The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-04
Political ses-sawing.

down."
The senate after a prolonged and Bit
terly partizan struggle has admitted kel-
logg from Louisiana and Butler from South
Carolina to seats in that body. The polit-
ical complexion of the senate therefore
remains as before. the former being o.
republican and the latter democrat.
1.-The elements of uncertainty" in the
struggle were Couover of Florida and Pat
terson of South Carolina, both carpet
bsggers, and Senator Davis Of Illinois.
The two carpet-baggerS have had stormy
trial of their patience and fortitude, and
have been mathematical by the leaders Of
the republican side in manner that makes
freemenablush for the honor Of poor hui
man nature 1t is not probable, after this
exhibition Of spasmodic independence on
the part Of Conover and Patterson, they
will ever again venture to depart from the
line Of march which party may dictate, or
lay themselves open any further to the
''scathing rebukes" and fearful castiRa
tons" which the republican press so uni
versally say they have received at the
hands Of their confreres and old partisan
associates.
If the contest were really one Of per
sOnal nature it would be Of far less consC-
quence than it actually is; it would be a
matter Of comparatively small consequence
which particular party might be benefited,
or what particular Individual enjoyed SEN
atOrial honors for the brief period of q
senatorial term; but the great principles
which underlie the contest, aud the viola
tons Of which outrage constitutional pro-
visions, make all such precedents danger.
Gus TO the country, and liable to result
hereafter in evil consequences the magni-
tude of which cannot be foreknown OF
properly estimated. When Senator
Davis declared in the debate on
the Louisiana and South Carolina cases
last Monday that ''tbe southern states
Ought TO be represented by persons identi-
fled with the interests of her people" be
asserted truth that ought to have gov
erned both of these senatorial cases. The
senate may, by an arbitrary exercise Of Its
power as deliberate body, reject the real
representative of q state and admit mis-
representative; and there Is no redress fol
the wrong. But this is not giving to each
state its constitutional right of representa-
ton in that body. 1t is worse; tits not only
denying to a state its right to be repre-
sented in the senate by persons of it
choice, but it is subjecting it to the wronG
Of being misrepresented by persons not o.
its choice. The senate has no warrant fol
inAicting such a wrong on the people o.
these two states. If it had, what is there
to prevent the application of the wrong t.
the people Of all the states? Suppose thu
republican practice Of admitting detesteC
and dishonest carpet baggers from tht
southern states to the senate to speak thu
voice of the states were to become universe
and the northern states. too, subjected I,
the same perYersion Of tie right of repre-
sentation-what a false and despicabl
body the United States senate wsuld be
The persons chosen by the lawful legis
latures of Louisiana and South CarOlin
may not be the choice Of the northern pee
Pile; they may not be the persons whor
the people of Massachusetts and Vernon
would prefer; but while this may be vi
fortunate, it cannot be helped. The onl
point is whether they are thelawful choiC
of the people Of South Carolina and Louii
iana not of Massachusetts, and Vernon
A southern carpet-bagger admitted to th
senate as representative OF Massachuset
would be an outright mockery. But woul
anortbern carpet-bagger admitted to Ii
senate as representative Of Louisiana {
South Carolina be anything different {
beiter2 Have not the two southern state
co-equal rights in the union with the tW
northern ones2
The secret of this desperate struggle
that the republicans are endeavoring
maintain at all hazards their waning a
tendency 10 the senate. They are striviu
to rule after they have fairly aud honest
lost the right to rule; and as in the case
the presidential dispute, they exhibit I
conscientious regard for right and iusti,
or decency in the accomplishment of the
object. They imposed republican pres
dent on the country after it lad clear
chosen democratfor the place, aud vii
equal ease aud equal injustice they ha'
imposed VIM, Pitt Kellogg on Louisiar
IN the place Of lawfully chosen dem,
crat; it is simply an attempt, regardle
Of right, to perpetuate a republican m
jority in the senate; it is unmitigat,
party scoundrelism. Four carpet. Dagger
neither of whom has the least character
lose, aud all Of whom are now needy, no
the balance Of power in the United Stat
senate.
WhSt an ediiying spectacle to a gre
nation.
=--------------
vics-President Wheeler.
The .tnusual md Ianentohlo. suao4.