Year: 1871

CONGRESS Yesterday--A Sensation in the
House-Butler's Ku KIux Bill Smothered


and n Travelling Ku Klux Committee


Appointed.


There was no business of any Importance
transacted in the Senate yesterday. Mr.. An
thongs resolution to confne legislation to
measures for the protection of loyalists in the
South was taken up, but laid aside immeii-
ately without action.


In the House the Ku Klux bill created an
immense sensation. General Butler gave
notice of his intention to introduce his bill on
the subject, which had been agreed upon in the
joint caucus of republicans and asked that it
be printed. Objections were Immediately
showered upon him from the democratic side
OF the House, Messrs. Beck and Brooks stat
ing that they would object to any business
being done unless through the proper commit
tees, which have not yet been appointed.
After some badinage about the New
Hampshire election, Mr.. Peters, finding that
Mr. Buffers bill would not be received, offered
resolution for the appointment of special
committee Of thirteen, to sit during the recess
to investigate the reported outrages in the
South and report in December next This
resolution passed by vote Of l26 to Ga,
majority of botl republicans and democrats
voting for it. Immediately afterwards the
Speaker announced the names of the commit
tee; General Butler, who had expressly
declined to serve, and had voted against the
resolution, being made chairman, and the
House adjourned. s,-lF::.as-4:


General Butler during the evening issued a
manifesto to his republican associates reiterat-
ing his refusal to Serve and giving his reasons
therefor. The manifesto is rather fierce
document. 1t says that the resolution is the
result of a compromise between the high tariff
republicans and the democrats to secure an
early adjournment; that the committee can
| not result in any good, having no power to
send for persons or papers, or to
have its report acted upon before all
the regular reports have been received in
December, and that the evidence to be brought
before it in its perambulations through the
South will be all cut and dried by the rebel
leaders in those sections. The redoubtable
General says he is not afraid to go through the
South, either on account Of the rebels or the
yellow fever, for he has met and overcome
both; but the very fact Of his going through
unharmed would give the Southerners the
chance Of making political capital out Of him,
and that he won't submit to.


The fact seems to be pretty much as Butler
has stated in regard to the compromise of tariff
republicans and democrats on this measure,
in order to secure an early adjournment. It
is known that the protectionists are very weak
in the House just now, and that every days
session knocks some of their precious high
tariff duties on the head. Coal and salt have
already suffered, tea and coffee are in a bad
way, and pig iron is quite likely to
60 with the rest. These considerations, being
home matters, are of more direct interest
to these tariff members than the somewhat
vague and uncertifed reports of wild rough
riders numbering defenceless darkies in the
South, and their first duty begins at home.
But so long as the Senate is fixed on the tariff
question and the House is without committees
there is no certainty of decisive anti-protec-
tion legislation, even if the session is continued
and the Peters resolution is not absolutely so
bad as the radical sentiments of General Butler
would give US to understand. Speaker Blaine
is the author Of the resolution, and in getting
it passed he taught Butler two or three new
devices in parliamentary usage that the astute
statesman of Essex had never learned before.
But in its essence the resolution is fair
enough There will be some probability Of
learning the facts concerning these reported
outrages in the South if the committee does
its work. There are eight strong radicals and
five democrats on the committee, and the radi-
calls ought certainly not to be afraid of the in
vestigation if they believe to be true the
reports they have already beard, and upon
which they shaped Mr.. Buffers Ku Klux bill.