Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-17
WASHINGTON.
Senate Proceedings Yesterday MisSis-
slppl Affairs Discussed-Spencer's
Election TO be Investigated.
Democratic Policy Of Making Haste
Slowly Generally IndOrsed-The
SOutherners Very COnser-
VatiYe
Speaker Kerr Grant and Cuba-Repub-
lican and Independent Reports Of
the Democratic CaueuS.
CONGRESSIONAL,

CONGRESSIONAL.
The house was not in session yesteI
day. In the senate, among other mat
ters OF less Importance, a humber OF me
MORALS asking the appointment of
com mission TO inquire into the alcoholi
liquor traffic was received and refeue,
TO the finance committee. Senate
CcnkIIDg presented a memorial fron
practical esmboatmeD, desigustiog OBJ
jectioDsble stesmtost laws that shouIt
be changed. In presenting the memo
rial the sesator said that it gave hin
pleasure to note that men engaged IL
steRmboatiug had come regard for th'
safety of the lives Of these travelling OF
steamboats,. The memorial wGs referred
to the committee on commerce. A reso
luton was agreed to authorizing the sp
pOintment OF q committee to iuquIrt
into the particulars concerning the elec.
tton of George z. SpehceT, from Ala
bama. The committee will sit during
the holiday rece.s Senator Morton
called up the resolution submitted by
him Wednesday, to authorize the ap-
pOintment OF q special cOmmi tee Of fl
senators to inquire into the circumstan-
ces attending the recent election in Mis-.
sissippi. He spoke 10 favor Of the reso-
luton, and referred to various stste.
ments OF persons residing In Mississippi,
t. show that Republican 70 ers were in.
timidated aud ballot boxes stuffed in
that State Mr. Bsyard Del. denied
the powers OF the senate, uoder the cou-
stitution, to make any such investiga-
ti0n. He argued that the courts were
open, and IL anybody had been wrOnged
in Mississippi the remedy could be
found in the courts. The discus.
sion of this resolution will DE
resumed to-day. A bill was intro.
duead and referred, suLhorizing the ap-
pOintment OF special agents TO investi-
gate pension frauds. The time for con-
alteration OF resolutions in memory Of
Andrew Johnson was changed TO Tues
dav, JapusIy llth. 1t was agreed to
ndjCurn next Monday, to Wednesday,
Janusry 9th.
DEMOCRATIC "FEsTINA sEUTEn POLICY.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, December l4.-NeitheT
house Of congress eYiDces any desire to
hurry legislation. In the senate the or.
ganization Of committees is complete,
but it is not probable that any business
Of importance will be transacted before
the third Of January, the time set for
the resumption Of the interminable
Pinchback aerial. 1t is a pity for his
race III qusdrOon can be said to have q
racel that Pinchbaok has not more
vs,id claim. In point of s)lid ability
and r,S,a ready use OF his faculties, l
think him tie superior OF Fred Doug
Iss, aud ] have bead them both. There
is one thing in-%Eich Douglas excels
him, and that Is "gIsh,n He is ner-
feet Niagara for that. no ore who
knows them both can doubt that Pinch
back would make more able represent
ative of the interests OF his State and
country t1sn the nsmby.pamby
CARPET bagger who is now the sole
senator nom Louisiana. But the
defect is in his claim, and, al,
though he will be powerfully supported
by Logan and Morton, there is scarcely
8 chance for his securing seat. The
widely spread lear that the untrlad
Democratic members would conduct
themselves in q wild and whiTIing man
ner, making capital for their enemi6s, is
yielding to q widely-spread confidence.
This temperate good sense that hss pre-
vailed so far in almCst every colloquy
and caucus, has gone fSr to produce the
impression that the dOmiR&0t wing OF
the forty. fourth congress has in it the
promise of judicious iegislatiOn. Per-
haps the very best proof that the msjor-
;sy hes acted with wisdom SO far, is the
manifest Yexation OF the enemy. The
maxim insWar, Do nothing that the
ansUy desires you to do, y seems equally
snrli:sble in politics. The Repub icaEs
have been foiled in every pass; in their
etfoTt to influence the nomination of the
sreaker: in the temperate, unsectioral,
and statesmaalike policy fOreshadoved
an the address of Mr. Lamar; and the
per i.ct harmony that has teen main
tained, in spite of the sharp and some
what bitter contest foS the spsakership.
If il were not for making eompaIi-
sons that would appear invidi Us,
n would be easy to demonstrate
that in point Of sbi,ity and experience
the present house is superior to the tor-
tv-tbird congress-. 1t Is true that few
houses have ever shown s1ch laIge
number OF what are cstled new mem-
bers,n but 1t viii not do in tbs ms sace
TO coBf1und "new" with fresh or green.
La reading their short bicgTEphicsi
sketches ia the Congressional Directory
il is remarkable how many Of the menu
bers OF the present house have had eX
psrience in State or national legislation,
or have been fitted Dy profession f1r the
duties to which they are called. Take,
for example, the Virginia delegation
three Of its members-One q former gov
ernor Of the State, Gnce prominent as a
candidate for Vice-PresISent, and also
70 the speekersnip Of the present house;
another q distinguished lawyer and D
meuber iof the lA<t congress: third
a law pIo essor and nSu Of national
Tenutation, These a from disrie 3
that were represented in the fgrty-thifd
congress, respec'ively-by tyro OF
twenty six; a grszier, whose statesman
ship, 10 ssy the least, has not marked an
aSa in his coputry's history; and third
-temau who had not the reputstion
,el- SSacessor, OF your correspondent
II his ~<tSps remember his 2sme.
would, p, ~iz$Eon of the house CONF
The orgsl- NSCght, viii not be an
nitlees, it is IL days, sn1 al Opin-
hUu inn a. to the chairmaL t,,aeedin9 Win
nIstjon, The speaker tsp. of these
- at care in the c0nstructiO- ,,sw
The large NUN ter =; -
r,oambers. with whose special aptitu~
and Qualifications he is, Of course, unsc,
nnsi,,ted. makes this duty pecuilsriy
dDsrons and delicate. There will neces'
seriIv he some dissatisfaction When the
are anRoUnce1, Einee
In is mathematIcallY Impossible ior
avery man, or eveSs mau's n'eno'
to have the first place. 1t is Known,
however. that they will be arranged
With resnect to no sectional policy, bat
To facilitate in legislation these ideas Of
aconomy and honesty in govern ment,
which sent 3 Democratic mslority 10
washington, Rns made MI Kerr
sneaker Of the house. II has been said
of Mr.. Kerr that he has No popularity OF
the magnetic kind, and that he makes
AN enemy whenever he shakes hand.
I know a man who was refused posi-
tion by him, and who shook hands
with him twice, but Notwithstanding
the refusal and the Misunderstanding, this
man nominated him for president as
soon as he Ieitth rom. Toe applicant
had concluded 8 very COED argument fol
; elerkship with the words, "This ls my
case and nay strength" when MI. heLl