Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-26
VIII the Bargain Hold?

The struggle for the control OF the SEN
ate will be resumed to-day. The time
since the adjournment took place Ihnrs-
day evening has been improved by both
parties to the contest in preparation Tor
the renewal of the conflict. The repub-
licans will make an effort to bring the
report of the committee on Privileges and
Elections on the case of Kellogg before
the senate, and upon that obtain vote
in favor of the admission OF Kellogg II
they can. 1t has been reported. that Pat
terson and Conoyer have stated that they
would vote for the admission Of Kellogg,
also for the admission of Butler. These
two men evidently hold the key OF the
situation in their hands.
Counting Judge Davis as democrat,
the democrats have 80 members of the
senate; the republicans have IS; and
there are three vacancies. II Kellogg l.
admitted by the help of Conover ana Fat
terson, then the republicans will have %
members. and might prevent the admis-
sion of Butler and Eustis were Senator
Sharon present or paired with some
democratic Senator. But Sharon is alb
sent and cannot reach Washington before
Wednesday or Thursday it is said. II
therefore the vote on all these cases were
TO be taken to-day. commencing with the
Kellogg case, and if Conover and Patter-
son were to vote as it is reported they
will, the result would be tina. Kellogg
would be admitted by two majority,
and Butler and Eustis by one majority
each.
But it is very doubtful if a vote can be
reached to-day upon any one OF these
cases, and perhaps the session may close
before a decision can be made. There
will be debate and delay, and the end
may vet be some distance in the future.
The important question in all this mat
ter is--as upon it the control OF the senate
depends-whether Patterson and Conoyer
have gone over soul and body to the dem
ocratic side, or intend only to aid the
democrats to seat Butler and Eustis 10
the Senate and then resume their allegi-
ance to the republican party. II they
have gone over to remain permanent
" with the democrats, they will carry
over 10 the democratic side the future
control of the Senate; but if they adhere
to the republican party the admission OF
Butler and Eustis and even Of Spoliord
would still leave the republicans masters
of the senate, though in the latter CON
tingency--the admission of Spoford with
the other two-the republicans would
retain control only by the casting vote oil
Vice President Wheeler.
Should these two men finally and ire
vocably 60 over TO the democrats they
will carry with them "a damning load OF
infamy for the democratic party to bear.
No investigation would be required to
convince the public that the control OF
the Senate had been carried over to the
democracy by shameless corruption. One.
frightened by the vision OF the South
Carolina penitentiary thrust in his face by
Wade Hampton and the assassin Butler,
has consented to sell his vote to the dem
ocrats for the promise of escape from the
clutches of his prosecutors and a prison
cell. The other is not SO plain case,
but enough appears to stamp him as
Judas if he betrays the republicans. They
have been driven, threatened and bribed
with a price to sell and betray their par
democratic party must bear the shame and
disgrace which this most foul aud iuiqui
tous transaction will inevitably cast upon
the actors in it.