The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-12-18
Our Washington Letter.


chs The debate in the Senate yesterday
Z ton Senator Blaine's resolution OF in
1iry into the Southern election af-
Irs will be long memorable in the
Anals Of Congress. OF course Senator
llaine was the central figure, for no
body knew who else if anybody would
peak upon the subject, and he was
onored with one of the biggest and
aost Intelligent audiences that ever
assembled in the Capitol. In fact,
any hundreds had to 60 away unsat-
isfied. Senator Blaine spoke about
half an hour, in an emphatic and ear
hest manner, showing that the colOred
people of the South are disfranchised
Io such an extent that a minority of
bite voters in the South overpowor
ot only the honest vote of their own
Ection, but the large majority Of white
en in the North, and that the vote Of
Ihe ex. Confederate soldier is twice as
bwerful as that of the Union soldier.
his condition of affairs, he said, could
boz endure, for it is repugnant to re-
noblican institutions, and therefore it
Il proper that we should inquire into
,he abuses alleged, and try to find
amedy
Senator Thurman followed with an.
endment, with the evident purpose
Neakening the inquiry, proposing to
estigete the matters of Federal in
ierance in elections, political as
sments and imaginary terrorism in
North. He supported his amend
{ in a speech which was noted for
adroitness and its lack of candor.
most potent poiut was that this
renewal of sectional differences,
erlooking the fact that these offences
e sectional. and therefore the ques-
bn must be Of the same character,
6ee that condition is forced upon the
Htntry by the offenders themselves.
Senator Lamar followed in a more
Nlortunate strain, warning the Re
'bIicans that if this matter of read
sting representation was begun it
|Ikht end in the destruction of State
Ner in the Senate; in other words
st the smaller States would be re-
hecd ii their Senatorial power in pro-
1ttion to their insignifcance. Judge
mnnds Of Vermont too k up this
a1int Of Lamar's speech and exposed
injndieiousness and danger. In
be denounced it as revolutionary,
a Mr. Lamar did not mend matters
lrying to explain, and getting an
at the repeated goading of Blaine
Edmunds.
here is one point in this debate
'sh should be made note of for
|tn reference, and that is the pro-
81 Thurman and Lamar that every
a. s rightin the South is as sacredly
we'd as in the North. When this
Slion comes up for debate again
atof Blaine will probably show
n the Southern newspapers and pol
ans, that the charges entertained
IS resolution are fully established.
icsires to get the Democratic Sen
to commit themselves on this
and then emphasize the truth
ntfadictions from the mouths Of
DemocratE. The proof will be
lnsive, and it will be impossible for
Democratic Senators to face it
with any amount of assurance.
bother struggle is threatened over
neva Award balance, and the
ing bill was taken up in the House
Day, after brief debate the re-
Vas ordered to be printed, and it
come up for debate at a future
The bill which is presented by
emmittee as substitute for all
BUS bills provides for the contin-
pf the Commission Of Alabama
that the claims shall be ad'
led and allowed in the order OF
it, namely, that the direct losers by
tlepredations of the rebel cruisers
bah first be remunerated, and then
ihe individuals and others who can
prove actual losses. 1t is to be hoped
that this vexed subject may be dis
e coon