Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
COMPOSITION OF THE SENATE

COMPOSITION OF THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 6-The re-
publican senator's met in caucus at eleven
O'Clock. They are now 80 strong. and the
admission of C0rbin Of SIuth Carolina and
Kellogg OF Louisiana. will make their num-
Der fOrty-One with the possible addition OF
Judge Davis of Illinois, and another senator
from Louisiana. The democratic senators
are thirty strong with every expectation OF
the admission to their ranks of Grover OF
oregon, Morgan of Alabama, and Lamar
OF Mississippi. making thirty-three.
Snould they haye the support OF Judge
DAVIS, and obtain the admission OF
their men from South Carolina and LouiSi-
ana, as they hope. then this Senate will
stand republicans 80. against the democrats
81; but it is hardly probable that the dem
ocrats will secure all of the doubtful votes,
and reduce the republican majority to so
low figure as two.
MILITARY MATTERS.
A general order from the head4 uarters of
the army announces that the military
academy and post of West Point shall con-
stitute separate military department, the
commander of which shall report TO the
general in chief of the army. General
Schofeld Is appointed commander of the mil
itary department OF West Point.
THE PRESIDENTS SOUTHERN PoLIcT-TME AN
TAGoNlsA TO THE APPOINTMENT OF KEY.
WAsuINCToS. D. c., March We'll in
formed friends of the President assert that
the nomination of Key to the cabinet was
an initial step in the development OF his
policy Of seeking to disarm Southern DIS
trust and promote peace in that section on
the basis of justice and protection to all.
That he and the President would be able 10
harmonic was made clear to the latter by
the sentiments of private letter addressed
by Key to personal friend on the 10th of
February last. This letter was laid before
President Hays who found it entirely In ac-
cord with his own sentiments, and hence
the formal tender of the appointment to
Key, alter an interview between those gen
tlemen last evening, which established the
similarity of their respective views on the
Southern question. Key, in response TO
protests from old party associates against
his acceptance, upon the ground that the
Presidents purpose is to divide the south
ern democracy and reconstruct the repub-
lican party in the south on more pOpu-
lar basis, declared his desire to see the
color line in southern politics broken also
that restored peace and commercial pros
perity are Of more pressing Importance to
the south than party success. Keys ap-
pointment has also been earnestly antagOn-
lied by some prominent republicans in the
fear that it would commit the admins
tration to the abandonment OF the exist
ing republican organizations, especial
ly in South Carolina and Louisiana,
and the surrender of their ad-
herents to the tender mercy of their
foes. 1t is claimed for the President that
his firmness in resisting this appeal was
based upon the fact that the general Inns Of
policy in regard to the south which he had
determined to test looks to no such cOnse-
quence as the desertion of old friends. His
desire is TO secure an honorable and AMIGA
Bile compromise of the exciting southern
difficulties by the consent of wise and hon.
est men of both parties in the south on
terms that shall be Just aud creditab.e TO
all alike. At the beginning he was reso-
lutely determined to tender the olive branch
to the south, by taking into his cabinet
seine southern democrat, who had fought
on the confederate side, but il now thor
onghly true, as well as able. To this end
he was disposed to take Gen. Joe johnson
as a thoroughly representative south
erner; but Key was found less Objee-
,ionable to the republicans and so was
finally chosen. The significance Of the ap-
pointment is in its notice to the south
that the new administration has no pur-
pose which cannot be freely disclosed to.
and discussed with, an honorable represen-
tative OF their own section, aud who Is IN
full sympathy with the best elements in
the southern opposition party. This, it Is
claimed. clears the way for what Is 10 fol-
low. Vice-President Wheeler Is to be no
CIPHER in the government. He will be in
vited to participate in the administration
as freely as if he were member of the
cabinet. IL is hoped that after the Senate
adiOurns he will head the commission to be
appointed by the President to visit the
south, carefully study the situation in
Louisiana and South Carolina and aseer-
tain upon what honorable terms all the
troubles there can be aceeptably adjusted
by state action, with such support and
corporation as the President can right
fully extend. The Presidents friends say
that il this policy fails it will be the fault
of the southern peopl5 themselves and Will
be so regarded.
THE CABINET NOMINATION IN The SENATE
MUCH DISPLEAsURE MANIFESTED.
When the Senate went into executive
session, quito lively scene ensaed. Under
the rule Of the Senate single objection to
the present consideration of any nomination
refers it to the appropriate Committee, and
when the very first one, that of Erarts to
be secretary OF state, was announced. Mr..
Blaine moved its reference to the committee
on foreign relations. Then there was an
earnest discussion in which some Of the re-
publicans exhibited much Indignation at
some of the nominations. and finally it
seemed to be generally acquieseed in that
all must be referred, and that none of them
should be confirmed to-day. Mr.. COnk-
ling demanded the reference of the nominal
ton of Schurz to the finance committee,
and quite a number of the senators demand
ed the reference of Keys nomination in
TACT there was more or less objection to
every one of them, and there is every prob
ability of an excited debate when they come
before the Senate again. There were per-
haps ten or dozen senator's who made OBJ
jections to one or another of the nomina-
ton.
THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS IN Caucus.
After adjournment the democratic Soma
tors met il caucus, and fully discussed the
policy to be pursued BY them on the cabinet
From tho general tenor of
the debate, it is believed tho southern
democratic Senators will use their power in
executive sessions to induce the administra-
ton to refuse any recognition of Packard or
Chamberlain. Ii is said by them that if
they can be assured that the administration
will stand firmly on the policy of non-inter-
vention in the affairs OF these states, they
will support it by voting to confirm these
and otherwise no formal
lotion was taken by the caucus.
OF THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
CABINET NOMINATIONS.
As the committees of the Senate will per
laps not DO appointed before Friday and as
! single objection will prevent the con-
'iderstion of any nomination on the sams
lay it is reported from the committee,
here is not much probability that
he cabinet nominations can be
lnally disposed of this week, or at
east not sooner than Saturday. IL is b.
leved the nominations will DO confirmed
nless the democrats act in body against
hem. Ii has always been the custom to
ct upon the nominations Of per>on< who
ave been members of the Senate without
1rmality OF reference, but in the case Of
enator Sherman, to-day, the custom Wa
iolsted. it Is said. at the suggestion OF
lr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania. who demand
q the nomination be forwarded TO the Com
nittee on finance.
THE EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS
The President, to-day, stated he would
OF convene an extra session OF Congress
IT an earlier date than about the first Of
uno.