The daily gazette., 1877-11-27
Washington Letter.


The Senatorial Crists-Ho,o il was Brought
About DrantGis-P PersomG Episodes and
Sketches-IKu and Baydrd-Blucier in Ne
rddd-Grouchy In OTe0orl-Blaile IN Maine
and Patterson IN Cnurt-Hurry up the Re-
serues-Wo,tld that they or night t0ottJd GOMEZ
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-You have been
made acquainted ere this with the histori-
cal fact that the Democrats have gained,
for moment, at least, control OF the SEN
ate, through the detection of two Southern
Republicans. This in European Govern
ments would be called crisis, and any
episodes of the transfer or seizure OF the
legislative sceptre cannot but be interest
ing.
To careless lockers on from the galleries
there was nothing of unusual interest oc-
curing on last Wednesday in the Ameri-
can House of Lords. True the famous
Senator Ben Hill was making a speech on
the Kellogg Us. Spofford and Corbin Us.
Butler cases, and he was listened to very
attentively by the democratic senators
who filled their seats in the closest order.
The Republican senators paid little atten-
ton to the remarks OF the peer from GeoI-
gia; Senator Conkling especially seemed
studiously inattentive, but it is character
istic of this Senator to treat "trifies light
as air" the remarks of both friend and foe.
Mr.. Hill talked on and the galleries listen
ed anxiously for the rash b ursts of eloqu-
ence for which he is famous; but there
was not spark of fire in any thing he
said. He had evidently no intention of
repeating the blunder OF his amnesty
rhetoric. 1t was his first speech in the
Senate, or at least in the United States
Senate, but he spoke extemporaneously,
without notes, and with as little embar
the Confederate Senate, or before a Geor-
gia court. In all that he says Mr.. Hill
has the sperfect reliance though unobtru-
sive poise of man conscious but not vain
of peershlp with the ablest. Twice Sena-
tor Mitchell from Oregon, of the commit
tee on elections, interrupted him with
questions, but quickly sat down, non
plussed with ready replies and hurrled and
excited by his own heroic daring. There is
no place where the contrast be ween weak
and able men Is more pronounced then in
the arena of the United States Senate. II
Senator Mitchell had been ompelled at
that moment to appeal to the galleries, as
in the gladiatorial contests of old, reversed
thumbs would have condemned him to
legislative death; snch is our execratioH OF
the crime of mediocrlty in NATIONAL coun-
ellis. Mr.. Hill did not speak longer than
twenty five minutes and after few
passes with parliamentary foils between
Senator Bayard of Delaware gained the
floor. Mr.. Bayard can say less in more
good English than any Senator in the
chamber. His presence Is noble, his man
ner is dignified hls rhetoric is chaste, and
his speeches are minable. He is the
Democratic resource for the consumption
of Time. On any question ana without
moments preparation he can talk inoHen-
sively, as regards grammar, logic or
rhetoric for two hours watch in hand.
The old haDitues of the gallery, and
especially the veteran journalists, who
have begun to crowd the reporters dl-
vision, realize that beneath all this digni-
fled flow of irrelevant talk, and superb
cial placidity of grave senators, there is
in progress a portentious struggle
struggle that will mark an epoch in a ma
tion's history, a civilized bloodless read
justment of policies, such as have been
decided in past ages only by an increase
of the census of widows and orphans
The Democratic ranks are very compact
every senator is IN his seat or in sight of
1t. The Republicans are not prepared
for battle that must entirely depend ON
numerical superiority. Two of their Sc
nators are absent. The bonanza senator
Sharon of Navada has not been In his
seat this session, and Senator Patterson
of South Carolina, is in tine court room,
where the murderers of Lincoln we're
convicted, to answer the charges of bri-
berry and corruption. But the Democrats
seem even more anxious than the repub-
licans for his presence in the Senate
chamber; he has suspected of late, and
there is significance in the fact, that, not
withstandlng his protracted absence at
trial, he has neglected to pair with De-
mocrat. Senator Patterson did not put
in an appearance, but, in spite of his alb
sence, the Democrats had a majority of
one. and for the first time in sixteen
years the control of the Senate on any
vital question was in the hands of the
Democrats. On the following day there
was an adjournment to'save time and hur-
ry up the reserve. Sharon of Nevada,
the Blucher who, it is hoped will skip
across the continent and arrive In time to
save the day; but with the votes of Como
yer and Patterson, the Democrats will
still have majority of one. Their plan
is first to seat Butler and Eustis and with
this reinforcement to beat Kellogg and
seat Spofford. Maine and Oregon are
paired in senators-Blaine and Grover
who are at home In their respective
States Blaine is expected TO arrive on
Monday and, it is said his pair with
Grover will be broken. Although the
situation is very exciting, and there is a
prospect for the development of much
bad feeling, much will depend upon
the rulings of the Vice-President on the
questions of precedence in the motions
now before the Senate.
Yesterday there was caucus OF Re-
publican senators, which was attended
by Mr.. Patterson, but not by r.Conover.
There was nothing definitely decided
upon and after talk of a half hours
duration the caucus adjourned. Next
Wednesday has been indicat as the
day for adjournment of the extra session
but it is all uncertain. No senator or
member can more than guess at the
time, and, since the regular session will
begin with the following Monday, the
adjournm ent will be only formal.
G. A. S.