The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-11-12

the only senator absent. This is to form
new rule for governing republican action.
and that is to confirm no man to Office who
has the prosecution. execution,or expound
ing of the law, unless he shall agree, be-
sides taking the regular oath of office, to
carry out the civil rights bill and all of the
constitutional amendments. This test will
comprise all the legislation that has been
passed in the interest OF the reconstruction
of the south This class Of offices covers
United States marshals, judges and attor-
neys 1t is idiotically held that this rule
will exclude from these offices all demo
Gratis, as it is claimed no democrat in the
south can be found who will agree to pros
ecute truly the laws mentioned In the above
test To this rule neither Matthews nor
Christiancy could object, and it SO stands
as the action of the republican senators.
This bit of work by Edmunds, were it not
for single fact, would be most ingenious
act of political strategy, for it cannot be
opposed by any of the republican friends
of the president nor by the president him
self When a man is appointed and con-
frmed to Office and takes the oath he
swears to observe all laws and the consti.
tutiop and all its amendments Unless a
democrat must necessarily be periurer
the exact force of Mr.. Edmund's wonder
full test" is not apparent. As one sen
ator said this evening, while | will not
tell you about the secrets of the caucus,
you can safely say that nc democrat in the
future will be confirmed as United States
district attorney, marshal, or judge"
The special point of attack selected is
the nomination of Fitzsimmons, who has
been appointed marshal in Georgia through
the direct personal interest of Senator
Gordon and Alexander H. Stephens. 1t
is the first gun from the skirmish line of
anti administration republican senators 10
the great race for patronage. In the talk
of o-day all of the senators were with
Conkling except Matthews, Booth and
Christiancy, but even these three men are
forced to stand in line or get out of the
party, as Edmunds has not, thus far. ad
vocated anything that they as republicans
can reject. This explains the grinning
statement made by Senator Stanley Mat
thews this evening. when asked what the
caucus did. Said he: We met, talked
were unanimous in our conclusions. and
| adjJurned.' Senator Matthews has beer
| To the white house this evening and has
had long talk with the president 1t il
not TO be presumed that any caucus re
strictions Kept hiM from telling the presi
dent all he knew of the occurrences of til,
afternoon. The success of Edmunds a
the outset depends upon his holdinG
| Christiancy, Booth and Matthews |
Fitzsimmons should refuse to agree to th
new test rule, then 1t is understood tha
the republican majority IN the senat
would be solid for his rejection, and it i
hard to see how it could be otherwise
Senator Conkling has on his war paint, bu
lust at present he is not a leader. Tn
committee on privileges aud elections O
the senate met again to-day, in furthe
consideration of the Kellogg Spotfor,
case. The democratic members of tn
committee were exceedingly anxious t
have final vote taken at once, upon th
theory that they were all decided as t
how they were to vote. and the majorit
were undoubtedly in favor of admittin
kellogg. thus bringing the matter to
close at once, because they would prefer
bring the question in the senate, aud gal
time by starting the discussion there
Some members of the committee wer
disposed to adopt as the majority repol
one prepared by the late Senator Morto
to admit Kellogg on his prima facie RICH
Others insisted on going further aud &C
mittlng him upon the ground that the lie!
islature which elected in January last w.
the legal legislature, and that Kellogg
. right to a seat was conclusive.