New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-27
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.


SENSATION.
lBY rEfEGRArH TRIBUNE.I
u,suIvGfON Jan. 26.-The debate in the House
A. dov was in great measure one of sentiment and
.vrIonaton. The hour rule which operated until
o,oloek and the ten-,ninute rule, which operated
.tter that time were not productive of well-consd-
.,sd constitutional arguments, nor was discussion
If this kind necessary. The exhaustive debate
which occupied the time of the Senate from Satur-
6av last until yesterday morning covered every
lint which il was possible to advance on either side
n the controversy. When the result of the vote i'll
that body was known the fate of the bill in the
House was also sealed. Nothing remained except
,or those members who felt that their votes might,
at some future time, need explanation, to say few
words either in defense or i'll opposition not to the
hill itself but of their action in connection with it.
The greater portion of the day given up to MEM
hers who intended 10 vote with the minority. Those
who supported the bill felt that they could point to
tbe exhaustive arguments made III its favor In the
Senate. as Henry Watterson did to-day, and with
ont reviewing them, left the subject with the re-
mark that the reasons there advanced were sufficient
for them.
The interest in the debate was unusually well sUs
tanned for the House of Representatives. Nearly
every member was in his seat throughout the whole
dav and while at times attention was diverted from
the speaker who held the floor, at Others unusual
quiet prevailed and every word that was SAID was
listened TO. The galleries were crowded at the hour
of meeting 90 o'clock. In the Diplomatic Gallery
during the day many prominent representa-
tyes of foreign countries and members of the fami-
hes of Cabinet Ministers. The Members Gallery
was filed to OVERLOOKING, not vacant seat appear
ing there during the whole session, ard most OF the
time the aisles were absolutely packed. The long
gallery devoted exclusively TO men, on the north
side of the chamber. damned, the several
hundred cOlored men who spend the Winter In Its
seats being out to-day in full force On the floor, in
addition to the members of the House, were many
prominent public men. Gen. Sherman occupied
Cen Garheld's seat during the greater part OF the
dav and was one of the most interested listeners TO
the debate. George Bancroft, the historian, came
in about the middle of the afternoon and Mr.. Seelye
politely surrendered his desk to him. Sir Edward
Thornton ex-GOv. FoOte, ex-GOv. Kellogg OF Lon
isiana. and many Senators and other distinguished
men were noticed among those standing in the crowd
At the rear of the seats At least 800 men, unable
to gain admission to the galleries or to obtain seats
Oh the floor stood i'll the vacant space i'll the back
part Of the hail during the greater part of the day
II pust he said to the credit of those who opposed
the bill that they offered factiOus opposition to
its passage and did not resort even to the common
parliamentary tactics by which they might undoubt-
edly have postponed action upon 1t. few OF the
speeches made commanded genera! attention, some
by their seriousness and some by their humor; and
few of the speakers were listened to with the pro-
foundest silence, more for the sake OF the speakers
Themselves than Oh account Of what they had to say.
Among the Democratic orators there were numerous
illusions to the possibilities of civil war, should
the bill fail. Mr.. Lamar's speech was the hTst III
the day which commanded universal attention His
IL,
trouble with the coustitutlonality of the BILL and
approved il with eaTnestness and sincerity. lheIe
was not a little sensation when he wandered away
from the discussion of the measure To- consider the
relations of the Democratic party North and South
prior to the rebellion. He denied that the Southern
Democracy had expected aid from their party
friends at the North and said that the Southern
people had brought all their ills upon themselves,
believing that they fighting for Il just and holy
cause. Henry WattersOn appeared III the role OF
Ieacenaker and counseled support of tie bill. lie
drew very dark picture of the results OF ITS failure
but even in the event Of that contingency ne con-
fesSed disbelief in the occurrence of a civil war.
Benjamin HIPS speech was of the sensations
OF the day In the brief 10 minutes allotted HIN he
referred To his appeh nsions in the early part OF the
session, and expressed gratitude that they were no
longer well founded and that the passage OF the bill
NONiu remove all fears. lie supported INC DII VI
cause il was "cOustilutional-whoys go; wise Ill
every proy>ion-renarkab.v sO Just to all parties
emneltly So" and closed with the declaration that
III the pride OF an American citizen lie did not believe
that rs decisions would be partisan. lie expected lis
Judgment on every important point to he unahl-
nous His voice for peace. The South" he
tald, cries unto thc North for peace civil wal
NIGicateS 10 rights, cOrrects no wrongs; II you
ooubt il, the South says look here and he convinced
BIZ. Hill was warmly congratulated for his speech,
and few minutes afterward received a dispatch
announcing his election to the United States Senate.
NO one Of the Senatorial elections recently made
has given greater satisfaction than that OF Mr..
MI. Having been all his life conservative ma
toal man, lover Of the Union, Of the earliest
70 be reconstructed al the close Of the WAL and one
" The most earnest Of the Southern leaders to urge
an entire reconciliation between the sections, no
man has probably been misunderstood than
DC during tine early part of his Congressional career
Is United States Senator political friends and OPP
pohents expect him TO make not only an honorable
record for himself but to serve with ability and
usefulness not only the section of country which
Ne repTesents but the entire Union.
Mf. Foster Of Ohio who has had TO stand up for
Ms honest convictions against tremendous pressure
non lis own State, favored the Dill He declared
III TIE FIST sentence OF his speech to-day his belief
u The election of Gov. Hayes and also that the Vice
PRESIDENT could uot under the Constitution and the
laWsconnt the electoral votes. Mr. Foster says to-
night that he is convinced that Gov Hayes approves
ue bill The attitude of the Ohio delegation III
Uocsresa has led TO the popular opinion that Gov.
iiayes was opposed 70 its passage. Mr. Townsend of
Se"'lork made the humorous speech of the day, rs
~ Always does but beneath the humOr there was
uLcad' Of common sense If not OF the argument
% constitutional lawyer. His comparison OF Mr.