The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-12-05
THE FIGHT FOR THE SENATE.
THE MOST EXCITING FIELD-DAY IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE
SINCE 1861.
w AsHINGToN, !
Nov. %, '77.{

udy WIN iNSHiJ h'CtS91liS anu
the excitement ran higher than at
any time for many years. Old sta
gers 10 Congress can only remember
one time when anything occurred in
the Senate that can be fairly com
pared with the performance Of to-day.
The days Of 1861, when members
were leaving their places for the pur-
pose of going over to the enemy, no
more than eQualled to-day in excite
ment. The scene on the floor Of the
Senate absolutely beggars descrip-
ton. On the Republican side there
were disgust, chagrin, provocation,
humiliation, resentment and disap-
pointment. On the other there was
the enthusiasm resulting from yicto.
ry, although that enthusiasm was
tempered by the realization that the
victory was obtained through the
treachery of some of the enemy's
forces, whose desertion was for per.
sonal gain or spite rather than be
cause Of conviction Of right. For
the first time since 1861 the phrase,
"the majority of this body" was to-
day applied to the Democratic side
of the Senate. Senator Edmunds
used it in abiding TO the vote on the
resolution discharging the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections from
the further consideration of the But
Ter case, in which Messrs. Conover
and Patterson recorded themselves
with the Democrats. The scene on
the floor at this time was deeply in
teresting, the area being filled with
privileged and non-privileged per-
sons, not the least important of whom
was the contestant (Butler) himself.
Conover's committee room on enroll
ed bills, located across the lobby, to
the rear of the Senate Chamber, was
also point of great interest, for, as
he recorded his several votes in be-
half of or against Butler, he sought
consolation from his friends in that
locality. Butler never lost sight of
him from the beginning of the ses-
sion, but haunted him like a shadow
to and from his seat, into the cloak
room and into his Committee room.
Serious sort of a Mulberry Sellers
affair this" and similar comments,
were provoked, particularly when
Butler seized ConoYer by the arm
and led him back to his seat, on
reaching which he changed his vote
in Buffers favor. To the minds of
many this incident was a very plain
case of bulldozing in q mild form.
Patterson meanwhile found himself
stunned by the Republicans general
ly, although Spencer, Dorsey and
Bruce, the three Southern Repub!i-
can Senators who still remain true,
sought him in the cloak room and at,
tempted in vain TO persuade him TO
change his course. They represent
ed to him that from their standpoint
no Republican can be placed in The
pledges or promises of the South
Carolina Democratic leaders 10 re-
lieve him from persecution or prose
cution for bribery; and they added !
that if be persisted in voting with
the Democrats, his Republican
friends in Washington might with
draw the protection they now give
him against the requisition of Gov
ernor Hampton. In other words,
they argued that if he persisted in
his course his surrender TO the South
Carolina authorities would become a
matter of political policy, as it would
reduce the Democratic majority in
the Senate by one.
Mr.. Patterson rejoined that, hav
ing been handed over manacled and
bound hand and foot, SO 10 speak, by
Els friends meaning the Admins (
tratlon) TO his enemies, he could not
DO less than make the best terms
with the latter possible under the cir
cumstances. Subsequently he seat
ed himself on the Democratic side of .
Sae chamber, and the remarkable
spectacle was presented of the chief
carpet-oagger of them all, a man I'M f,
DER Indictment for bribery and self +
aVoWed partisan traitor, consorting :
with such men as Bayard and Thur s
man. 1t must be understood, how b
ever, that the latter did not seem to =
'ake kindly TO their new ally. In '
truth, although Patterson almost P
hung himself on Thurman's broad C
shoulders by throwing his arms
ABOUT his neck, it was evident that =
Thurman felt as much repugnance -