New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-24
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

has approved Oh III Dy reSOlutlOu.
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
SHERMAN MAKES NEW POINTS AGAINST THE COM
CORRESPONDENCE ELABORATE ARGUMENT IN
SUPPORT OF IT.
lRY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE,i
WASHINGTON Jan. 23.-Another day of debate on
The Compromise bill leaves its advocates confident
md aggressive and its opponents hopeless of success
a. far as the Senate is concerned at least. The
crovded galleries continue to testify to the absorb
ING interest felt by the public in the struggle, the
naeut spectators filling every nook and corner an
bour before the discussion begins, and, holding
tenacously to their places long it lasts, seem
n imagine that the browning and decisive act OF the
great political drama of the disputed election is
being plaved under their eyes in the narrow arena
Of the Senate Chamber. Among the Sena-
TORS themselves, however, interest plainly
tagged during the earlier part of the
afternoon session while Mr.. Sherman had the floor
scarcely half of the chairs filed. 1t seemed to
be taken for granted that Mr.. Morton had yesterday
presented the cream of the argument against the
bill and that succeeding arguments would be repc-
titions This was scarcely just to Mr.. Sherman, for
in the course of his hour and half Of rapid and
nervous reading of his manuscript he made one or
two new points and materially strengthened by
fuller discussion those previously made by the lndl-
ana Senator. The galleries made up somewhat,
however for inattentiOn the part of the Sen
ators listening with evident interest in spite OF MI
Shermans ineffective style Of delivery.
When Mr. sherman took his seat and Mr.. COnk-
ling rose Senators returned to their seats Before
be had pronounced a dozen sentences in his slow,
pompous. emphatic way, every Senatorial chair was
occupied. In few minutes it was mentioned IN
the House that the Senator whose long silence had
been taken as oracuar and who had been supposed
70 imagine that he held in his hand the power to
solve the Presidential question: had at last found his
tongue Nearly so members, including most OF the
prominent men on both sides, came over to listen,
filing the sofas and all the available chairs that
could be brought in. Mr.. COnkllng delivered what
will probably be considered the greatest speech OF
his ife or rather delivered half of It, for although
he spoke two hours and half he did not finish, and
did not in fact get far along as to discuss Directly
the merits of the pending bill His whole argument
was a powerful assault upon the doctrine that the
President of the Senate has the constitutional power
without the action of Congress, to determine and
count the electoral votes. The speech marvel
of thoroughness and detail and nothing of import
ance that has ever been brought forward in support
OF The doctrine escaped his attack. All the hisor-
cal precedents were reviewed and made to assume
the bearing that the orator wished All the clta-
tons heretofore made from expounders OF the Con-
suuI;ion were re-read in the light of his in
terpretatiOn He seemed determined TO unravel
10 the finest fiber every thread in the
fabric of argument woven to sustain this
doctrine Toward the last his fulness of illnstra-
ton and his long dwelling upon single points EVIL
IDENTIFY wearied his listeners and as he yielded TO
motion to adjourn he apolOgized for the length OF
his remarks by saying that his condition had been
such as TO prevent him from making the preparation
uec..sarv 10 coDdeue9tion He had evidently put
great deal of thought and work into the speech how
ever but had not given 1T the final boiling down"
needed TO increase its effectiveness He spoke with
all his old fire and energy, employing a constant
succession of varied and graceful gestures, modu-
tpg his voice so as to add greatly TO the power OF
his delivery aud frequently leaving his desk to adj
vance down little lane cleared by moving two
chairs from their places as if to shoot an argument
into the thick of the Republicans, or sallying out
into the aisle 20 hur his logic at the Democrats OF at
tie presiding officer
Atl12 o'clock Mr.. COnkling stopped and Dir. Ed
minds had a whispered consultation with half a
Dozen Senator's around him. The result was an
abandonment of the proposed evening session and
another day for debate. Tomorrow Mr.. Conkllng
will finish and Nj Morton will probably reply,
then it Is believed that the vote will be taken
Mr. Tucker of Virginia made q speech nearly three
hours in length to day upon the report of the House
Prerogative Committee Mr.. Tucker is looked upon
as one Of the abest constitutional lawyers on the
Democratic side and of the most pronounced state
right, school and while the House was wiling TO
give HIN all the time he needed the members were
not disposed 20 listen TO him. The House during LIS
speech, was almost entirely deserted owing 10 the
fact that Representatives preferred to listen To Mr..
Conkllug in the senate.