Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-01-31
Oar washlssgton Letter.
WARRINGTON, Jan. o6, 1877
THE COMPROMISE MEASURE.


the compromise measure, which be-
gan with the speech Of Senator Ed
munds on Saturday last and termin-
ated in the Senate on Thursday last,
and is expected to close in the House
this afternoon. The Senators favor
ing the bill occupied nearly all the
time which they allowed for debate,
and the impression prevails that the
minority were unfairly treated. Both
the friends and enemies of the meas.
ure regard II as one Of the most inn
portant ever brought before Con.
gress, not only for the immediate in
terest which attaches to Its fatas bsst
on account OF the effect 1t is expected
to have in the future as a precedent.
Its features are nearly all novel, and
many honestly believe, In contraven.
ton Of the Constitution, and the Sen
ators who opposed the bill, believe
tho haste demanded by its friends
uncallcd for aud dangerous to the
future welfare of the Republic. Not.
withstanding the fact that Senator
Morton was tho only member ofthe
Committee who refused to sign the
bill, he was not allowed time to be
fully heard, while MIR. Conkling oc-
cupied the Senate for more than
eight hours. Josh Billings said of
preachers, "lf a preacher don't strike
lie in fifteen minutes, he's either
boring In the wrong place, or has got
a poor auger." What would he have
said TO the eight hour speech OF the
Senator from Now York?
car IN THE MEAL.
Persons who have been accustom ed
to visit In the Senate, were not lit
tie amused to see Ednunds, Conk-
ling, FreIinghuyscn and other Re-
publican Senators, In constant and
friendly consultation with Thurman,
Bayard and other Democratic Sena-
tors, all favoring the passage of the
same bill. But "politics make strange
cd.fellows." Republicans generally
who have not enjoyed the opportu-
nifty OF cnnvassing this measure with
prominent Democrats, rs fell to the
lot OF the members of the Joint Com
mittec, are much inclined to think
that there must be ga cat i'm the
meal, - somewhere, or tho Democrats
would not be 80 generally anxious to
secure the passage OF this bill, with
out amendments. Just how, when
and where, the Democratic trap Is to
be sprung none can. tell, but Isepub.
licans feel certain that Mr.. Tilden
stands ready to steal the Presidency,
after the same manner In which he
steals railroads. And they earnestly
hope that now the Republicans have
consented To play him game OF
chance for what was already theirown
they will look out that the cards are
not marked nor stocked, and that he
has no aces sccrctcd In Ills sleeve,
and does not turn any jacks from the
bottom of the pack.
BOTH PARTIES CHEATED.
Senator Eaton, the only Dem ocrat
who voted against the bill, made n
good point when Inc said, ~ do not
know which party Is to be benefited
by the bill, but have heard some
ono say that both parties will be
cheated by It," Senator Morton's
speech was tho ablest delivered in
the debate, although he was laboring
undor severe indispositioD, and was
forced to close his remarks at u time
when the Senate had been I'm session
for nearly twenty-four hours. Sena.
tor sherman made an able speech in
opposition to the plan. Senator
Blaine made his first speech In the
Senate In opposition TO this compro-
mise, and spoke with the same con
vincing eloquenco which always char
acterizcs his orator.al efforts, but
spoke without effect for, like Moses,
he was addressing a stiff-necked peo-
Pile. The Republican Senators who
favored the bill generally, did so up
on the ground Of It's necessity to pre-,
vent civil war, and tile chief nrgu.
mentin favor OF the bill was that ii
was temporary cxpedIent to avert
threatened danger. But Senator
Thurman said he hoped TO see this
bill become the permanent law OF
the land, remark which makes
Republicans fear that something Is
yet concealed among the many
words OF the bin, which will give to
the Democratic party an advantage.
THE ELL IN THE HOUSE.
Immediately upon receiving the
bill from the Senate yesterday, the
House proceeded to discuss its
merits, Mr.. McCrary, Republican, Of
Iowa, opened the debate. IL was
agreed that debate until three o'clock
this afternoon, and that then the pre-
vious question should be called,
which will insure Its passage this
afternoon or evening unless lis oppo-
nents decide 10 delay ii by dilatory
motions and fillibustering generally,
which, probably will not be The case.
General Garfield last evening made
one of his best speeches IN opposition
to the measure. Always eloquent,
he outdid himself last night, and
planted some blows "betwecn the
eyes" OF this compromise which
made It's friends stagger. Mr.. Hoar.
Of Massachusetts. fnterrupted the