The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-29
A Contest for the Senate.

A Contest for the Senate.
As we write, the Republican party Of
the country is in a fever of apprehension
over the prospect of losing the only branch
OF the government proper over which it
has control the Senate Of the United
States 4 few words will suffice to eX
plain the situation. When the Senate met
for the called session, there was a Repub-
lcan majority of three. counting Patter
son of South Carolina, COnOyer of Florida,
and the absent Sharon of Nevada. There
We're three vacancies Z one being from
South Carolina, contested by Butler and
Corbin. the former chosen by the Hamp
ton a:ld the latter by the Chamberlain leg
is.ature. The two vacancies in Louisiana
We're claimed, one by Eustis, Democrat,
and also by Pinchback, colored Republl-
can, and the other by Spot1ord, Democrat,
and Kellogg, Republican, who were chos-
en-, the latter by the fragmentary Repub-
lcan legislature, and the former by the re-
| united body after the division was healed.
These cases were before the Committee
on Elections. A little calculation will show
that if the Democratic contestants should
be admitted, and Patterson and COnover
should stick to their party the Senate
would be just tie; but that the admis-
sion OF the Republican claimants would
preserve the majority to that party. 1t
will be seen that the point is one of vital
Importance, and that there can be no Won
der at the sweat of apprehension which
pervales the party at the prospect of
re organization of the Senate committees,
with Democratic maiorities; and not only
that, but the power to confirm or reject
Presidential appointments.
The Democrats had much cause Of com
plant against the Republicans, who insist
ed upon taking up first the case of Kellogg
and Spotford, securing kellogg's admis-
sion, and then using his vote in the other
cases. The Democrats have some very
mined to try the effect Of strategy. Sen
ator Thurman opened the contest by
motion to discharge the Committee from
the consideration of Buffers case, which
would bring it directly before the Senate.
The Republicans quickly made a motion
to lay the motion OH the table. Then it
was that Il yawning chasm opened under
their feet. Patterson and COnOVcr voted
the whole body of Republicans in Con-
gress, and spread over the country OF
course every appliance was brought to
bear upon the deserters, but without eff
feet except that they voted with the Re-
publicans to adjourn until Monday, which
was carried. The hope was entertained
that both Patterson and Conover would
vote for Kellogg, when a report in his IA
Vor should be presented. Blaine was sent
for, but he was paired with Grover, and
couldn't vote. Sharon was teegraphed
to, but he was busy with his silver mines,
wouldn't come, and said he would resign
if they didn't let him alone.
On Monday the question was not reach
ed, although an all night session followed
The Republicans submitted a committee
report to seat Kellogg. Diatory motions
and tactics We're then resorted to by the
Republicans in the hope that some for
tunate turn Of events would help them
out OF the tight place.
During the day both Patterson and
Conover made speeches in defence of the
votes that they had given and were pre-
pared to give. They each declared that
the admission to seats in the Senate were
not party questions, but each case was to
be acted upon according to it's merits In
their judgment Gen. Butler was the legal
y elected Senator from South Carolina,
and they should vote for his admission,
regardless OF party clamor.
The session continued until four o'clock
Wednesday morning, when Thurman's
resolution discharging the committee
from the consideration of Buffers case,
was adopted, yeas %, nays 81. Patter-
son and Conoyer both voted with the
Democrats. This substantially admits
Butler 1t ends the contest, and very
probably ends the Republican party.
The Rockland Opinion draws a hatter-
ing portrait of the editor of this paper as
a Good Templar. AS a matter of fact we
never belonged to that organization, which
isan excellent one, and has our best wishes.
But isn't the editor of the Opinion liable
to set an example, in this style of drawing
thatmay stimulate some other pen? There
might be presented two contrasted por
traits of the intellectual editor of the Opn-
ion, showing his jaunty and defiant en-
trance upon the field Of journalism in An
droscoggin County, his brief continuance
therein, and his abject, forlorn and ludi-
crous exit therefrom All the facts and |
records are convenient to our hand. Writ
ten up, with here and there an ilumnat-