The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-01-31

From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Jan. u, 1877.
This has been good week for the
manufacture OF history. The history has
been hastily made but the general verdict
seems TO be that it will do, that the bill
will meet the necessities of the great oc-
casion, and be valuable in the future as q
precedent. Some of the ablest speeches
that have ever gone upon the Congress
sional Record have been made during the
last six days, and the thoughts, the words,
yes, even the looks of the men who have
spoken, will in the future be subjects OF
comment and controversy. The opinion
is quite common, the cant is in almost
everybody's mouth that We have fallen
upon degenerate times, that our legisla-
tive halls are no longer filled with states.
men of the splendid ability OF Webster,
Clay, Calhoun, and Benton. But there l.
little reason to doubt that our children
Conkling, Morton, Blaine, Edmunds,
Thurman and Bayard. 1t is on occasions
like this, when the country has been res
cued from great peril by the wisdom OF
men Of diverse political antecedents and
feeling, that the country realizes how
great and precious are her statesmen and
patriots. and how despicable and danger
Gus are the selfish partisans who have
crept into the places where only states
men ought to be. Before this reaches
you, you will have received intelligence
Of the
SIGNING OF THE BILL
By the president, and you will perhaps
know the personel Of the committee,
which 1t is now believed will be largely
made up of the gentlemen who served
on the joint conference committee, ex-
cepting. Of course, Mr.. Morton, who is
opposed to the bill. The greatest speech
OF the week was undoubtedly that OF
Senator Conkling. For eloquence. re-
search, and logic, 1t has never been ex-
celled by any effort that has been made
in the United States senate, not even by
himself. Mr.. Edmund's management
of the bill cannot be too highly praised
In the house the speeches of Watterson,
Hill, and of Townsend, OF New York.
were listened to with an attention seldom
accorded by that body. The speech OF
Mr.. Watterson was remarkable tor its
calmnness and temperance of expires
sion that OF 1lr. Hill for these qualities
coupled with grace Of rhetoric
for which he has no equal. Mr..
TOwnsend's speech was remarkable only
for its gross humor, and violent vulgarity.
The pacific and bipartisan speeches OF
Senator-elect Hoar and of Mr.. Field, and
the spontaneous applause which followed
them, was an expression Of the universal
longing OF the national heart for new
and bipartisan era of national politics.
THE BILL
Provides that during the session OF each
house, on Tuesday the 30th inst, each
house shall by viua voce vote appoint five
OF its members, who, with five associate
justices of the supreme court, shall con-
stitute commission to decide upon all
questions in which duplicate electoral re-
turns shall be involved. 1t is useless to
speculate upon the composition of this
commission, but it seems to be generally
accepted that, in view of Judge Davis
election to the United States senate, he
will not be the fifth judge. Democrats
profess to be Indifferent as to who is
chosen.
While MIR. Hill, of Georgia, was receiy-
ing the congratulations OF his friends,
Just after he had concluded his speech, he
was handed telegram from Atlanta an
nouncing his election to the United States
senate. This result was unexpected. but
the country will not lose by it. MIR. Hill
is less partisan than MIR. Norwood, and is
q man Of immeasurably superior ability.
In the
SENATORIAL ELECTIONS
Thus far the Democrats have gained.
The following retiring senator's will
Ut suCCecuSu py bSiioSAoeo vi" ssS
fourth of March from Arkansas, Powell
Clayton, by A. II. Garland; from ILL
nois John A. Logan, by David Davis
from Mississippi, James l.. Alcorn, by
l.. Q. =. Lamar from New Jersey, f. t.
Frelinghuysen, by John r. Mcpherson
from Texas, Morgan C. Hamilton by
Richard Cooke. Should the two sena-
tors to be admitted from Louisiana, and
the successor of Senator Robertson
OF South Carolina, be Democrats, the
senate will stand after March the 4th,
thirty-nine Republicans, and thirty
seven Democrats, but should they be, al
is most probable, Republicans, the latter
party would have majority OF eight
The present Republican majority is sew
enteen. The political balance in boil
houses will, during the next tour years
be more nearly equal than II has been a
any time since the war. This will hav
an effect to prevent he growing evil o
absepteeisn, it will stimulate mutus
criticism, and impose wholesome chec
on partisan legislatiOn.