Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-11-28
The Senate Contest.

The. week Just past has seen the mos
exciting political contest in the United
States Senate that has been waged in that
body since the impeachment of Andrew
johnson in May, 1868. The outcome of
it is likely to be that the democrats will
obtain immediate control of the Senate, SO
that divided responsibility will no longer
rest on the two parties for the action of
the legislative branch of the government.
At the beginning of the session there
were 80 republicans in the Senate 80 dem,
ocrats and Judge Davis. Senator Sharon,
republican, has been steadily absent and
Senator Morton's death and the appoint.
ment of Mr. Voorhees, to his place left the
voting strength 81 republicans to 81 DEM
ocrats and Judge Davis. There were
three seats vacant one for South Carolina
contested by Corbn and NJ. q Butler; and
two for Louisiana to which Eustis and
SpoffJrd, democrats, laid claim, with Kel-
logg, republican, contesting Spohords
right.
The democrats since the beginning of
the session have been urging the early
consideration of the Spotlord- Kellogg case
which was in the hands of the committee
on elections. A week ago, however, they
found that Conover of Florida would vote
with Patterson of South Carolina in faver
of Buffers right to u seat, so it seemed
best to them to bring the South Carolina
case forward first that Batter might be adj,
mitted and they have the benefit of his
vote on the Kellogg case where they
thought they could no. rely on Patterson's
vote.
Now this John j. Patterson of South
Carolina was one of Simon Cameron's
Pennsylvania men who went south and
into politics. 1t has been from the time of
his election as senator charged that he
bought that election from the South Caro-
lima Legislature, and he is now under in
dictment for bribery. He has, however,
been tolerated and not investigated by re-
publican senators. In fact it has been
deemed mot in good form" for northern
republicans to speak in opposition to him
rs being IN upholding of the hands |
of the bull-dozers and solid-South |
Carolinians. The comments made upon
him the last week indicate that this strict
rule has been somewhat relaxed in the |
party Conover of Florida is another fair
representative of the mcrchantable repub.
lican politician of the south whose moral
character has always been studiously kept
in the background of his extreme loyalty
But he has also been accused of crooked
ness.
Judge Davis took to voting with the
democrats and that left but Two republican
majority, whichdisappearel when Conover
and Patterson were found in the opposition
ranks. So when last Thursday Thurmans
motion to take the Butler case from the
committee on elections was up the contest
began in earnest.
The republicans under the lead Of Ed
mundS wantel the Kellogg case to be con
sdered first SO they could admit him and
have the benefit Of his vote, and Thursdays
fight was for the postponement of the But
Ter case. Mr.. Edmunds at length obtained
an adjournment till Monday by the casting
vote of the vice president.
Monday the fight was renewed The
republican managers must have given up
all hopes of success, for instead of trying
to keep Conover and Patterson they charg
ed corruption in such way as to drive the
two men irrevocably away from them.
The result was that after twenly-seven
hours session closing at p. NJ yesterday,
things were left in such shape that But
lcr's case will, having been taken from
the committee, come up direct to day on
motion that he be sworn in as senator I
from South Carolina.
Patterson and ConOver deserve all that
has ever been said Of them by both demo- |
Gratis and now by republicans but they G
have gwen some reasons for their course /
that might have been good ones if given /
by honest men. Conover read as his ex-
cuse for voting for Butler, Mr. Edmunds o
remarks against the admission of Pinch b
back made in March, 1876, and showed C
that he was now doing only what Edmunds
then did. But Mr.. Edmunds was of course
able to completely answer Conover A
great many Vermont republicans who q
were outraged ut Edmunds' course in the u
Plnchback case in voting against the ad- .
of Il republican whom they con- -
sidered elected will be curious to read hi,
explanation of how his and Conover's !,
theories differ. They result in the same sort
of voting. :,
The democratic power in the Senate will
merely be born before its time, and instead :.
of being considered legitimate will be a 8
bastard thing. That is about all the prac ~
teal value of the contest one wlv or the ~
other The Senate will be SqHarely demo- -
cratic after March 4, 1879, and the rcpubli- v.
|
can ascendency for the last few weeks has O. o.
not been productive of such wise uses of
power as to make anybody weep very
much over the present performance For
we are glad that Patterson and r.
Jonover are gone; they belonged to II dirty o.
let that too many republicans in the north -,
laVe had faith in, and in upholdng whom ~,
he party has come to its present estate. w
The republican party came into power J..
lot by relying on ''thc machine" for that -,
vas against it; or by relying on the votes h. h.
IT Ignorant men, for they were mainly D.
against it; but because honest and ntell- ~
5ent men approved its work and aims. II ", WI
will, we believe, repeat its early purity =.
md its early victories. At any rate its at-
nosphere is getting better the farther awuv =,
'atterson, Conover, and their whole tribe /,
get from its presence and affections. ~
Moses IL. Grinnel, the well-known Now VI
York merchant, of the firm of Grnnell ", :"
Minturn & Co., died on Saturday. aood y
sevenly-fye years. 81
IHANKsGIVLNG.--Tom morrow is the to