Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-12-16
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, u. g.. Dec. 70, Is

Letter rom NaSnlnStOu.
WASHINGTON. d. g.. Dee. u, 1873.
To the Editor Qfhs RepHtbec Journdf:
The first exciting ev, ut OF 4 Cnngrcss ssional ses-
sion wa. occss oued nv the speech of Senator
Blaine on the Southern Election question. of
co rs", tve,v pat Of the Senate Chamber WAS
filled to rcplction, snd dense masses of people
were out>id-, hoping, W some - cd luck, to get
irsidc In the gs'leric, wss a mixed mnitode
compo,ed .houl,' ' Q Of rr-t'v nearly q"al
trmhc,e Of either y" 't'h r-rts, q ~ "o'h
B inc and Thur'ntn Ne an l,nd' 4 ~ voc tr'-
ou>lv that the Pre>'dr of the Sruat. was Oh
ligei 10 call to order and threaten TO clear the
galleries. The House adjourned early. and
large portion of its members fastened over 10 the
Senate Chamber, and were seen in he asles,
the sofas, on the corners of senators desks, and
far lost their dgnyss to sit Astlv on the
floor, and objected to their having "the
privilege of the floor" 10 this instance Every
one with one solitary exception. of whom more
bereafer) seemed intent on listening TO eve'y
word which the Senator ut cred. whether, not
bis politica sentiments were favoraha or adverse.
The sight recalled many of the scenes presented
during the wa, and in ANDY johnson times, in
the Capitol, when Sumner, Fessenden Logan,
Morton and others in the Senate, and fhsd.
Stevens. Bingham Colfix Butler (yes. the very
same. F. b. in the House used TO cudgel their
opponents. Then war, or it. immeii,te results,
msde the acts and argument. seem far more
serious and potent than do these of later date
although incline to the belief that the difference
even now, is not 80 great. The same dsmeirirsl-
~ opposed elements were there Yesterday to
applaud either the free sentiment OF The North or
the sutocrscy and impcriousness of the South-
Just a. of old.
The spirit and import of the replie. to Senator
Blaine either show the original mpudence and
efirouiery Of the Southern autocrst tho tiucu-
lent ard evssivc Spirit Of the Northern douphfac
allv, have seen it or read of it in an'i-rc-
belion days. This spirit is inboru in these two
classes, and, in nv opinion. cannot he talked ont,
frightened nut. orfought ont. It must he cropded
out; ard, thank God, with a LOYAL rapidly in
crossing and intellectually improving North, it
can he crowded out or crowded under, providing
that the present political cmergencie. are passed
in safety. The South is aware ot the present ad
vantage it pos-esses, and is using every endesvor
both fair a. 4 fou, 10 shain a succos. hefcre suc
ces. becomes impossible. Hence the "Sod
Sonth" obtained. as Mr.. Blsine saws. "throuuh
such shameless and shameful methods" Mr..
Thurmans replied wa- prepared for the evident
purpose of catching not only the Southern ear hut
the southern vote, ard his red handsnna was
fouted wildly and magnifcenlv during his argn-
ment Thurman j. the best dehator on the demo
croti aldo olthon,,h ,h.,. ,h
have an easier and more agreeable stvle. Still
Thurman evidently claims, and is entitled 70 the
leadership Of the "rro iton.
Edmnnds Of Vermont me,tv effrc,nanv
sqselched the attitude a. d ARGUMENTS Of Lamar
of Mississippi and to-day the democrats are wish
ing that the latter had held his tongue
How long this deba'e will extend will derend
considerably upon the disposition of the demo-
Gratis. The republicans are prepared 10 vertiiate
the whole suhject. ard his ra'he' brief speech hy
Senator B'ain" il. as it were. the declarat on
while the premises, main ARGUMENTS ard fnl
statements are to come af'er. | think i viii con.
tinue up to, and perhap. sfter the holiday r,cess
CoNKLING
The only notable instarce Of APPARENT na'ten-
tion To the speech Of Mr. Blaine, was that of Sen
ator ConkliDg. 1t has been thought that the 20
litcal feui exisine between these two dis'in.
guished men was amcsblv settled. nr At leas, that
the asperies and marked reciprocity OF coolness
evisting had been ent irelv toned down. Last wear
when Senator Conklinc used his o,atorv and in-
vcctves against Gordon Senator Blaine not only
listened cou,teonslv, hut even was generous
enough to compliment Cnnkliny for the par, taken
and the argument made, showing him the utmost
parliamentary courtesy and gertlemarlv bearinr !;
utte'lv amazed were all. Yesterday to see Mr..
Conking make a studied effort to ignore the ef-
fort- of Nr. Blaine, and attempt to insult him Nv
attending to the or inarv business matter. of the
Senate As | before remarked he made the onlv
exception to the masses IF attentive listeners aud
his manner and efforts were so plainly evident,
that there can he no mistaking the intention.
There is hut one general opinion here to-day. not
only amongst Mr. Conkling's opp nent-, but his
friends that this unkind and unmanlv act has d =
meaned and lowered him in the estimation of all
right-mnded men. Discourtesv in the Sana'e
even amongst the btt"rcst enemies has seldom
heen manifested, and then only hv some boorisb
snfocrat from the South or vulgarlv ignorant Per
w" f''h o"f ''hN' SOULFUL 1t Ct1 OniN ne cnar-
ac'erzed As exceedingly mall business. showing
under extraordinary talents and polish a narrow
shriveled up soul. and will only iriure Conkling
while it will do not the least possible harm to
Blaine The matter has caused a great deal Of
comment in political and social circles, and. as
previously said, there is an almost universal ex-
preston of disapprobation and even DISCUS, at the
spectacle.
RAPID LEGISLATION
A. proph"srd in n previous letter, the variou.
Appropriation Bills small that there is little
matter left for Committees to tinker; CONSEQUENT
y they are reported and passed almost as thew
came from the hands of ID partmental officers.
The Naval, Fortifcstion. Pension, and Military
Academy bills ave already through he House, and
probably the Post office, Sundrv Civil, and Legis-
lalive Judicial aud Exerutive bills will be ready
for action just before Immediately aft er the hol.
iday recess. Post master General XIV is exceed.
ingy anxious that his Departmental appropria.
lions should be Immediately reached. as upon their
rapid passage depends many of our rapid mail f,-
cities, which otherwise must be temporarily sus