Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-12-20
Senatorial Scene.

Gazette, who is an sppreeiatiye
spectator of the proceedings of Con-
gress, writes to his paper, the fol
lowing graphic account of Senator
Blains's address in the Senate, upon
tho southern modes Of carrying
the elections in its own behalf, and
its effect, aud she snanueEof meet
ingit BY the assigned ehampions-
Thurman and Lamar. The style of
the article is the common one of
Mr.. Byington-trenchanta and Wig
orous. 1t gives the best view of
this Senatorial Scene, of any one we
have seen. The reader will be
pleased by its power to impress the
scene upon his mind, as one which
he may want to call up in the pro-
gress of northern and southern re-
IatiOns:
The address of Senator Blaine de-
livered in the Senate on Wednesday,
supporting his resolution for an in
yeSligation of the Southern out
RACES, was one of those exception
able events which arouse the public
Interest and IN this case called out
one of the densest crowds which
ever pressed the doors and corridors
Of that vast audience chamber. Il
was 4 proof of how keeniy sensitive
the public mind is on the subierts
to be brought under discussion, for
Mr.. Blame had not designed to
make 4ny lengthy or elaborate
speech. Indeed, as able and clear
and concise as were his remarks, and
as good as were the responses of
Thurman and Lamar from their
standpoints, there was at the end Of
the speaking, when Edmunds with
tantalizing coolneSs moved the Sen
ate proceed to the consideration of
the regular order, a readily apPar
ent feeling among the crowd of
swell, is this all there is of it?" In
this self-suggcsting question lies
much prospective speculation. The
friends of Blaine say he designedly
refrained from opening a general
battle, but wished only to draw out
the enemy by this preliminary skir-
mish. The masses who pressed into
the chamber, and in violation of the
rules, on to the Senate floor as well,
were impressed with the expectation
that a terrific onslaught was to be
made all along the line. Blaine's
strategy is commended universally
by has friends and even compliment
ed by his opponents. What he
said could not have been better
said, and he sagaciouSly stopped
short when he had made his points
Thurman had been settled upon to
answer him, without knowing what
he was going to say, but the Ohio
eFidently had been COM
pletely THROWN from the scent. In
his own mind, it was evident that
he had coniectured, Blaine would |
pursue an entirely different line of |
argument. The Democratic idea |
had been that Blaine
would simply assail the South fOl
the outrages upon the |
negroes, stufing ballot boxes, etc,
with the notorious tissue paper bal !
lots. But when he passed over all |
these as mere incidentals to his |
main arraignment, which was, that
every single o0hite man in the South
was by violence and fraud made to
tl00 at the North, new
and far graver question was raised,
and the manner iv which Thurman
about at his start of,
how perfectly Blaine had
captured and nOnpulsed him.
Blaine's style of utterance was
cool and emphatic without his ac-
eustomed fervor and vehemence,
but when he warned the South that
they might not hope to continue
with safety to themselves a system
Of fraud, by which the white Con-
federate soldier who fought to des-
troy this Union, was to exercise
double the political power of the
white Union soldier, who periled
MS life in opposing such destruction,
he effect was electric and profound,
although uttered in a most unim-
oassioned manner. Poor Lamar
was placed in the most uncomfort-
lble fix of any one, and it was
fatal mistake that be entered the
ray at all. In the ferYor of his
he incautiously let slip the
cherished hobby of the South, as to
heir unfair preponderance of pOlit
cal power welded by New Eng
and in the Senate. Lamar evident
y felt that his own section would
expect him to say something, and he
struggled with his unexpected diff
3ulties as best he could. Senator
of Vermont, who is the
coolest, and at the same time most
provoking man in Congress, who
.uts to the bone as mercilessly as a
urgeon, and as clean and as sharp
V as a Damascus blade, rose to re-
,ly toLamar on the New England
enatorial representation, and fiat
ened him out as effectually as Mr..
Ireeley did Gen. Nye's. hat, when
.e sat down on it, in the same Sen
tie chamber some years since. La
lar's point of answer was deemed
he only one he could make, and
7hiIe its insuficiencies is conceded,
has nevertheless revived the dis
ussion as to the SOuth's best mode
f remedying their loss of prepon-
Grating power in the Senate. One
listened to to-day, was to
he effect that the South would at
he earliest moment possible, divide
he great State of Texas up into
our more new States, thus giving
light more senatorial representatives
rom this section. The southern
rs argue that the case of West
rirginia establishes a complete and
1stifying precedent. When Texas 7
as been thus sub-divided, other of
be larger southern States may be '