The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-27
WASHINGTON.
The Great Struggle for the Con-
troll Of the Senate.
BULL-DOZKG OF RECUSANT SENATOR'S.
Dramatic Scenes During the
Course Of the Deba To.
CHARGES OF CORRUPT ALLIANCES.
Senators Patterson and Oonover in
Defence of Their Course.
EDMUNDS QUOTED AGAINST EDMUNDS.
How Republicans Cemented the
Democratic Majority.
CHARGES OF CORRUPT ALLIANCES.
Senators Patterson and Oonover in
Defence of Their Course.
EDMUNDS QUOTED AGAINST EDMUNDS.
How Republicans Cemented the
Democratic Majority.
PROSPECTS OF AN ALL NIGHT SESSION.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 20, 1871
THE SCENE IN THE SENATE DURING THE DE-
BATE ON THE BUTLER CAsE-EFFECT OF
THE SPEECHES OF SENATORS PATTERSON AND
coNovER-PKCULIAR TACTICS OF MR.. Ed
MUNDs.
II Twill be said or tho republican Senators not only
that they die hard, but that thoy faco tho inevitable
with little dignity grace In the Of the
struggle over the South Carolina Senatorship
traordinary and painful scene occurred to-day In
the Senate Senators Patterson and Conover obtained
the floor in succession for personal explanations, and
not only denied in the positive and circumstan-
tla manner the rumors which have been afoat by
some republicans against them, but also made clear
and effective statements of the contest in question,
showing that they intended to vote Tor Mr. Butler
the sufficient that Mr.. Butler entitled to tho
seat, point which even the EXTREMIST republicans
have been cautious far about disputng When
they were done Senator Edmunds to ofror
substitute for Mr.. Thurman's resolution. His object
was delay and II possible to put on indefinitely the
admission Of anybody to the vacant South Carolina
seat, and he proceeded to move that the Elections
committee be instructed to investigate certain ru-
mors that Mr.. Butler had corrupt agreement with
Senator Patterson to induce the latter support him.
Mr. Edmunds has somewhat dry and acrd voice and
manner, very effective in attack or retort He Ia
undoubtedly the strongest Of the older republican
Senators and Is the leader of his side, aud
he probably ON this occasion acted upon precon.
certed plan, for II is improbable that he would have
risen spontaneously say what did in the face of
Mr.. Patterson's explicit and conclusive denial Just
made, had not his motion and speech been part OF a
programme previously agreed with the single pur-
pose of putting OF the vote Buffers case
Mr.. Edmunds said that he ieat obliged to
call the attention Of the Senate to statements
and assertions ..made In all the papersn
but he was obliged hero himself and said
sn some reputable journals" that claimant to seat
In the Senate haa coerced procured the support
OF Senator by the threat that he should put into
the Penitentiary II he refused Senator Patterson
Just behind Mr.. Edmunds, and the latter spoke
turned about and pointed him out with q sarcastic
bow. He then proceeded to develop hts topic
In ieisurely and bantcring manner, read rs
his Justification despatch In Now York
journal reciting the rumors and hearsays which
have been put afoat here by the republicans them
selves fo- days. and finally produced his substi
tue for Thurman's resolution In this he that
the Of Butler be referred back to the Elections
Committee with Instructions TO investigate the
rent rumors and send for persons and papers II
OF from the first that Mr.. Edmunds' solo
aim to postpone the Butler indefinitely and
as he spoke and with great ingenuity and de.
liberation presented bis points, the excitement
In the Senate became very Deep All eyes were fixed
on Patterson whose little boy four five years old
stood by his side as Mr.. Edmunds spoke quite uncon.
scious OF the painful scene.
When Mr.. Edmunds somewhat reluctantly ended
the work Of torture, which seemed give him moro
pleasure than some OF his friends wished. Mr. Thur
man rose and In very felicous manner showed that
Mr.. Edmunds' proposition entirely contrary TO
the usage Of the Senate and to common sense and
turned the charge OF corruption in q very effective
manner on the republicans He pointed out that both
Patterson and Conover had committed themselves
openly for Butler some months ago; that Patterson
had defended Butler against the charge OF completely
In the Hamburg riot long before Butler was spoken
II for the Senate and before Hampton even nom
mated for Governor and that he had Buffers
right to the seat March, before he (Patterson was
dicted.
'But," said Mr.. Thurman, al might ask my repub-
lican friends what they meant when after the ndic
ment had been found which oifends them, after
mr. Patterson subject to the criminal prosecution
OF which tho Senator from Vermont speaks and when
the Butler case about TO up the republican
Senators FASTENED to elect Mr. Patterson to The chair
manshp OF one OF the most important committees in
the Senate, and to elect Mr.. Conover to another,
promoting both these Senators, whom now thoy
10 investigate and OF crimc This caused SEN
sation and evidently told. Mr.. Thurman then went
on TO point out that Senator Grover by general
consent admitted to his last March while charges
like these were pending against him. cited other
OF the same kind showing that such matters must DO
Investigated after admission and closed by showing
that II no Senator admitted until all rumors
derogatory to his character Investigated a
bare majority might keep the Senate half empty all
the time, adding that II Mr. Butler admitted he
pledged himself II any one then wished invostiga
uou himself to move It,
Mr. Edmunds' reply to Thurman was weak and halt
Ing IL required all his ability to say anything, and
he evidently felt that he could hope convince
Senator'S, however thoy might vote.
Tue vote stood ~ to 80 and his motion was
therefore lost Senator Patterson did not vote, and
Senator Matthew'S voted nav, and thus made himself
acandidatc for investigation, as he said. motion
Immediately followed TO 60 into executive session.
and this, too, was iost27 to 30Mr Patterson voting
against H. Tho debate at once reopencd, the repub-
licans boing still determl med to put OF tho vote
The main reason for their extreme reluctance TO al
low tho Butler 10 come to a vote is the belief
that he will be seated by the of considerable
number OF republican Senators, who, knowing his
claim to DO perfect indsrutab arc too honest to
allow themselves TO be swayed against their convic-
lions by mere partisan Considerations Tho rcpubli-
;an chiefs evidently fear that if some OF their
followers once breaK away from their control
md vote on principle they will do In
The case OF Eust clear that OF Butter tho
ssss Of Spoford though intricate. than either Of
The others, Is just as strong as eitheG Hence tho
Butler vote has an Importance to the republ-
ears, aside from tho gain his admission DO TO
the democrats
Mr.. Conover to-day, after denying algtse charges
which had boon made against him Of being corrupted
by the democrats, turned to the republicans and
warned them against attempting anything or the kind
Nth him. Tina caused n lAuuh among tho6a who