The New York herald., 1874-04-07

RUIN OF REPUBLICANISM
Funereal OratiOns Pronounced by
Leaders of Congress-.
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.

9enote aesterda y-Oeath hneu of the
Republican Party-sorrowing Funeral
OratfOns-Secessinn from the Deceased
Body-Anaiysis Of ahe Votes.
In the Senate, on more accounts than one. this
win be numbered among the eventrd days OF the
session. After long siege OF forensic argument
and exhaustive analysis the financial question,
lar as It is at present shaped in that body reached
q hnai settlement in the adoption OF the Merri-
mon amendment, which provides that the limit OF
the greenDacE currency circulation shall be
S40o,Ooo,Oo0 ana that OF the national banks also
s400, 100000 After most protracted struggle OF
more than four months with the contending
forces closely matched in numbers and ability. it
rests for the present with certain amount OF
triumph on the winning side, and on the other
large share OF deep and almost sullen
opposition, which il as unreconciied TO
the result rs the speeches it elected
were powerful and masterly The history OF the
contest will mark one of those rounded eras OF
legislative interest in which the research, ability
and assldulty shown VIII furnish place or pill
grimage Tor many q student hereafter who will
delve into the mysteries or finance as they we're
laid open by legislation and decided accordingly
for the cOuntry's needs or demands The course OF
business during the day marked throughout
with unusual earnestness on the part OF Senator
Sherman ana those who have heretofore signihed
tHclT dSTtcHleHL WltH MIN Oh tne SuOJeCJ OIL bne
finances. The usual supply of amendments was
provided, and each of them was inevitably lost
The usual determined and undivided advocacy OF
those in favor Of an increase IN the circua-
tlon voted, as Senator Sherman characterized
his financial views on imitation, .'dead aganst''
those amendments. on the opposing side there
was the same unanclung and positive purpose EVIL
denced to carry the Merrimon amendment, which
was now moved as q substitute for the whole bin.
How much was accomplished by the persistent
efforts OF the minority to fight of the final result
Will only be seen in the ingenious arguments and
devices employed to postpone: but when 1t came
to the voting 1t was apparent that ali this was OF
no avail. SO one after another the amendments
offered by the minority were set aside, from that
OF Senator Con&ling TO that OF Senator Sherman,
which was almost the same as that of the original
bill Of the Finance Committee. The first was lost
by vote OF "a to 27 and the latter by cne
OF 23 to %, and so the Senate struggled
along in the solution and it must be said that the
minority, in their inveterate distaste to the
measure offered, faithfully did their duty and
struggled as men never struggled before in the
Senate. until finally senator Merrimon's amend
ment was moved for adoption in Committee OF the
Whole, and was passed promptly by vote
OF 20 yeas TO "a nays. II then was
taken up for third reading and placed on its
Here the heaviest thunder of the fight was heard,
in q speech made by Senator ConklIng, which was
one OF deploratlon, warning and sorrowing. He
made an eloquent appeal against the step about to
be taken. and he was ably seconded by Senators
Thurman Bayard. Stockton and Stewart, who
united with all the force they could muster in
! solemn protest against the adoption OF the 'Merr
mon substitute. Senator Thurman made party
reference in which he regretted that The demo-
Gratis had some representatives among those who
were helping to carry the BILL and then referred
to the republicans on his side who were endeavor
ing to resist 1t, and bitterly charged in conclusion
that ignoring their President and the declarations
of their party, il they could not manage the affairs
of the country with more ability than was SHOWN
on this financial question: they had better resign
their ascendancy. These speeches were iuH Of de
nuncaton, fierce invective and covert accusations
and finally the speaker challenged the republican
fidelity Of the Senators whO with Senator Morton
belonging to the republican ranks, "were
smoothing the way" as Senator Conk-
ling stated it, Ito degradation, disaster and
disgrace There was poor compensation
in hearing this kind of terrible arraignment and
accusation, SO fercely made by Senator Conkling
hut when Senator Thurman rose he added to the
scorching and unmerciiul upbradings by twitting
the republicans with taking the measure OF a
was too much for Senator Morton, and, rising TO
his feet-which he rarely does-as he IS obliged, on
account OF q spinal affection, to speak sitting In
his chair. with firm, set features, overspread with
the pallor OF restrained displeasure he leaned on
the crane-like rest In front 0 him, and, with
affected calmness, but deepest earnestness
said, 'These are the most astonishing
speeches have ever listened to-. This
is NOT the time to answer them; but they
will be answered" Then motion to adjourn was
made which was tried again. but each time de-
ieated by one majority. The whip having gone
round and every Parliamentary as well as rhetor
cal artifce having been resored to in vain Sena-
tor sargent rose to wash his hands Of the whole
business and as he closed In a sad tone at the
prospect OF the measure being carried gave out
that he was not yet without hope from another de-
partment Of the government-meaning the Execu
tive. At this Senator Logan broke out into loud
sounding, broad laugh OF dersi0n, and thereupon
senator Sargent made the astonishing announce
nient that there was division IN the republican
party, and II 1t was going TO take tins direction he
would release himself from all allegiance to it.
Senator Schnrz took KIND OF grim delight
in the scene and announced tlat he
had no sorrow for the occasion, though
he pronounced the speeches he was listening
to funeral orations AT this point he was kecnlY
watched by Senator Conkling The vote could not
much longer be delayed, the motions to adjourn
having been decisivey lost. The minority grew
submissive and the last vote was taken, which re.
suited in being carried by the infationists. The
Senate stood as follows Paired Gordon, Mitch
ell. Brownlow, Sprague, Conover, Ransom and
Wright, who would have voted In the affirmative !;
and Bayard, Boutwell,, Flanagan, Morrill, OF Name
stevenson, Stockton and Edmunds, who would
have voted In the negative Absent-Acorn, Buck
ingham, Ferry OF Connecticut Gilbert and Dennis
Those who voted for the measure were :-Repuli-
hcans-Ailson, Boreman Cameron, Carpenter.
Clayton, Dorsey, Ferry of Michigan Harvey, Hitch
cock, ingalls,, Lewis, Logan, Morton. Oglesby Pat
terson. Pease, Pratt Ramsey, Robertson, Spencer,
West and Window democrats--Bogy, Goldtbwaite,
Johnston, McCrecry. Merrimon, Norwood, and lib.
erai republican-Tipton total 20. Those VINO voted