The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-21

the limit of the longest speech, if, in
deed, any of them rose to the dignity
Of what can properly be termed :
regular speech.
The fact that everything was
spoken eXtemporaneously invested
the discussion with piquancy anC
animation rarely witnessed in tht
Senate. 1t was in turn witty, hu
morous, dramic, pathetic, and at M
time during its duration Ofover three
hours was it absolutely dull, although
some of those senators who are
famous for emptying the galleries
took part in the proceedings. The
central figure (the star Of the Occa
sion) was Mr.. Blaine. He was in
excellent trim, and conducted the
discussion with the ability and deX'
terity for which he is distinguished
in running debates, such as that
which occurred this afternoon. Al
though lacking the rhetoric Of
Lamer, the logic Of Bayard, the legal
acumen of Edmunds, the studied
polish of COnkling, he excels them
all in fertility of resource. in origi.
nality of method, in bOldneSs, liz
repertee, in briIliancy Of delivery, in
strength in clearness Of expression,
in effectiveness, and in magnetic
power, But, like all speakers Of his
class, Mr.. Blaine must be heard to
be appreciated. His speeches do not
read as well as those Of other sena-
tors. In this respect he may becom-
pared to the great Fox, the rival of
Pitt. "Did my speech read well ?"
asked Fox Of q friend after one Of his
efforts in the House of Commons, and
being answered in the Affirmative,
quickly rejoined: "Then it was not
a good one"
To-day's debate opened immediate
ly after the morning business had
been disposed of, when Mr.. Blaine
moved to proceed to the considera-
ton Of his resolution. This motion
was antagonized by Mr.. Wadleigh,
of New Hampshire, who claimed
priority, for the bill amending the
patent laws. A brief discussion
followed, which resulted in a salts
factory arrangement between Blaine
and Wedleigh, the latter yielding to
the former. Every enc now hoped
to see the deck cleared for action.
when Mr.. Stanley Matthews, CT
Ohio, UNEXPECTEDLY arose and said
he felt constrained TO move the con
Of the bill to suhsidiZe the
Texas Pacific Railroad and, in order
to test the sense Of die Senate as to
whether they would take up the
measure at all this session, he called
for the yeas and nays. The vote
resulted in the defeat of Mr.. Mathews
proposition 26, nays 32-and
thus the subsidy scheme was et1'ec-
tually and Summarily disposed of
Mr.. Wallace then moved to lay Mr..
BIaine's resolution and Mr.. Thur
mans amendment upon the table.
The object Of this motion was doubt
less to afford the Democrats an OPP
portun;ty to vote it down, which
they did, only three of them support
ing it-Davis, of West Virginia,
McCreery and Wallace.
The discussion was finally pro-
ceeded with. Mr.. Blaine opened the
ball by suggesting the appointment
of an additional committee to take
exclusive charge of Mr.. Thurman'S
amendment, arguing that the inves-
tigatiOn directed under the original
resolution was as much as the com.
mIttee could handle. The suggestion
did not appear to meet with favor,
and Mr.. Blaine RETAINED from press
ing it. Mr.. Conkling, who is a
member of the judiciary Committee,
at this juncture innocently asked
what committee was entrusted with
conducting the proposed inquiry.
Having ascertained that it was the
Judiciary, Mr.. Conkling declared
that committee was already smother
ed with business, and that it was
impossible for them to attend to the
extraordinary duty eXacted by the
resolution without neglecting the
regular business now pending before
them. He mOyed to amend the res.
oIutiOn by directing the appointment
of special committee of nine mem
bers. Mr.. Blaine remarked that he
had no objection to the amendment
of "the Senator from New York, T."
and intimated that according to
p' Elementary usage the mover OF
the special committee was hOnOrably
obliged to serve as it's chairman. AS
for himself he desired it to be dis
tlnctly understood that he would not
serve upon TIE committee in any
capacity.
Mr.. ConkIing replied that "a sug