He maintained very friendly personal relations with
some of the more intelligent Southerners, especially with
Lamar. One incident in his relations with Butler was intensely
amusing. They were never on very friendly terms, though each
of them found it wise not to break with the other. When Blaine
was a candidate for Speaker, to which office he was chosen
in the spring session of 1869, his principal competitor was
Henry L. Dawes. Dawes's chances were considered excellent
until Butler, who had great influence with the Southern Republican
members of the House, declared himself for Blaine. Butler
was exceedingly anxious to be Chairman of the Committee of
Appropriations. This would have been an offence in the nostrils
of a large portion of the Republican Party. Mr. Dawes, learning
Butler's proposed defection, was beforehand with him by rising
in the caucus and himself nominating Mr. Blaine. This secured
Blaine's unanimous nomination. Butler, however, still pressed
eagerly his own claim for the Chairmanship of the Appropriations.
Blaine was altogether too shrewd to yield to that.
Pages:
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365