Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-02


On the 4th of March the term of Mr..
Miller, one of the Georgia Senators recently
admitted, expires. Foster Blodgett, who
was elected by the Legislature pre-
ceding that chosen last December, claims
the seat as Senator Miller's successor.
Blodgett holds the certificate of Governor
Bullock showing that he was elected q
Senator of the United States in due form
for six years from the 4th of March next.
The legal point is raised against his adj
mission that the constitution of the State
of Georgia provides thst United States
Senators shall be chosen by the Legisla-
ture elected preceding the expiration of
the term of their predecessors. On this
ground it is beld that the successor of
Miller should be chosen by the Legislature
elected last December. The previous
Legislature, it appears, passed law pro-
viding that the one just elected should not
meet until November, 1871. of course
it could not elect the Senator who is to
take his seat on the 4th of March. Blod-
gett being already elected, it is held by
some of the best lawyers in the Senate
that he is the Senator and entitled to the
seat. There may be a contest over it,
some Democrats holding that the Senator
should be chosen by the new Legislature,
which is Democratic.
Special to the Louisville Ledger.
southern Pacific Railroad.
The fight last night was on the South
ern Pacific Railroad bill Mr.. Logan
proposed to grant the Conference Com
mittee requested by the Senate. Mr..
Randall wanted this refused, and for the
House to insist on an amendment looping
off all the branches. He expressed fear
that the amendments of the House would
be surrendered. Mr.. Banks and others
declared that the House would not yield
on this point. The House ordered the
Conference Committee by 1876 to SO.
This may be accepted as very nearly a
test vote. The bill will probably be
passed very nearly in the shape it left the
House, but there may be a change re-
curing five-foot guage to connect with
the Southern roads. This action almost
assures the passage of bill for this route.
Cincinnati Southern Railroad.
TIE next struggle was over the bill to
promote the construction of the railroad
from Cincinnati to Chattanooga. An en-
ormous lobby for this road has been here
for some time. They have been filling up
the room of the Committee on Railroads
and Canals, and have carefully canvassed
the House. The opposition has bssn re-
presented only by the Kentucky delega-
ton, of whom Messrs. Winchester and
lonly hor Aaa NJ
soil had promised Mr.. Winchester, in the
committee room, that he should have
fair opportunity to debate the bill, but
to-day he most flsgrantly violated his
word. He got the floor by prearrange-
ment with the Speaker, and moved to
suspend the rules so as TO take up the bill
for action. Speaker Blaine, seeing thst
lngersoll was ignorant of tactics, told him
he must move to take up and pass the bill.
Mr.. Winchester made every resistance to
this movement, and tried TO get the floor
for debate. He had prepared thorough
and elaborate review of the bill, which
he would have delivered if Ingersoll had
kept his word, but that gentleman re-
fused to allow Mr.. w. over five minutes
in order to defend the rights of his State,
and this Mr.. W. would not accept, as it
was utterly insufficient to explain the mat
ter to the House.
Mr.. Beck also protested, and in vain
appealed for a hearing. The Radicals,
generally inspired by prejudice and hatred
for Kentucky, rallied to the banner of
Ingersoll. Mr.. Garfield was especially
active in helping to pass the bill. 1t went
through by 13I to 50. Had there been
debate allowed, it would have been easy
to prevent the tWo-thirds vote necessary
TO pass the bill, as many members entirely
misunderstood the issue, supposing it to
be like the New Jersey monopoly. This
bill is to be presented in the Senate By
Mr.. Sherman, and will be resolutely OPP
posed by Mr.. Garrett Davis. If he is
theoretically sustained by his colleague
and others, the bill may yet be defeated,
as there are three or four appropriation
bills not yet passed.
Buffers Reign of Terror.
For weeks the Democratic members
have been fearing that Butler would bring
up his bill to establish criminal code
and reign of terror for the South. Here
tofore the appropriation bills have been
in the way, but yesterday Butler got the
floor and reported the bill. OF course
there was immediate resistance on the
Democratic side, led very judiciously by
Mr.. Beck and Fernando Wood, members
of the Reconstruction Committee. The
bill was about to be read, when Mr.. Cox,
of New York, officially moved to reject
- &Ra of oil of Lou
lated to consolidate the Radical forces.
The motion was lost, and the reading
proceeded and was half through when all
of q sudden Mr.. Wood moved to suspend
the rules and pass bill to repeal all laws
imposing duties on foreign coal. The
effect on the House was like bombshell.
The motion took the precedence of the
pending business. The Radicals were
much annoyed, but did not dare to vote
no. Or q rising vote the motion was
carried by 90 to 25. Butler lodged, and
so did many of the Eastern members,
where the cry of ''chesp coal' is all the
90. The bill was finally passed by vote
of 142 to 115, but the passage by the
Senate is very doubtful indeed.
All this took up good deal of time.
Mr.. Butler then Offered a resolution to
suspend the rules and make his bill a
special order until disposed of. This re-
quired a two-thirds vote, and the result
was 1877 to 65, lacking one vote of two
thirds.
This abominable bill would have passed
but for the action of such liberal Repub-
licsns as FaInswOrth and Fitch. There
were several Democratic absentees. No
thanks for this great result are due to
such gentlemen as VOORHEES,, of Indiana,
and Burr, of Illinois, who, at the most
critical juncture, have abandoned their
legislative duties and gone home. Had
they been here, their votes would have
neutralized the votes of four Radicals.
There are a class of Democratic members
who habitually neglect the sessions of the
House, but draw their pay with great
regularity.
Centennial BuncOmbe.
The bill to provide for the centennial
celebration of independence at Philadel-
phia has passed, with the Senate amend
ment that the United States shall not be
liable for any expense attending such
celebration, OF by reason of the same.
The first section provides for the exhibit
ton of American and foreign arts, pro-
ducts and manufactures at Philadelphia