The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-11-24
Scene in the Senate.

Scene in the Senate.
Chicago, Nov 23.-The Tribune has
q graphic description of the scene in
the Senate yesterday, from which the
following is taken:
The motion of Thurman enabled
Conkling to notify any Republicans who
contemplated party treachery that they
were resting under the suspicion of
their colleagues. Conkling did this in
the commanding, copious and sonorous
eloquence of which he is master, turn
ing alternately towards the seats of the
two Senators who were about to betray
theiI party trusts and imperil the very
existence of that party itself. Conkling
said there had been rumors and whis-
pers of an alliance, holy or unholy, by
means of which the Republican major
ity in the Senate was to be transferred
to the Democracy, and the motion of
yesterday had been made that the SEN
ate might know both who the allies
were and how many. Conkling turned
his glance of scorn full upon Conoyer,
as if to burn him with it. The latter sat
in his accustomed seat, unconcerned,
calm and impassive. Patterson, in his
seat, had n troubled look. as if he could
only see before aim the prison door on
the one side and national oblivion on
the other for future reputation. He
seemed to have only to choose between
that of jail-bird and that of Judas.
He turned away from the pages even,
with petulant air. The chamber
soon became too warm, also, for Con-
over. Conkling's withering insinua-
tions had their effect, and before the
eloquent torturer had ended Conover
had disappeared behind the cloak room
door. No sooner had Conover and
Patterson publicly proclaimed their
apostacy than they We're received into
full fellowship on the Democratic side.
Within fifteen minutes each had had an
earnest and friendly consultation with
Butler, Gordon, Voorhees,, Lamar and
others on theirlside, who, for years,
have been unable to find words in the
language strong enough to express their
contempt for these very men. Butler
seemed to take the control of Patterson
into his hands, as if to show openly that
it was the promise or abandoning Grim
inal proceedings in South Carolina, as
has been supposed, by which Patterson
was secured. Conover most appropri-
ately seated himself by Barnum, as if
to recall that lie was the Democratic
purchaser of mules during the Tilden
campaign. He watched Conover dur
ing the rest of the session, and once
led him out to vote when he seemed in
clined to dodge.
The Times has the following on the
same subject:
Nothing but the most imminent dan
ger and a relentless grip upon his very
life could have led Patterson to openly
stand up to-day and desert his Repub-
lican associates. The contempt show
cred upon him by all sides was the most
whitening punishment that was ever
fastened upon an official rogue. He
had nocredit with any one. What he
did was not the result of any conscien-
tious belief, but because of abject fear
and to escape the penalties of his
crimes Tie same iron power had pos
session of Conover. He consulted re-
peatedly with the Democrats. Several
times heldodged the vote and then was
brought back and changed his vote.
AS he rose in all of his shambling, pitt
able weakness, and huskily said he de-
sired to change his vote, this carpet-bag
Senator did his inner conscience the
intense flattery of blushing boiled red
color up to the top of his bald skull. 1t
was bad management to have the sub
lection of these poor devils made so ap-
parent that they had sold out. Nobody
questioned that, but they should have
been drilled in advance and not have
needed so much open instruction upon
the floor of the Senate. ~