New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-26


BATE.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l
u,suINGToN Jan. 25.-Just as the dawn was
,o.ster,oc the glare of gas in the Senate chamber
,bis morning the Compromise bill driftcd along to
snal vote. The persistent minority led by Mr..
Norton. with Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Sargent for his
uc,,epants had talked against the bin until the
limits of their physical endurance were reached.
The majority had done their full share to keep up
the reputation of the most garrulous legislative
bcdy in the world; and at last hunger fatigue, and
,eepiness prevailed TO still the tedious war OF words.
and the roll was called the passage of the bill.
The Yeas were AZ and the Nays II. "The bill is
nassed." said President Ferry emerging with cheer
mi alacrty from the curtaned recess of bis sleepy
hollow chalr OF the II votes in the negative there
were inst two more than were predicted in THE
TRIBrNEs dispatches the day after the bill was re-
ported One of these was given by Mr.. Cameron OF
Wisconsin, whose conservative views were sup
posed TO incline him to the support of the measure
and the other was that of Mr.. Blaine whose tardy
opposition took no other shape than that of reluc-
tant No at the roll-ca1 with three minutes OF eX-
planation and regret. 1t scarcely be supposed
that either Mr.. MortOns frankly expressed political
objections TO the measure or Mr.. Shermans able con-
sttutional arguments converted these two Senator'S
90 that in reality the debate did not affect the re-
bill came from the committee, and opposition was
rs futile as an attempt to against the rapids OF
Niagara.
The special telegraphic report III tO-days TRIBUNE
closed at about o'clock this morning The debate
had been prosy and sleepy for some time preceding
in accordance with that unwriten law OF the Senate
that somebody other shall talk until daybreak
whenever the body submits to the iniiicton OF 2
night session rather than from any other cause
Half the Senators were asleep sofas or chairs and
the 200 or 800 people in the galleries bent upon
seeing the thing through were only kept awake
by the relentless doOrkeepers, who would not permit
them to initiate the manners OF the Lawmakers
below. when Mr.. Blaine took the floor
there was a general Strengthening up OF re-
cumbent figures and universal rubbing OF
sleepy ewes His voice acted like reyellle
upon slumbcrng camp. 1t was the great Republic
can leaders maiden speech in the upper house, ana
expectation stood tiptOe. The eager auditors had
scarcely settled themselves down to listen, however,
when tho speech over. 1t lasted scant three
minutes only and was little more than the
nouucement of regretted necessity Of voting
against the measure account Of constitutional
scr,lples Mr.. Blaine doubted the existence of the
mower in Congress with winch it was proposed TO
clothe the commission. Disappointed Senators and
spectators sought to their interrupted cat
office TO wire their good night messages. Current
criticism on the speech might have been expressed
in the old doggcrel cOupet, If am so soon done
for. wonder what was begun for"
Dullness and drowsiness reigned again. 1t was
soon broken, however, by quaint and slashirg
larangue against the bill from Mr. Eaton, the BOuI-
bon Democratic representative from Connecticut,
who wanted the House to reject such electoral votes
a. il did not like and then proceed to choose Prcsi-
dent. Mr. Burnside then spoke, and was brief and
sensible. Pnckney Whytc's sOnOrous Oratory filled
tie chamber for an hour in defense of bis views, ex-
pressed last session. that the President OF the Senate
is repaired 10 count the votes ministeriay-radlcal
Republican doctrine from a Maryland Democrat,
bCt mated with the incongruous theory that II the
House thinks the count wrong it can 60 on and
elect.
AT ; o'clock Mr. Edmunds took the floor aud spoke
half an hour to close the debate. But Senatorial de-
bates are not closed in such regular and sensible
way Both he and Mr.. COnklng had charged the
opponents of the measure with Inconsistency, and
had thrust the record Of their votes and speeches
or Mr. Morton's bill Of 1876 under their noses with
annoying pertEaclty. So Mr.. Sherman had to eX-
plain, and while explaining he condensed aud re-
peated all the points OF his first speech. Then Mr..
Morton explained, and said he was no lnfalhble
Pope who never made mistake nor changed his
ia qpoqae argument with characteristic franknesS
and boldness. lie avowed that the chief cause of
his hostility to the bill was that Gov. Hayes had a
sure thing without il and only at best an even
chance with It, After Mr. MortOn's speech there
followed season OF discaiming TO have made per-
sonal reflections all the principal combatants who
had been troubling the waters of good feeling pour
ing in a soothing tribute Of the oil OF apology.
Now the struggle reached its last stage. Voting
on the amendments began. sure sign that the emu
was near al haad. 1t was half past IN the morn
ing M Dawes withdrew his amendment, thus. to
Use Mr.. Thurmin's expression. pulling ont the dag
ger hc had thrust into the heart of the bill, but Mr.
Morton had another dagger ready of like appear
anee. he Offered an amendment providing that the
commission should not examine the question of the
validity Of the decisions of returning boards. No
Parliamentary advantage was gained by this, Tor
hr. Edmunds promptly moved to amend the amend
nent put il in the affirmative FORM direct
ing such inquiries. This was 10 give the friends OF
The bill chance 30 vote both down so as not TO
make an embarrassing record. The first proposition
Received but one vote. TO the second IL Repnb-
beans answered Yea. Mr.. Sargent moved to amend
20 as 10 require the commission TO sit with open
ooors, and made a terse, vigorous, bnt ineffective,
hye-mnute speech. Mr.. Edmundss objection thatthe
Commission could fix its rules, and oughtto be al
lowed To make regulations as to admitting spectators,
10 as to protect itself from a crowd that might en-
oarrass its deliberations, killed the amendment only
10 Senators voting for it. Mr. Sargent said he had
others TO Offer but would refrain, seeing that the
majority was determined to vote them all down
Whatever their character At 7:20 a. M. one hour
ser the days session began, the secretary began TO
call the roll on the final passage OF the bill. Ten
minutes later the Senate adjourned, delighted that