Butler
favored the law and his whole bearing in the discussion was
exceedingly proper and creditable. We were talking of some
prohibition, of some clause forbidding the imposing assessments
upon office-holders for political purposes, and it was proposed
to except from the prohibition voluntary contributions for
proper election purposes. Butler asked me what I should consider
improper election purposes. I hesitated a moment when Miller
of California, who was a man of a good deal of fun, whispered
in my ear, "Buying shotguns to shoot negroes with," which
I, without reflecting and indeed hardly conscious of what
I was saying, repeated aloud. Butler, who was a man of high
spirit, and quick temper, was furious. He came down upon
me with a burst of wrath. I tried to interrupt him. But
he was so angry that it was impossible to interrupt him and
said something which made it seem to me impossible either
to explain or apologize. But I regretted the transaction
exceedingly, and have always considered that I was well punished
for my joke at the expense of my unhappy classmate.
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