The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-22
WaShirCeOn.


SENATOR BEN. HILLS MAIDEN SPEECH IN THE
sENATE-AN INTERESTING sCENE-A DECI.
SION LOOKED FOR T0-DAY-wILL JUSTICE
BE DONE SOUTH CAROLINA ?-BLAND's SILL
YER BILL, AGA1N--A NEW PARTY.
| From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, November Ex-senator
Ben. Hill made his maiden speech in the
Senate to-day in support Of Senator Thur
mans resolution to discharge the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections from fur
Their consideration of the Butler-Corbin
contested case from South Carolina. The
first sound OF his voice aroused the SEN
ate, which had been listlessly en- during,
as patiently as it might, one OF MitchclFs
long-winded and tedious harangues. Scna-
tors quickly deserted the cloak-rooms,
where they had been enjoying quiet
smoke, and the vacant chairs Bled up
! rapidly. Conkling came over and took
Waace's vacant chair, in the front row on
the Democratic side, and within 4 dozen
feet OF Hill. Thurman left his seat in the
back row and took vacant chair in the
omen space directly between the Tice-Pre-
sident and Mr.. Hill. David Davis, OF
Illinois, whose independent vote is the one
great thorn in the side OF the Republican
party in the Senate, also came over to the
Democratic side and gave careful attention
to the argument. AS the argument pro-
crossed, Conkling, who for days has been
continually and repeatedly at Davis's elbow,
and who seems to have been especially as
signed to the duty OF keeping Davis har-
messed to the party-machinc, grew T'sibly
watchful OF his ward, and soon took up a
position at his elbow and engaged him in
earnest conversation. While this
DY-PLAY WAS GOING on
members Of the House kept dropping in
until tile new senator from Georgia had Il
full and distinguished audience.
Senator Hills maiden effort was Il most
successful one. His manner was digntied,
his speech iorcible, and his argument logical.
lie presented very clearly the exact status
OF the contested cases; how Spoford and
Kellogg presented their case first to the
committee because they were invited first
BY the committee; how he and his Demo
cratic colleagues on the committee had ac-
guessed because they supposed the Senate
would no. so far violate all judicial
precedence as to REOPEN dlhcuty
which had been settled by the par
ties TO the difficulty; how he\Q1ilD had
introduced 4 resolution affirming that the
committee would accept the decision Of the
people OF Louisiana; how that resolution
was lost and another substituted by Senator
Hoar, which re0pencd the whole Louisiana
controversy; how he and his Democratic
colleagues opposed such i re0penins; and
how, when Hoar's resolution was adopted
By the Republicans on the committee, shc
moved to take up the case OF Eustlsi in
which case there were no other credentials
before the committee than those OF Mr.. Eus-
tbs. Senator HIPS speech drew out labor ed
replies from Wadleigh and Hoar and
4 STRONG PLEA FbR FAIR DEALING
and craftsmanship from Bayard, while Thur
man and ConkIing INDUCED in some sharp
soaring over motion which Hoar made to
table Thurman's resolution. Debate was
exhausted about half-past 3, and then came
the critical moment when the first test was
to be taken which should show in some de-
gree at least the intentions Of the senators
toward the contested cases. Conkling had
called the yeas and nays on Hoar's motion,
| bat Thurman, who was not at all pleased
with the motion, and mot quite ready to risk
decisive vote on such Il motion, made flank
movem ent in the form OF motion to SO
| into executive session. On this motion the
yeas and nays were called and test had.
The result was n ictory for Thurman.
Patterson, who ayows openly his intention
to vote to seat Butler, was absent, but Davis
of Illinois proved that his vote was beyond
Conkling's influence and based upon his in
dependent Judgment by voting "aye," and
Conover voted the same way, to the intense
CONSERVATION OF the Republicans. There
were FIVE pairs, as follows: Armstrong
Dem.) with Plumb (Rep.), Anthony (Rep.)
with Ransom Dem.), Blaine (Rep.) with
Grover (Dem.), Cameron OF Wisconsin
{Rep.) with Kernon Dem.), Edmunds (Rep.,
with Cockrell (Dem). So Thurman's mo-
| ton was carried by Il vote OF so to 30.
Counting the pairs. it stood 80 to 81; and
had Patterson been present it would have
stood SO to 81.
The moment Thurman's motion was car
ried Mcmillan jumped to his feet and
moved an adjournment, which was carried
without call OF the ayes and noes.
Since the d;ournment some
woNDERMEST HAS BEEN EXPRESSED
that Senator Thurman did not risk vote
on Hoar's motion, and in the event OF tina,
motion being lost, as the result seemed tc
indicate it would be, pressing vote on his
resolution. Senator Thurman's course
however, was undoubtedly the wisest. To
morrow Patterson, who has been busy will
his indictment for few days, will try to bt
in his seat, and decisive vote will be hao
unless the Republicans tilibuster, which /:
an unusual mode of warfare in the Senate
Between now and then the Republican:
will undoubtedly bring to bear all possible
influence on Conover. Whether they cal
convert him in a night remains to be seen
There's many slip 'twiSt the cup and the
lip, but tonight it looks rs though Justice
would be done to- South Carolina and SEN
ator Butler be speedily seated.
The Senate Committee on Finance fin
ished
DIGESTING THE BLAND SILVER BILL
to-day, and it was made ready to report t
the Senate this afternoon. The contested