Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-15
From the New York Times.
Contested Seats in the Senate.


publican party had more than two-thlrds
majority in the United States Senate. Since
then. from one cause or another, this
majority has been annually reduced, until
to-day, upon the eve of the meeting of Con-
press. Il is known that republicans will
barely be able to hold their own on any
question calling for strict party vote.
According to the official classification,
the republican members number thirty
seven, and the democrats thirty-three
Three Independents. Messrs. Booth, of
California, Davis OF Illinois. and Chris
tancy. OF Michigan, are expected to act
with the republicans upon most questions
Of national Importance, but on the other
hand, the absence of the republican Sena-
tor from Nevada, Mr.. Sharon. who has an
nounced that he cannot be present during
the extra session, will weaken the party by
one vote. There will probably be ''set-
orr so-called, between Messrs. Morton Of
I diana and Dennis of Maryland. who,
because of sickness. will doubtless be pre-
vented from attending. and counting on the
attendance and cooperation of Spencer of
Alabama, and Conover of Florida. the ac-
tual republican working majority will not
be more than three.
One of the first acts of the body so con-
STUFFED will be to decide contests between
]. B. Eustis, democrat, and James Lewis +,
republican; w. T. Spofford, democrat.
and William Pitt Kellogg, republican, all
of whom claim to be Senators from Louis
lana. and M. C. Butler. democrat, aud ID.
T. Corbin, republican. both claiming to
have been elected from South Carolina. 1t
is probable that the case of Mr.. Eustis will
be the first taken up. and that it will be
disposed of by his admission. The claims
Of Pinchback, who formerly opposed him
we're not allowed BY the Senate. and Sena-
tor Morton, in his speech on the subject,
stated clearly that the result OF vote adj
verse to Pinchback would necessarily re-
suit in the seating of Eustis. This argu-
ment, and the alleged fact that he was
chosen BY the so-called WheelerCompro-
mise Legislature, will doubtless be effectu-
ally advanced In favor of the democratic,
or, as he prefers to be called. the conser-
vative, claimant. The claims of Mr..
Lewis will hardly be seriously considered
The Kellogg contest, on the contrary.
promises to be serious one. and there is
every reason to believe that 1t will give Mr..
Blaine and others desired opportunity to
open up the Southern question anew. Asto
the legality OF Kellogg's election there can
be no doubt. He was duly chosen by the
legislature declared legal by the r turning
Board, and recognized by Gov. Packard
while that official was still enjoying all the
rights guaranteed to him by the State con.
stitution. Judge Spofford, the democratic
claimant, on the other hand, holds a certifi-
cate of election from the Nichols legisla-
ture, which convened after the Packard
government had been driven from the State
house, and the legal assembly disbanded.
He is supported by Gov. Nichols and the
more conservative democrats, he profess
es to be an ardent admrer of President
Hayes administration, and loses no OPP
portunity to express his approval of the
new Southern policy. Whether his action
In this direction will have any influence
upon the Senate remains to be seen. No
matter what may be the result. however.
there seems to be no doubt that the anti
Administration element in the upper house
will make the contest the subject of num-
Der of speeches on the Southern question
in general. and on the point in particular
that Mr.. Kellogg's title to a seat in the
Senate is the same as Mr.. Hayes to the
Presidency, and that if the one is not valid,
the other Is also without proper legality.
The South Carolina contest between Gen.
Butler and Mr.. Corbin turns upon very
much the same point. Butler was chosen
by the shotgun Legislature controlled by
Wade Hampton, while Corbin derives his
title from Gov Chamberlain and the two
duly-elected houses of assembly. The dem
ocratic claimant, however, unlike his as
sociate in Louisiana, derives additional
strength from the fact that the Legislature
10 which he received majority of votes
was declared a legal body BY corrupt SUI
preme Court. acting under the direction of
Hampton. The same court declared that
the Chamberlain Legislature was an un-
constitutional body, and that all its acts
were null and void This decision will, Of
course, be used against Mr.. Corbin, and,
If we are W Judge from recent events, it
cannot fail to defeat him A rejection of
claims, however, should not be considered
tantAmount 70 the admission of Butler to
seat in the Senate of the nation. We need
not 60 into details respecting the history
Of that person. 1t is only necessary to say
that for years past he has been known all
through South Carolina as the mos, bitter
"last ditcher." the most uncompromising
opponent Of the Reconstruction acts