Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-18
Our Washington Letter.

that has been created this session occurred on
Wednesday by the discussion Of
THE BLAINE RESOLUTION
in the Senate The crowd which filled both CALLER
los and the floor reminded one Of the exciting
days of the electoral commission while the inter
est, seemed to be felt by all in the matter, was AZ
great as at the time referred to. 1t had been
given out by Mr.. Blaine as early rs Monday that
he would call mp his resolution on Wednesday, in
troduced the first day OF the session, in regard to
the inquiry M to whether'the constitutional rights
Of citizens had not been violated in the recent
election in any of the states of the Union Con-
sequenty long before the hour OF meeting every
seat in the gallery was filled with the outside
world while the floor of the Senate was rapidly
crowded with members of the lower house'and
distinguished visitors entitled by right or courtesy
to that much-desired privilege There was moth
ing wanted TO give that dramatic appearance to
the scene which Mr.. Blaine Is so fond Of produc-
ing The occasion was one in which he especially
delights to show himself, and is, in fact the best
opportunity 10 test his own peculiar powers as sn
orator to influence the minds OF others. 1t is but
simple justice to the Senator to say that the speech
he delivered on Wednesday in opening the debate
was the best OF his many efforts upon the floor of
Congress Unlike the majority of his more prom
inent speeches upon political subjects, this was
PREPARED and written out with much care II
was n plain clear vet forcible presentation of the
Republican side of the case, without that useless
vituperation of the South and Southern men which
has sometimes marred the Senator's forensic eff
forts. His grounds were all well taken and his
arguments were unanswerable' For this reason
a., at,,la tal
by Republicans everywhere His speech was but
thirty minutes IN length, ana was hstehed 10 Dy
all within the chamber, with the exception OF
senator Conkling, VINO was busy writing ana never
looked up while Blame was speaking. lie ev-
identiy TOOK TINS way oil showing MS supreme IN
difference to the remarks oil the Name senator,
between whom and the blonde senator from New
YORK there mas long existed pitter ieud. Mr.
biaihe predecessor IN the SENATE Hon. LOU M
Morrih came IN during blaihe speech ahu' TAKING
the latter seat, was the hrst 10 congratulate the
orator "hen ne had hnisheu' IN the olpioniauc
gallery the hne, Ihtelectuai lace OIL oecretary
EVai's was not'ceaole peering over the raining oil
the front seat lie was accompanied py TWO Oh
MS daughters anu was an at'en'Ve listener
throughout .he uiscussion' "eherai "arne'o'
with arms iolded across MS oreas' $1,000 near
the eastern entrance TO the hoor' surrounded by
his brother members from the House, intent upon
what was going forward while IN the MIDST oil
ue crowd IN the rear Oh the senator seats was
noticed the famous tragedian, John McCuiiough'
ex-senator hooer'son oi SCUM Oaroiin'' uen-
era huriout OF iiiihos' iorlhery ineiioer o' oon-
sfe9S' anu o'"eis vi ho'e' Inc or'ei ''i' oe'"oen
EDMuNDs AND LAMAR,
which followed Thurman's brief reply to Blaine,
was, perhaps, the most enjoyable portion OF the
debate. Lamar spoke, as he always does, with
great emphasis, and with certain degree of elo-
quence, which would have been unqualifedly so
had he not been unfortunately on the wrong side
of the question, and had not taken pains to make
several false assertions as to elections in the
Northern states He attempted to take lofty
view of the subject, overlooking the criminal side
advanced by Mr. Blaine, but degenerated into the
speech of a demagogne when he commenced to
threaten the North with what would follow II
this subject should be pursued to the dsparage-
ment of the South. Mr.. Edmunds at once held
up this threat in a strong light to the view of the
audience, ana wheh Lamar hkened the result oil
such DISCUSSIONS by Northern men 10 the stirring
oil the troubled waters by the man IN the Ara
~ -''o'>'' "' " 's''" '-ffS''>' W. "'"'
Mr. Edmunds threw up his arms in the most
tragic manner and exclaimed: "oh' don't
want 10 see IL! Let's nave the regular order.
ms Drought down the mousse ana closed the de-
bate Mr.. Edmunds mad previously tried to close
tne deoate' as he seemed TO appreciate
the feeling expressed by the people, that
politics should be second to business There
are plenty OF politicians here who think that
politics should be first, and one OF the greatest
teats oil Republicans is to put the democrats " on
record particularly those from the south. we
10 not oeheve In that sort oil doctrine
senator Edmunds evidently appreciated TINS
same idea, when ne moved 10 close the discussion
ai'er thurman reply 10 b'aihe, rs ne intlmated
'.'i' eaci sue hu i"u plenty vi 'ille ior uiscus
sioh' anu ne asked LOT thereguiar oruer OF ousi-
ness BLAINE, however, was not READY ior IL, ana
couiu ho' ie' thurman reply 10 ms Speech go
ny WITHOUT reiteration, ana TOOK occasion 10 re-
meet very graveiy upon the majority oil the demo-
Gratis IN the present Congress
we nave not heard the last oil Baine's resolu-
ton, and other speeches are expected.
EDMUNDs' ELECTORAL BILL
was brought up on Monday by the eminent author,
who introduced it by an able and elaborated
speech III IaVor OF the Dill Inc Dill was dls-
cussed by several members through the week,
and on yesterday the final vote was taken, result
ing in vote of thrty-five to twenty-sx in favor
OF the bill. Messrs. Bayard Davis of Illinois and
Merrman were the only democrats who voted
for it, while the vote against was made up en-
tirely OF democratic voters. The speech of Mr..
Edmunds in favor of the bill on Monday was cal
cuated to present the question in it, practical
light. The thinking men in the Senate were at
tentive listeners, particularly Conkng Bayard,
Judge Davis, Hoar, Booth and Thurman, There
was large audience in the galleries and great in
terest was taken in the debate Although Mr..
Bayard voted for the bill, the democrats will be
more apt to follow the example OF Thurman and
vote against it. There is no advantage which the
Republicans can derive from the bill, but never
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' ' 20 NJ oie "'o WIN ue"S ulo
80 VI ''s,''"o" VI WINS ''oje'' MI nuu'""us
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'''' ''N'' VI '''e e'''e 'e''''''''' W oo seoh'
PERSONAL.
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