The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-30
Il RE.uLNEsCENCE OF TIE PAST.

AN ENHANCING DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
1 In an article entitled "Gimpses of Possible
Presidential Candidates." Washington cor
respondent gives this interesting sketch of a
debate which took place in the Senate some
three years ago:
The sale of arms by Secretary Belknap to the
French Government gave rise to the most
vigorous and enhancing debate which for
many years had been waged in the Senate.
Democratic Senators refraiued from participant
ing in it except by occasional interpretations.
The three Republican Senators who denounced
the Secretary of War and the outrage, had, on
account of similar independent conduct during
Andrew Johnson 8 impeachment trial and after,
been partially repudisted by their Republican
brethren. These Senators were Sumner, Trum-
plete party ostraoism which afterwards over.
took them, and contended against the whole
Radical cohort in the Cham Der with an over
matching armament of facts crushing logic
and indignant, scorching eloquence. Summers
part in the joust consisted chiefly in the
delivery Of two long and careful speeches, the
ablest once Of his life. Senator Trumbulpe
legal training was of great service, and his
principal speech was admirable for it's direct
ness it's defiance, and its unanswerable truth
The man of the trio who took the lsurels"
was Carl SchurZ. He deserved it. Long years
before, when he came over from Germany and
passed the capitol in company with his wife,
he had pointed towards it from the carriage
window, saying in German, Glow would like
on his feet in the highest forum, dealing forth
the soundest logic, the most persuasive argu-
ment, the validest reasons, and decking these
with rhetoric like Castellars.
Three thick and-thin Republican Senators
bore the brunt of the hammering (Others
frequently chimed in but did not coTnt) Gov
ernor Morton, and Edmunds of Vermont, did
the heavy and legal work, but to Mr. Coukling
was left the task of parrying fine thrusts ard
making set resistance to the ousnts of the an
tagonists. He brought to this hard job quail
lnnl
only intellectual abilities equal to those he
COPIED with. He hated Mr.. Sumner with II
hatred that day after day mani tested itself in
detestably bad manners. He took every coca
sion TO snub him. He turned bis back upon
him whenever he began to speak and seldom
looked ever his skouiGcr towards him except
powers and presumption, and jealous OF bis
rising fame. For Mr.. Trumbull, WI la. v,., ted
him in some legal bouts, he had malign in.
tolerant smile. Besides cherishinp these feeI
ings towards his principal adversaries, Senator
Gonkling had unbounded confidence in his own
skill and charm. He was pachy dermatous alike
to logic, political rights, moral distinctions or
demonstrations, sarcasm, and irony. Every
thing, indeed, passed him by, or seemed to pass
by him, without affecting him. He ignored
the most cogent reasoning and the most furious
denunciation with equal tranquility, and pro-
fessed a contempt for flights of eloquence which
ne yet strove not unsuccessfullY to emulate.
There was (and is) in Mr. Con kings demeanor
on the floor of the Sen ate some thing suggestive
ponent of his disrelish of his present rival, Mr..
Blaine, is his recollection of the only scene in
Congress that he was humiliated in, when
Blaine dubbed him the Turkey Gobbler with
strut"
I, Yet when Mr.. Conkling rose to confront Mr.
Sehurz especially, there was often an Hndenia-
pie captivation in his mien. Having few facts
TO present save those that were sure to melt in
Sne crucible of his foes responses, his intel
lectual resorts were wary. They consisted
o9elehy in belittling the dignity and Importance
OF tne charges by ingenious compsrisons, in
specious deniais of allegations immaterial to
S9e main issue and in the continual discharge
"a sAGGrlcai comments. OF the latter the Sen
s aSGr mas always at hand culver full, we'll
PS.sonea' 1t was his port that altern ately
,n;S SieG and diverted the audience; also his
VOICE. he has torso" which has not been
se ss5Pralsea, but which has been Injured al.
MI by habit of STOPPING, which it is dim
10 ro =" reconcile with his opinion of himself.
h;r, H ia In the Chamber could compare with
an art;S sa1nre whenever he drew himself up in
ennoi T Ii'al tantrum. Nor could apv one
to bis fti IN the knack of apparent Difference
bis t. iiehlus, or in that of mock deferepce to
side or 1 mnen he sought for approval on one
tbe dohoto "SSeSslon on the other. Throughout
zeal and tact V %bio bis part with extraordinary
10y graduated just above an octave below