The daily gazette., 1877-01-27

Special dispatch to the BALTIC. Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The great day
which was to see the question settled. so
far as Congress could do it, opened very
clear and bright, and before the hour had
arrived for assembling crowds had again
hlled the galleries, and were pouring into
the capitol from every quater, till the door
keepers were in despair and tried to en-
force the blue laws in reference to admis-
sion. Large numbers of ladies patiently
waited in the halls till some inside should
tire out and make room for them to en-
joy at least a part of the interesting occa-
sion. The members displayed but little
feeling about the result of the issue. as it
had become reasonably well settled that
the bill would pass. and the position OF
each prominent member was well known
All the talking that could be done before
5 O'Clock would not change the result, but
the importance of the subject gave
peculiar interest to the views that might
be entertained. A long session for de-
bate merely, especially when the contro-
versy has been discussed once. has moe
prose than poetry about it. The average
speech, ten minutes long, was listened to
with Indifferent attention by the men,
bers, but when any congressman OF dis
tinction was recognized by the chair his
words were received with greai defer
ence.
Mr.. Lamar, in supporting the measure.
wanted it distinctly understood that he
did so in the belief that it was constitu-
tional, which wasi in reply to Mr.. Mills of
Texas, who was the first democrat TO
speak against the bill. If the law says
that the two houses of Congress must be
present to witness the count 1t implies an
affirmative power to refuse to witness a
fraud, and 1t was preposterous to say that
II fraud was being perpetrated either of
the Houses cannot object. He believed
the bill would tend to relieve the country
of the excitement in which it had been
plunged. 1t was, therefore, in harmony
with the genius of the federal constitution
Mr. Mills would not down, however, and
was courteously permitted to argue the
case from British standpoint, and claim
that the English Parliament had set us
an example by always regulating the
succession to the crown in cases of dis
pute. The next speaker of consequence
was Henry Watterson, one of the dash
ing knights OF the campaign, and since
credited with very warlike propensities.
AS he spoke briefly and eloquently in
favor of the bill and the peaceful settle
ment it proved, there was evident dis
theHouse They had not anticipated thai
Watterson wanted peace at any price,
but he assured them he desired anyPresi-
dent of the country to have q clear title,
and was satisfied with tine tribunal con-
templated in the bill.
After Mr., Foster, of Ohio, had strong
ly opposed the vice-presidency preten-
sion, and advocated the present plan OF
adjustment, there were several amusing
side shows. One was started by Mr.,
Davis, of North Carolina, and the other
by Mr.. Townsend, of New York. The
first gentleman intended to say why he
meant to support the bill, but suddenly
he got Fitzpatrick on the brain, and in
warming that hero for his slanders on the
Pine Tree State, he consumed his ten
minutes in comical reading from the
celebrated case of Bardwell VS.. Pickwick,
comparing Fitzpatrick to the individual
who could see through door and n
fight of stairs. Fitzpatrick was in New
jersey when he had seen all those mon
strous atrocities in North Carolina. Mr..
Townsend then wanted to relieve himself
and did so in very contemplate TRADE
against Governor 1ildel and other dis
tinguished democrats, but his language
was so wild and his manner so grotesque
that democrats Joined with republicans
in laughing him down. The interest cul-
minated when the lights were lit in the
roof about half an hour before the time
was to expire. Short speeches were then
ordered. some ten minutes and Others
five, Mr.. Payne divided his last hour
| among those who wished to say some
thing. Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky who
had been bitterly opposed to the measure
from the first, still fought it on constitu-
tional grounds, while John Young Brown
spoke eloquently in its favor. David
Dudley Field and Mr.. Payneyclosed for
the bill, the latter gentleman being cut
short on the call of time from the speak
ers. The call proceeded amid profound
silence in the galleries and on The floor
| There were fifteen absentees, eight re
publcans and seven democrats. Before
the result was announced Mr.. Randall
voted yea, and was applauded roundly,
The bill passed by 191 to S6-a majority
of 1o5. Sixty-nine republicans were in
the negative and seventeen democrats.
The announcement created general JOY
and congratulations, and the House in.
stantly adjourned.