Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31

WASHINGTON, Jan. u.
This has been a good week for the man
ufacture Of history The history has been
hastily made, but the general verdict
seems to be that it will do, and that the
bill will meet the necessities Of the great
occasion. Some of the ablest speeches
that have ever been made upon the Con-
nrcssional Record have been made during
the last six days, and the thoughts, the
words. YES, even the looks of the men WHO
have spoken, will in the future be subjects
of comment and controversy. The opin-
ion is quite common, the cant Is in almost
everybody's mouth, that we have fallen
upon degenerate times, that our Legislative
halls are no longer filed with statesmen
of the splendid ability of Webster, Clay,
Calhoun and Benton. But there is little
reason to doubt that our children will us
Justly admire such senators us Conkllng,
Morton. Blaine, Elmunds, Thurman and
BavarJ. The country has been rescued
from Il great peril by the wisdom OF men
of diverse political antecedcnls and feeling.
Before this reaches you, you Will have re-
ceived intelligence of the signing OF the
bill bv the president. and you will per-
hans know the perS jnneL of the committee,
which it is now believed will DO lIrgely
made up of the gentlemen who served on
the Joint conference committee. The
greatest speech Of the week was undoubt-
edly that of Senator Conkling; for co
ouence, research and logic it has not been
excelled for years. Mr.. hdmands manage
mcnt of the bill cannot be too highly
praised. In the House the speeches oI
Watterson, Hill, and Of Townshend Of
New York, were listened to with an atten
ton seldom accorded by that body. The
speech of Mr.. Waterson was remarkable
for its calmness and temperance OF expires
sion, that of Mr.. Hill for these qualities
coupled with grace of rhetoric for whicl
he has no equal. Mr.. Townshcnd speech
was remarkable mainly for lis gross hu
NOR and violent partisanship. The pacific
and bipartisan speeches OF Senator cleo
IIoar and of Mr.. Field. and the spontane
Gus applause which followed, was an eX
preston of the universal longing of TIN
national heart for new and unpartishI
era of national politics.
1t is useless to speculate upon the compo
silion of the Commission, but it seems tt
be generally accepted that, in view o
Judge Davis's election to the United State
Senate, he will not be the fifth Judge
Democrats profess to be Indifferent us Il
who is chosen.
While Mr.. Hill of Georgia WAS receiv
inc the congratulations Of his friends, jus
after he had concluded his speech. he wa
handed telegram from Atlanta announc
inr his election to the United States Sen
ate. This result was unexpected, but tn
country will not lose by it. Mr.. Hill i
less partisan than Mr.. Norwood, and !
man of UNNECESSARILY superior ability.
In the senatorial elections thus far tn
democrats have gained. The following
retiring senators will be succeeded b.
Democrats on the 4lh of March: from Ar
kansas, Powell Clayton, by A, II. Garland
from Illinois. John A. Logan, by DAviC
Davis; from Mississippi, james l.. Alcorn
by l.. @. G. Lamar; from New Jersey, +
Il. Frclnghuysen, by John r. Mcpherson
from Texas, Morgan @. Hamilton, BY
Richard Coke. Should the senators to bt
admitted from louisiana, and the successor
of the Senator Robertson of South Carroll
nj be democrats, the Senate will stand, af
Ell March 4th, lhirty-nine republicans ant
thirty seven democrats; but should they
be, us is most probable, republicans, thu
latter party would have II majority o
eigh'. The present republican majority i
seventeen The political balance in boil
houses will, during the next four years, b'
more nearly equal than it has been at an,
time since the war. This will have an eli
feet to prevent the growing evil of absen
teeism, it will stimulate mutual criticism
and impose wholesome check on partisan
Legislation g.