The daily gazette., 1877-01-26
Our Washington Letter.
ON Our regular Correspondent.


On Monday the galleries of the Senate
Chamber were crowded, and such nota-
bles as Bob. Ingersoll, Mr.. Everts, Judge
Black; "Landaulet," Williams, General
Sherman, and Mr.. Pulitzer, were on the
floor, expecting to hear great speeches on
the electoral reference bill. They were
all disappointed. The speeches were not
great. ....I= .-.. I
At 1901 m. 1t was observed that Mr..
Morton had pushed his chair into the
maine aisle, (the Indiana Senator always
Eliminates sitting IN Cathedra) and il
was evident that he would open his
mouth and speak. Animpressive silence
fell upon the galleries, and the eyes of
all the Senators Git is rare for one Sena-
tor to pay the least attention to the re-
marks Of another) were fixed upon the
Seargent Bates of the bloody shirt. He
began speaking in an almost inaudible
tone, complaining of indisposition, but
his voice, husky, at first, became louder
and sufficiently distinct to make audi
Bile the lamestspeech that the lame Sena-
tor ever made. You will have read il
before this reaches you, and it will not be
necessary for me to give its outlines how;
but his friends were disappointed at the
weakness of the effort, and his opponents
almost pitied him. When he enunciated
two or three times, with the emphasis Of
desperation. 81 believe Rutherford B.
Hayes is elected President of the United
States"-the galleries, and even his parti-
sans on the floor gazed at him with a
skepticism that seemed to inquire: Are
you fool or only liar? Senator Morton
spoke not more than forty-fve minutes
and was followed by Senator Frelenghuy-
sen of New Jersey who in written speech
of considerable length defined his views
of the bill, and gave his reasons for sup
porting it. Mr.. Sherman of Ohio inter-
posed dilatory motion. 1t is the object
of the conspirators to kill the bill by delay.
Senator Edmunds of Vermont, who has
charge of the bill, urged the necessity of
the utmost speed consistent with delibera
ton, inasmuch as the bill would have to
be considered by the Senate the House
and the President, all inside of seven DAYS.
This aroused the Ohio Senator, and with a
voice tremlous from excitement, he accus-
ed the Senator from Vermont of desiring
to hurry Legislation on a novel and most
unheard of proposition. Mr.. Edmunds
wanted no better opportunity for diplay
of that polished irony and caustic sarcasm
for which he is universally dreaded. He
disclaimed any desire to hasten action or
cut off debate; he insisted that the mea-
sures proposed were not novel-that the
Senators from Ohio and Indiana had
considered similar bill, and he was hap
py to say, had very clearly, ably, and in
accord with constitutional precept, placed
themselves on record when the conditions
were favorable for unbiased reflection,
when there were no selfish motives to
influence judgment, only seven months
ago.
During this terrible rebuke the effect
of which cannot effectively described,
the tall senator from Ohio covered like
a culprit, while Senator Morton tore
nervously yellow envelope in which he
had just received a telegram from an In
diana Post master imploring him to hold
the fort. He arose, rare thing for Mr..
Morton to do and supported himself on a
rack attached to his desk that has been
made especially for him. There was eX-
pectation of splendid explosion, but it
did not come, he only uttered some alb
surd stuff about the Senate having been
bull-dozed by fears of Democratic inva-
sion. A speech of weakness and scurilty
from Senator Cameron of Pa, concluded
the first days debate. Senator Conkling
began speech in favor of the bill yester-
day, and he will continucto-day. Before
this reaches you the bill will have passed
the Senate, and it will meet but lit
tie opposition in the House. The presi-
dent will sign it, and all but the office
holders are happy. Many Democrats were
at first opposed to the bill, for it seemed
like exchanging certainty for hope, but
they are calm and confident in the expec-
tation of justice. Justice is of course
what the Cameron, Morton, and Sherman
trinity fear. One question at least has
been difinetively settled by this debate.
A majority OF the Senate IS opposed to
plan for the Vice-President to count the
vote. There will be but little more talk
about that.
The overthrow of Boutwell, and Logan
should be, and perhaps has been warn
ing to extremists here, what can Morton
and Cameron hope to accomplish in their
respective states, without the vantage of
patronage!
Among the significant occurrence of
the last week have been the collapse of a
Washington Republican daily paper, the
"Chronicle" and decrease in the size of
the ''National Republican" "a paper which
has received the sobriquet ofthe "Ad-
Kitchen Organ The
"Union," Democratic daily, started
about two months ago, contemplates an
of size.
G. A. S.