The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-23
The United States Senate in 1881.


The contest for the seat in the United
States Senate now occupied by Gen. NJ. C.
Butler, Democrat, is Of more than ordinary
Importance. Mr.. Corbin, Republican, is the
contestant, and it is known that the COM
mittee on Privileges and Elections have pre-
pared report in his favor. Mr.. Butler was
seated on the prima facie case by the votes Of
Messrs. Patterson, Of South Carolina, and
Conover, OF Florida-they voting for Mr..
Butler from personal considerations. They
can determine the adoption or rejection of
the report of the committee. II they vote
for the report, it will seat Mr.. Corbin: if
against it, Mr.. Butler will retain his seat.
The unusual importance which attaches TO this
contest lies in the fact that it may determine
the political complexion OF the United States
Senate after March 4, 1881. The Washing
ton correspondent OF the New York Times,
OF the 18th, says:
The fact that this case is to be presented
and pushed is causing considerable uneasi-
ness in Democratic circles, and Democratic
Senators assert that it is part of we'll
digested Republican plan to regain control
OF the Senate In 1881. A prominent Demo-
cratic Senator, In converse ton to-day upon
this subject, said that on the 18th of March
next, the Senate would stand AZ Democrats,
80 Republicans, and David Davis, of Illinois,
Independent. ST." said the Senator, s:these
figures are analysed, it will be found how
the majority in the Senate in 1881 may turn
on this disputed seat. Suppose Buffers
seat is given to Corbin that would make
the Senate stand after March 4, Al Demo-
Gratis, "a Republicans, and l Independent.
The Democrats would then have majority.
The terms OF Senators Bruce, of Mississippi;
Randolph, OF New Jersey; Eaton, of Con-
nectlcut; Wallace, of Pennsylvania Ker-
nan, OF New York, and Thurman, of Ohio,
will expire March 4, 1881. One of these is a
Republican, and five are Democrats. The
States which will elect Senators to succeed
these five Democrats were carried by tile
Republicans at the last election, and are
likely to remain Republican in 1880, when
the Legislatures are to be chosen which will
fill the vacancies that will occur in
the Senate in 1881. The Democrats
are sure OF only one seat out of the six, and
that is the seat of Senator Bruce. The Re-
publicans, if they hold the five States named,
which they are likely to do, will return five
Republicans to succeed five Democrats,
whose terms will expire with the next Con-
gress. Then the Senate would stand SO
Democrats, 81 Republicans, and l Indepen-
dent. If Corbin gets Buffers seat, it would
make the Senate tie, even if David Davis
should cast his lot with the Democrats, and
in the event OF the election of Republican
ice-President to succeed Mr.. Wheeler, that
party would again assume control of the
Senate in 1884,:
The Democrats profess to believe that
Corbin cannot be seated, but it is plain that
they feel some alarm upon the subject.
They rely upon Messrs. Patterson and Con-
over to maintain Butler in his seat, but do
not feel entirely sure of the continued sup
port of those two gentlemen. The seating
OF Corbln will depend upon the votes of Con.
over and Patterson. Now, as the admission
OF Butler depended upon their votes in
March, 1878, it will be seen that the politi.
cal control of the Senate in 1881 will hinge
upon this Corbin- Butler contest.
Should Corbin be seated, and the Senate
come under control of the Republicans in
1881. it would give very short lease to our
Democratic friends.