The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-11-29
PATTERsON's VOTE

publican ranks in the Senate from the
fact thatisenators Patterson and Como
yer have indicated an intention to vote
for the adiaission of General Butler, as
Senator FROM this State, whose votes,
taken from the Republican column and
transferred to,the Democrats, will be suf-
fcient to secure his admission. The
northern papers are discussing the out
look with vehemence which the follow
ing quotations but family shows:
From the Baltimore Sun.
The motioh of Mr.. Hoar to lay on the
table Judge Merrimon's motion to dis
charge the committee on privileges and
elections fromi the further consideration
of the ButleEAease, was submitted to the
Senate blythe vice-President. As the
clerks were calling the roll there was all
excitefhent to watch how Conover and
Patterson would vote. AS their names
were called both responded with very
decided "no." The vote on the motion
was thirty for to thirty-two against, and
the Vice-President announced that it was
lost. Matters began to look somewhat
bilious for the Republican side. Messrs.
Edmunds and Conkling, after short,
hurried consultation, prepared to initiate
a series Of dilatory motions. 1t was GER
tainly rather novel spectacle that was
now presented. For many weary years
these two Senators, with an overwhelm-
ing majority behind them, have, with a
naughty and almost unbearable insolence,
trod the minority in the very dust of hu-
| initiation.
Measure upon measure affecting not
only the rights, the liberties, but the
lives of millions of the people of this
| country have been rushed through in the
| dark hours of midnight or in the early
dawn in violation not only of the rights
of the minority, but of all the principles
of parliamentary law and of courtesy.
There are Democratic Senators now on
the floor who have been told almost in so
many words by these gentlemen that they
were permitted there only by suferance.
Yet here were these two leaders, who but
yesterday fancied their hold of power
to be perpetual, finding themselves in
minority, and will it be believed, actually
resorting to that last refuge of the minor
lity-flibustering? Perhaps this was not
retributive justice, but many will imagine
that it was.
| Another circumstance almost as extra
ordinary was that two despised carpet
baggers became all at once the objects of
the greatest interest, and their votes were
awaited with hushed lips and bated
breath. One by one Mr.. Edwards hand
ed in his motions to delay, for it was set
tied now beyond the doubts of any one
that on the square question of the admis-
sion of Butler, if that could be reached,
Conoyer and Patterson would vote in the
affirmative. Through the efforts of Mr..
Buffers friends an arrangement had been
secured whereby Mr.. Patterson was re-
leased from attendance at court, so that
all fear on the one hand or hope on the
other at his absence was at rest. He and
Mr.. Conover ought to have felt hattered
at the attention which was bestowed upon
them. First Republican and then a
Democratic Senator would approach one
and the other and reason with him in the
most afectionate and earnest manner.
Mr.. Kellogg, who was ensconced in the
retiring room on the Republican side,
sent for Senator Conover several times
and talked to him like father. Then
MIR. Butler, who was quite active on the
floor, would get hold of Conover and Pat
terson in turn, and though it was no
more than pantomine to others, it was
a pantomine full of interest, and one that
was entirely comprehended. At one
time Mr.. Patterson was in group of
which the others were Senators Gordon,
Lamar and Morgan, and Mr.. Butler.
This scene was witnessed with mutter-
ing and scowling from the Republicans,
and some of them said audibly: "Those
men wouldn't speak to Patterson if they
we're not using him." The inevitable
Pinchback stood off in one corner an in
terested observer of what was going on.
As he was smilingly stroking his NOUS
tache Republican Senator, who had
voted against his admission, passed close
to him. Pinchback said, in an ironical
tone, "Well, Senator, guess you Repub-
licans would like to have my vote about
this time?" The Senator addressed said,
eyes, am sorry now I did not vote for
you"
On one of Mr.. Edmund's motions Mr..
Conover did not vote at all, which re-
duced the majority against the Republi-
cans to one. On subsequent motion
he voted in the affirmative, but after a
little talk with Mr.. Butler he rose and
changed his vote to the negative before
the result was announced. Mr.. Patter-
son, who really looked very unhappy,
voted steadily with the Democrats on all
motions. 1t was stated that a prominent
Republican who has the privilege of the
floor of the Senate walked up to him at
one time after he had voted and accused
him, not in choice language, of being a
traitor to his party.
From the NeD York Tribune.
OF course, there is but one explanation
of Mr.. Patterson's behavior to-day. he
has had before him the choice of two
alternatives-treachery to his party, or
confinement in the Penitentiary. He
has made strike for liberty, and chosen
the former course. 1t may be that none
of the Democratic Senators are privy to
the bargain which has been made, but it
is asserted by those who ought to be in
formed on the subject that no more open
and barefaced bargain and sale has
ever taken place in the history of legis-
lative bodies.
The testimony against Senator Patter.
son which has been taken by the grand
jury of South Carolina, which is ex-parte
in its character, is so far as it goes, over
whelming. A careful examination of it
fails to show single flaw, and unless his