Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-27
The Struggle In the Senate.

The Washington correspondent OF the BiItl'
more Sun describes as follows the proceedings
in the u. 8. Senate yesterday
Punctually at one o clock the Vice President
| laid before the Senate the motion OF Judge
Thurman to discharge the Committee 90 Priv
| ieges and Elections from the further consldera-
| ton of the case of Mr. Butler.
Judge Davis first claimed the Aoor, aud in
very few words explained bis reasons for f.vor-
| ing the motion. He remarked Incidentally that
ever since the close of the rebellion be had held
| the view that the Southern States should be
| represented by those who were Identified With
| Thorn, He made some ausion to the almost
equal balance OF parties, which Mr.. Edmuods,
who followed, seized hold of to point some So
tirical remarks directed at Judge Davis as em
bodyipg in bis person the third party 10 the
Senate.
Mr.. Edmunds from the very mioute that he
| took the floor indicated that he was 10 one OF
his most disagreeable moods, and be fairly ex-
celIed himself during the whole day 10 cutting,
biting sarcasm, and the effort to make every
one who was not acting with him feel as disa-
greeable as possible. While it may be true that
MIR. Edmuuds did not to day exceed pariamen.
tary license in his words and action. 1t is not to
be denied that he was guilty OF conduct which
| high toned gentleman ought to be above. Do
| ring the day he was on his feet a dozen times
or more making speeches and offering bis bill
| clustering notions Hi, efforts to hold Judge
Davis up TO ridcule did provoke The passing
laughter of the crowd, but Judge Davis very
properly passed them by with silence, and only
replied to aud defeated he attempt to place him
in an Inconsistent position. 10 his first speech Mr.
Edmunds, after dealing in innueudocs on the sub
iect, finally, 10 answer to an iDterrogatory, de
clared bis belief that corrupt bargain had been
made whereby the democratic contestant Was
to be seated. When reminded Of the notorious
fact that attempts have been made from bis own
side to influence the votes of Conover and Pat
terson he affected to be ignorant oft. Ga the
first of bis dlatory motions, when the roll was
called, there was StralDlDg OF eyes and OF cars
as the names Of Conover and Patterson were
called. They both voted in o loud, prompt tone
| 10 the negative. and their names we're recorded
| on the same side on all The subsequent flibus
teriog motions. Judge Davis also voted stead.
| lily with the democrats until late hour in the
| afternoon, when be voted for motion 10 60 in-
to executive session, because, as he said, there
! was important executive business that ought to
be attended to. This vote of bis caused tie,
and the motion was carried by tho affirmative
vote of the Vice President.
Senators Conover and Patterson both made
| ton to republican principles, and claimed their
right to vote according to their own convictions
of what WAS right and wrong. Both denied in
the strongest terms all charges or insinuatons
that their action WAS the result of any bargain
or agreement, express or implied. MIR. Patter-
son said in giving bis vote Tor Butler he was
representing the wishes of the republicans of
South Carolina as we'll as the democrats. Look
| ING very steadily at the Vice President, he said
be had received to day dispatch from we'll
known republican now 10 New York, who had
spent more money than any man in South
Carolina TO put you, Mr.. President, 10 the
chair you now occupy, and Mr.. Hayes in the
White House, approving his course and en-
couragug him to hold on to it. The person to
whom MIR. Patterson alluded is understood to
be Governor Chamberlain. Mr.. Pattertou also
spoke very plainly of the attempts 10 bulldozs
him by his party associates on tho floor Of the
Senate, and warned them that he was not to be
inundated. AS good and complete answer
to any charges of his bargaining with Butler to
save himself from criminal prosecution, he re.
called the undisputed fact that his intention to
vote for Butler was kuoTe oil "uAr the noputry
months before any indictments were found
against him.
| Senator Conover read his speech, which was
very we'll prepared, and full of good points, fire.
uuently drawing out applause and laughter from
all over the House. This had the effect to stir
ND the immense amount of accumulated bile 10
MIR. Edmu0ds, and he notified the Vice Presi
dent that if the applause was repeated he
should insist upon the galleries being cleared
and the arrest OF the offenders. MIR. Conover
had 10 bis speech proclaimed his ignorance Of
the quips and quirks OF the law, and bis inabil-
ity to argue upon one side or the other of q
question according to the eXigencics of party
tor the time being. He alluded, as did Mr..
Patterson, to the position taken by Mr.. Ed.
muuds 10 the Pinchback case, and read from
the speech of the latter certain sound and hon
est doctrines to which, sinking for the moment
the mere politician and the pettifogger, he had
given utterauce. Mr.. Conover said be accept.
ed these sentiments as his guide. Ho thought
be could be both an honest man and repub.
licap, but if not he would prefer tp be the 70 r.
mer.
| Mr. Edmunds squirms good deal at the
showing up Of bis record, but IS be cannot sus-
tain bis position on the Piochback case, which
| he declared was not question to be determln-
ed by party interests. with his position now
when he is leading an effort to terrorizs Sena-
tors into obeYiug the behests of party, he made
no attempt to do so. But to revenge himself
he rose in his place and again reiterated the
charges Of bargain between the democrats and
the republican Senators now acting with them.
Mr.. Patterson Immediately charged him point
blank with uttering an unttuth.
Brought to bay on this point by direct To-
quires made by Senators, be was forced to con-
fees that his information was derived from street
gossip and statements 10 the partisan press
Gen. Gordon called his attention to the effort
made, improperly, to Induce Judge Humphreys
to decide the habeas corpus case Of MIR. Patter-
son against him at once and surrender him to
the South Carolina authorities, so that bis vote
would be lost to Butler MIR. EdmuDds had
heard nothing of this, although it is a fact that
has been notorious here for several days. Meth
er had he heard of the other notorious fact that
q republican Senator on the floor was most VIC.
lenty abusive to Mr.. z atterioD, and used the
most threatening language to induce him 10
change his vote With remarkable audaciy
even for bin, MIR. Edmunds again reiterated
the charges to which he had alluded, and as.
serted that Mr.. Butler was corruptly intriguing
on the floor to obtain his scat.
l. ~; G., ~