New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-09

crvrp,t FIELD GETS TIE Posi- OF Do'FAAhffH'
&C er,;FRAL suIFLDs COMES OFF not WITH
our uOND2.
1871 TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRBuNEI
WASHINGTON, April s.-The contest III tle Ii0C'o
Of REPRESENTATIVES, to-day, over the election "a
D,orleeperwas an exceedingly interesting ana uU
ING part Of the time an eAcitlhs o"''
RroubHcans. thinking they had an opportunity
80 ,,oin a political advantage over theT
onnonents and TO show them up Ill d"
nnonyiab,e light 10 the loyal people Of the North'
~, fr,,rd General James Shields, the hero OF TWO
,rors ltbot with Mexico and that Of the Rohelhohh
40 their candidate, and attempted to force
the Democrats to 90 upon the record as
,refcrrinq a Confederate Maior-Oeneral 10
him The plans for this performance were
nrepared by General B. f. Butler, VINO loI
ibeirst time during the present Congress TOOK 'Ae
Joce of leader Of the House, to which he 50 ol'eh
centred in wears past. The Democrats WERE III
trntb in close quarters Last Friday they were not
.adv n meet the issue and after three days oil con-
sultation they carried their point by skiiu paiI"-
meptary tactics the force Of numbers, ana the ca
cellence of party discipline
General Shields is q Democrat whose loyalty 20
his party is as unquestioned was his loyalty 10
the Union during the war, and if the Republicans
had n majority in the House they never would nave
thought of nominating him for the place. WINE,
therefore. all that was said in his behalf by General
Butler and other Republicans who followed his
lead was true and was honestly said, Its OBJECT was
more TO worry the Democrats and show them up
than IN pToyide General Shields with an Office The
Republicans, 10y their speeches and votes, said 10
the country to-day: 1--WE want You to look at tins
Democratic party, and sec that it's only another
form of the Confcderacy. A large proportion OF It's
.--.-. ,9igo-s nd col
crate Army. and if it ever gets into power ConiCd-
crate service viii be counted more honorable and
more worthy Of reward than service IN tie Union
Army"
The task which the Democrats set before them
selves was to elect their caucus nominee, who was
confederate general and at the same time repudi-
ate the Interpretation of that action which the Re
publicans would put upon it, Aud IN this they were
in q measure successful In their speeches, some OF
which were really telling efforts they showed that
the House since il has been controlled by the Dem
ocrats has passed more pension bills and more bills
extending the pension laws to make them cover
cases not now provided for than the Senate has
agreed to; and finally, that the House to-day passed
a resolution proposed by the Democrats, placing
General Shields on the retired list of the Army,
with his full rank Of BHgaderGeneral, and with
pay for life considerably greater than that of the
D0Orkeeper.
For the personalities of the debate the sharp say
iugs by the leaders on either side, aud the sklul
parties aud cutting retorts, the regular press re-
ports are referred to. The day was one Of rare
sport for the galleries, and when the proceedings
come to be reviewed it viii probably be found that
neither party has gained any very great or lasting
advantage.
The honors Of the day were carried of 10y Cen
eTal Shields, though General Charles w. Field
was elected to tend the door,
LATEa II turns out this evening that the retired
list to which the Democrats of the House voted
to-day 20 assign General Shields, is one on which,
under the laws as they exist he cannot be placed.
Only officials of the regular army are retired and
this resolution so reyerses the law and precedent
that 1t Is certain to fail in the Senate.