The New York herald., 1879-03-08
Republican Leaders in Search
Of a Platform.
JEFF DAVIS AS A NATIONAL issue.
Alarm Cries of Partisan Journals and
the Real Situation.
A REVOLUTION NOT IMMINENT.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

THE JEFF DAVIS DEBATE IN THE sENATE-RE-
PUBLICAN SENATORS SHOWING TO POOR AD-
vANTAGE-FAcTs THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SUBSTITUTED FOR DENUNcIATIoN.
The republican party here in Washington is united.
undoubtedly, but it is anxously looking about for
some subject to be united on that it has jumped
with quite ludicrous eagerness at poor Jefferson
Davis the more available platform. The de.
bate in the Senate excluding his name from
the list of pensioners for services rendered
in the Mexican war boasted of here by the extreme
republicans immense victory and almost in
itself insuring the election of republican Presi
dent next year. 1t should be understood that Gen
eral Shields amendment to the Arrears of Pensions
bill adopted by vote OF 80 to %. eight repub
hcan Senators voting with the majority and two dem
ocrats Messrs. Herman and Randolph. in the mega
tive If the eight republicans had voted against 1t it
must have failed the Senate and it not passed
by party vote at all. Then Mr..
Hoar's amendment to exclude Jefferson Davis.
the debate on which has been made the occasion Of
so much partisan noise. 1t must be said that,
trary the boasts sent out from here to partisan
Journals, the republicans did not figure well in this
discussion. They vilifed Davis the head of
great treason and they did knowing that Davis
name is peculiarly Odous to Northern men. They
compelled Southern Senators to reply and their re-
some cases very effective. General Shields
pertinently remarked that to single out
Mr.. Davis for exclusion was to elevate and
distinguish him, and therefore unwise. Mr..
Lamar caused letter from Mr.. Davis to be read, in
which he asked that in case motion to exclude Him
should be offered. his friends should not oppose
it, he needed pension and did not want to stand
in the way Of many poor men who did. For the
rest the Southern Senator's being and not dogs,
ranged themselves on the side of Davis. They wouh
be poor creatures if they had done less. for
they were engaged in the same' rebellion
with him. had been guilty with him and
could hardly remain silent when he was attacked.
They understand what the republican
Senator's 80 well know and meanly take advantage
of Jefferson Davis is the object of peculiar Bit
ter and lasting dislike to Northern people, But
II they did know this they compelled as men to
speak when they heard him denounced on the other
side. When they spoke they naturally went to some
lengths in their eulogy as the others had gone in
their denuncation. and they gave the republicans q
fair opportunity which they entirely failed to avail
themselves Of.
The Southern spoke of Davis a statesman
and able man, and it is surprising that some
publican Senator had not the w.t. this to substi
tute truth for denunciation and to give accurate
character of Davis Tho truth about him is that he
the exception of Mr.. Calhoun the ablest and most
enlightened Secretary of War the country ever had
previous to the rebellion; but that q
statesman, in any true or large sense, he was
always. and remains. an utter = and pitiful
failure. and SO far craftsmanship goes all the
Southern men who with him originators OF the
rebellion must fall with him. The attempt to dis
solve the Union, and the intention to do in the
interest of slavery, unstatesmanlikc and blum
dering proceeding history records because it is
the part of statesman to forces to forcsee
difficulties to provide against the ruinous loss of the
people he to rule and guide, and to lay his
plans in such way that they will be made happy
and not miserable.
II the republican Senator'S had had in their minds
anything higher than desire to stir up bad blood
and sectional hostility this is what they might very
well have said. And they would have found very
large part of the Southern whites heartily agreeing
with them. for lIr DAVIS is dsliked almost gen.
orally in the South in the North.
ALARMING REPORTS OF PARTISAN JOURNALS con-
TRAsTED WITH THE REAL SITUATION OF AZ
FAIRS.
Considering the alarming nature of the reports
which have been sent from here to the various part
san newspapers within the last few days. it seems
advisable to the readers of the HERALD that
in point of fact everything is very quiet and even
dull here IN Washington. The rival candidates for
the speakership are conducting themselves like
gen nemen the President sleeps his bed every night
unvcxcd by dreams Of war; neither the democratic
nor tho republican party contemplatcs pronuncia-
mento or revolution; the democratic leaders, so far
from standing up infurated their hind legs
yelling defiance have mostly gone home with their
wives and children; the President. far from
having blood in his eyes. is as amiable and
hopeful ever; the honorable Mr.. Chandler
remains true to the republican party. but is
friendly terms with most of his
democratic colleagues; close scrutiny Of the hotels
and othor public places warrants the confident asscr
ton that nobody of either party is Matching treason;
there is to believe that the White House
and Congress going to open fire each other on
the 18th of March In fact. all is quiet the Poto-
mac, and the occasional sputer of noise, magnihed
reports of which telegraphed North comes alto
gether from the party bummers on each side. who
have slim pickings just now and dislike nothing SO
much az quiet.
THE NEW SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
REASONS FOR CARE IN THE SELECTION
When the democratic Senator'S come to seect tho
chairmen of committees in the Senate 1t is to be
hoped that they will exercise proper care 1t is we'll
known that all Senators honorable men, but it is
fact that the Senate Committee on Appropriations
inserted in the Sundry Civil bll when 1t camc over
from the House the other day. several amendments
of kind which arc commonly callod jobs, aud
they were jobs Of tho worst kind. so
bad that they were struck out they were
reported to the Senate. Now. though tho Senate
Appropriations Committee had at that time rcpub-
lican chairman and a'majority OF republican mem.
bers. IL is a matter of common here that some
of the democratic members of the committee aided
In inserting these jobs in the bill It was dangerous
mi IA
amendments were acted on by the Senate at night very
tho close OF the session, aud thore was at least
possibility that these jobs stuck on In committee
rnirht slin thrnnnh unnoficed- IA In t,arafozo