Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-31
b

AAG
The seats OF twenty-siX full-term
senators will become vacant on the
4th Of March. There are seventy
SIX senators when every seat is
filled. Elections to fill these va
cancies have taken place in all the
States except Kansas, and an cleo
ton is pending in that State to-day.
A Republican will be elected, Of
course. There will be two claim
ants each from South Carolina
and Louisiana for the vacancy,
and two claimants for the
short term expiring in 1879.
Leaving out the contested seats,
the next senate will stand, Re-
publicans, 80; Democrats, 81
with one contested seat from South
Carolina and two from Louisiana.
If the Democrats should gain these
three senators the Republicans
would still have one majority in a
full senate. But two years hence
in the Forty-sixth congress the
Democrats can definitely count on
having a majority, unless in. the
meantime they should commit
some great blunder, which the pres
ent leaders nor the rank and file
are not likely to do. 1t is crafty
ing to observe that a better and
ADLER class Of men are being sent
forward from both sides-men Of
brains and honesty, who can be
trusted. The creatures that foated
in on the driltwood Of the war are
diSappearing-few Of them remain
and when the last one is gone
there will be none to mourn their
loss. Even their political associates
who have used them for corrupt
purposes deSpise them. Who has
any respect for Ames, Patterson,
Spencer, Conoyer, Bruce, and that
class who were the accidents of the
war-never heard of before, and
never will be again in any high
public trust? The South is sending
up strong men and will keep them
there. Among the number are Beck
of Kentucky, Lamar Of Mississippi,
Garland of Arkansas, Harris of
Tennessee, Morgan of Alabama,
and Ben Hill of Georgia, whose
influence will be felt and respected.
The Pittsburg Post, speaking of the
changes going Oh, . few days ago
said:
It is Ilaiu to see tAat the Southern
States, alter an interval of carpet.bsg.
gerry. are falling back On their snte-war
practice, OF sending to the senate their
strongest men, intellectually and politi'
cally. and keeping them there, This
was what gave the South it's legislative
supremacy before the war; as a rule, il
| had representatives in both branches Of
greater experience in public life, and
hence greater es2acity for influencing
legislative proceedings, tban the North
WneD he South got hold Of { promis
ing Benat9y or representative 1t KEEP,
him in congress djsregarding the mar
row cry Of locality sgd the unWis
dom OF rotation. His usefSiless and
power became greater every year.
TIE North is row learning the same
lesson, and there lisa growing disposition
10 both partiRs to retain the services q
men OF mark. We sec this 10 the length
e1ed eoBgressionGl service Of Randall
Blaiae, Cox, Garfield, Kelley, Hoar, Fer
naudO Wood, McCrary and possibly q
few others. The fact is it requires - Ges
Of commanding Sbilities TO rise above
the dali level Of congressional medi
ocrity and compete with the tried lead
era of the house during bis Grst terra
He is at school, rs it were, for two years
In the senate it is worse, for there it is 8
violation OF etiquette for a new serStoI
to make a speech or push himself intC
debate during his Grst years service
The Republican majority will BE-
SO small in the senate after the 4tf
of March that the party viii nscer
sarily be placed on its good beha
vior. 1t will be a poor field for The
peculiar talents Of Blaine. He ant
Morton together will hardly be abb
to create a ripple on the suffacI
unless they change their tactics
The bitter, pr~OseriptiVe element
aud the mediocrities are pasain,
t away. After the Inauguration 0
the next President the country vii
} settle down quietly, everybody vii
: go to work, parties will be slightl.
E r~e-arranged, and the issues of tn