The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-23
The Scene in the Senate.

The Scene in the Senate.
With the personal feature OF the recent dis
graceful scene in the Senate we have now
nothing TO do, except to condemn It. Who
ever will carefully read the proceedings OF
last Wednesday and Thursday will discover,
without any help OF comment, that there
was an angry temper among the Republic
can leaders, which BODIED no good from the
start The Army bill had been discussed
with the fullest freedom before and after
the original vetoes, and the form in which
It was presented 10 the Senate that day
really involved nothing new, and It had boon
thoroughly sifted In the House, where all
but thirteen Republicans voted for it.
The majority of the Senate desired TO get
vote, as is usual in parliamentary bodies,
and they asked the minority TO fix time,
allowing them virtually to name IL. Mr..
CoNKLING and Mr.. BLAINE, who represented
the Republican side and took the lead, re-
fused TO make this agreement or any other
OF satisfactory character. This refusal
excited their opponents, and, perhaps, was
Intended 10 produce that effect, and then
obstinacy asserted itself without reason.
In this condition OF things Judge DAVIS
sought to be peacemaker, and said early
In the evening:
IL simply to appeal to both sides Of the chamber
10 quit this trning II may call So with the public
business, and to hx an hour tomorrow when
take the vote the bill
Mr.. CoSELiNG-We cannot 10 that
"Mr. DAVIS OF Ilnols-If You say on behalf OF all
the senators here, then withdraw the proposition
Mr. coNEtNG-I say on behalf Of myself Will Oh
ect to any arrangement by unanimous consent alter
such an exhibition have had. We will sec II We
cannot stay here as long as other people
"Mr DAVIS OF lllnos-If that spirits displayed do not
care how much senators vote on such questions do
not share that spirit with the Senator from New York
Mr. CoNkLlSG-I do share the whole oft
Mr.. DAVIS Of Ilnos-I In good faith TO have the
vote taken on the bill some time tomorrow.
Nj CoSKLING-So do l.
Mr. DAVIS Of ilinois-I believe a majority OF Senators
on both sides Of the chamber desire that to done.
"Mr DAVIS Of West virgna-we willing TO Xix
hour on this side.
"Mr. DAVIS oi Ilinois-scnators say they willing
his side 70 fix an hour Il to that reason
able do not care who objects tot tn
This little episode furnishes the key TO the
whole controversy. fhe Republican man
Rgers determined to make n fight on
frivolous point Of time, and the result is
known. From this hour forward they COM
menced to fllibustcr by dilatory motions, by
rcfusals TO vote, and by absence TO prevent
quorum, according to the worst practices
OF the House, when iniiamed by partisan
passion. Mr.. CoNKLING and Mr.. BLAINE
professed 10 desire an adjournment, which
would have left the question open, and ended
In a truce
AT 10 o'clock at night Mr.. WHITE moved
10 adjourn, in order to put an end TO the fill
clustering, which was met In this way:
"Mr BLAiSr-I am opposed to adlourning until the ap.
peal is settled.
The question being put ION the adournmen MI there was
adIviaon-yeas II; nays, 10.
The Presiding Ofhcer-The Senate stands adjourned
"Mr BLAISE-I ASK tor the yeas and naysn
In this way the motion was defeated, Mr.
CoNKLINa and Mr. BLAINE voting in the
negative. II Mr.. BLAINE had permitted the
declaration Of tho Chair TO stand, the Senate
would have adjourned at 10 o'clock on
Wednesday night, and there would have
been nothing TO regret. But he was bent on
mischief, and he succeeded In provoking an
exhibition the like OF which had never been
witnessed before, except in a violent scene
between Col. BENTON and Mr.. FooTR, many
years ago.
The night and the next morning were thus
Bquandered in unworthy tactics, and, after
twenty-sevcn hours Of this Stiffness, Mr..
CARPENTER proposed to surrender the quib
bic upon which the long contest had been
made, In these words:
Now, II the Democrats Of the Senate arc willing 10
adjourn tins session today and let all have a sleep and
Arrest and come in here to discuss this bin in
the proper and the orderly way there doubt vote
can be had upon it tomorrow.
Mr. DAVIS OF West Wrgmia-Does the Senator speak
for all his associates on that sidef
"Mr CaFrFYrFR-l understand there Is Olsen here
on that proposition aud the belief is thAtifws have an
understanding that we have vote tomorrow 1t will he
taken before O'Clock ye, it may possibly run into the
night"
II Mr.. CARPENTER, who voted with Mr..
CoNKLINd and Mr. BLAINE against Mr..
WHITES motion TO adjourn the previous
night, had spoken these words then, the
Senate would have been spared gross
scandal. lie followed tho lead Of his friends,
md is partially responsible In that sense for
what subsequently occurred.
For the first time in tho history Of the
Senate m organized and prolonged struggle
was witnessed to prevent business on the
part Of the Republican minority. If any
principle was involved, or any right was de
Tended by the course they pursued, there
might be an excuse for It. But there can be
no Justification for Senators sitting in their