The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-26
Rirl,l,ulld lispatth,
SATURDAY .......... APRIL 20. 1879.
Congressional Reports.

the reports made by our weil-knoWn /" as"-
fncton correspondent concerning the avs
EMISSIONS in Congress. Our Staunton con-
tempoi ary may be better satisfied "neh NC
reads his report Of Mr.. COMBINES ehof' Q,
Thursday last. We take the congressional
Record and examine it more carefnily--we
Iudpe from, what we see in our exchanges
than any other editor in the United states !;
and vet we have never been able to see
in the official reports OF the debates
In Congress any evidence that our
correspondent had misrepresented them.
On the contrary, we have found abundant
evidence that he had tried to tell the truth.
or course he is not destitute OF p1e1udlceS,
ard may sometimes see too much OF soou
in one members speech and too nuch OF
OWL in another members; but due allow
,nce being made for the infirmity OF human
nature. his reports must be pronounced ex'
ce!ient and reliable.
We have said that we read the official re-
ports OF the speeches made in bosh houses
of Congressman all Of them, but all that
seem to us to be worthy Of speciaI atten-
tion. And we have come to the conclusion
tina, the reports published in the northern
Republican Journals are mere travestles OF
the debates themselves. The corresponds
cnts OF the New York Republican Journals
are particularly obnoxious to this censure.
The ReraldS correspondent IS the only one
who seems to comprehend the DRIFT OF the
debate, or to know a good speech from
moor one. Take two speakers on the Re-
publican side, for example-Mr. BLAINE
and Mr.. robson. Mr.. BLAINE's set speech
was not only Landed as a fine effort
but full abstract Of it was given; whereas
Mr.. RoBEsoN's first speech was passed over
in comparative silence, the Dispatch being
the only paper in the United States, so far
as we knew, to compliment him. Mr.. ROBE
SONS last speech received more favorable
notice at the bands Of the New York report
ers for the Republican papers, somebody
having informed them, it is possible, that
Mr.. robson was entitled to the praise
of his partlsanS. But BLAINE's speeches
are nothing. He is no lawycr-doesu't
profess to be. He is no statesman,
but mere waver OF the bloody shirt,
owing his prominence to his superior
abilities as a presiding officer. He is as a
speaker only splendid demagoguc. Why
compare such 4 man to CoNKLING, for
instance, as debater-CONKLlNG, who
has no superior in the world, we imag-
inc. rs parliamentary orator, and whose
7rnaipm nj "
preston are so great that he is al
almost irresistible in debate? There was no
argument in BLAISE's set speech worthy OF
the name. There was much in RoBEsoN'S.
The latter is destined, il we are not mis-
taken. to hold the place in the House
which ErMuSDs holds in the Senate as the
leader OF bis party whenever constitutions
are to he eXpoundcd ana mems judgments
to be convinced. BLAINE is totally unequal
TO such task; yet he is the one Republican
whom tie correspondents of the northern
Republican journals hold up as the north
ern beau IDEAL Of leader. Mr.. THURMAN
is the foremost man in the Senate amongst
the Democrats. He is equal to contest on
constitutional questions with EDMUSDs Or
CoNKLISG, though not such an orator as the
latter. II was supplementary, but was ut
least natural exhibition of a feeling he
could not entirely suppress VIXEN he few
weeks ago said to BLAINE, " Sit down, sir"
"Sit down, SIR; for BLAINE is no match
for him.
Mr.. MORGAN, Of Alabama, is thorough
lawyer and one OF the finest debaters in the
Senate. lie is able to hold his own in
n discussion even with Mr.. EDMUSDs and
ar. .CoNKLING on constitutional questions.
We do not think there is a member Of the
Senate for whom these senators have Il
higher respect as man OF culture and OF
natural abilities. And what northern Re-
publican has ever heard OF him through the
journals OF his own party:
But enough. 1t is mere partisan preiu-
dice that coors most Of the reports of the
discussions in Congress sent out TO the
northern people, and to the southern, too,
we may add. Those who wish to Judge for
themselves should subscribe for the Con-
gresSionat Record. Nevertheless, we re-
peat that our Washington correspondent
represents things as he sees them, and not
to suit his readers. II he gives the Demo-
cratic side OF the question he is not to be
blamed for it so long as he. does not misrep-
resent the other side, seeing that the Re-
publican journals studiously misrepresent
our speakers.