaking
the silence 1t was evident that this
not the usual signal for message from the
Senate yet the Speaker and his gavel were still
silent. Butler recently told the Speaker that the
latter had the advantage because he always held the
floor, but 1t appeared that the Speaker willing
that Butler should hold it now, and so he pushed
ahead. 81 take it," said he, growing redder in the
face, and l relterate it, that it is principle in
ethics that no one will dispute that he
pared for it, and has no notice of 1t, who
stabs him in the back and in the dark, is
an assassin and coward; and venture to add that
it is an assertion that even the Speakers gavel will
not interrupt" AS TO the intimaton that he had
filed brief in the Supreme Court merely to obtain a
with one eye an imploring slant at the ceiling and
the other bent on FarnswOrth:-


'0h! Father Abraham, what these Christians are


Whose own hard dealings lead them to suspect


The very thoughts of Others"


Down he sat, and after brief debate the House re-
fused to pass the bill over the vetO Buffers client
got just twelve votes and thus ended this most dis
graceful scene,