Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-02-15
The New Senate.
from the New York Sun.1

1 g. .s
A full Senate consists Of rs members. The
present Senate contains 46 Republicans and
~ Democrats, giving the former a majority
OF II. One of the Louisiana seats has been
unoccupied for four years.
The terms of 26 Senators regularly expire
IN March next. Seventeen OF these are Re-
publicans, and min are Democrats. In adj
clifton to supplying their places, there was
the chronic vacancy in Louisiana to be fill
ed, and Senators to be elected for short
terms in the room Of Morrill, of Maine, who
went into the Treasury Department, and
Andrew Johnson Of Tennessee. and Cap
erton OF West Virginia, both of whom had
died.
These elections rave all been held with
the following qualifications: The rival Leg
lslatures in South Carolina nave each chosen
a Senator; the rival Legislatures of Louisi-
ana will probably elect two each, one for
the long term, and the other to fill the va
cancy.
In these elections, the Democrats have re-
tanned every seat which they hold in the
present Senate, while, irrespective of the
contested cases in South Carolina and Lou
islapa, they have gained five, and of course
the Republicans have lost accordingly; as,
for example, Frelinghuysen of New Jersey
gives place to McPherson; Logan Of Illinois
is supplanted by Davis; Alcorn of Missis-
slppi yields to Lamar; Clayton of Arkansas
retlres for Garland; and Hamilton OF Texas
goes out for Coke. There have been only
seven reflections of old members, namely,
Salisbury of Delaware, Johnston of Viz
ginia, Ransom of North Carolina, and Davis
Of West Virginia, all Democrats, and
Anthony OF Rhode Island, Ferry of Michi-
gan, and Window of Minnesota, all Repab-
licans.
As 80 Senators have now been chosen for
long terms and short terms, with only seven
reflections, % new men will now take seats
in the Senate. This is probably without a
precedent in the history of that House.
Without including the three eontroverted
seats in Louisiana and South Carolina, the
Republicans will have 80 members of the
new Senate, and the Democrats will have
"a. In this calculation we place Judge
David Davis among the Democrats, to
which he might object. But we also CLASH
fy Judge Christiancy as a Republican, TO
which he might take exception. Probably
each prefers to call himself an Independent.
II the three disputed chairs should be ulti-
mateiy assigned to the Democrats they
would have 81 members. This would leave
the Republicans with a majority of only
two.
In any event, Republican domination in
the Senate will rest on a narrow basis. To
claim even a slender majority, the Repub-
llcans must count Chrlstiancy. of Michigan,
Mcmillan. of Minnesota, and Booth Of CAL
lfornla. Each was elected by a union of the
Democrats with a few Republicans over the
regular Republican candidates. one OF
whom was Zach Chandler. When chosen
to the Senate, Christiancy and Mcmillan
were Chief Justices of their States, and
Booth was Governor of his. There is a
dash Of political independence in each OF
them. Christiancy has often voted with
the Democrats on important questions.
The other two have occasionally lone so.
The new membership will improve the
ability, tone and character Of the Senate
Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, will soon be
found in the foremost rank of members.
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, will fill a marked
place. Mr.. Beck, Of Kentucky, has had a
large experience in the House, aud will oc-
cupy a respectable position in the Senate.
Judge Davis, of Illinois, will carry with him
from the bench into the new arena superior
qualities as a jurist, and robust talents as
a statesman. There will be an immense
contrast between him and Logan.
So much for the South and West. In this
section Of the country many Of the changes
are encouraging. Mr.. Mcpherson will bring
to the discharge of his duties that valuable
knowledge which springs from the success
full management Of extensive business en-
terprises. Mr.. Hoar is a good exchange
for his plodding predecessor, and even Mr..
Blaine is in some respects an improvement
on Lot Morrill,.